The Launch of Wellness Wednesdays
2013 IS STARTING with new energy on the planet, new momentum
in personal growth, and new resolutions for better health. Growing Healthy Kids, Inc. is an
organization and movement providing global leadership to improve the health and
lives of children by raising awareness about the consequences of childhood
obesity and pathways to knowledge. As a
parent, I know about the responsibility, energy, and work needed to raise a healthy child. I also know that it is up to us, the parents, to take the responsibility to reverse, halt, and prevent
childhood obesity in America. No one is
going to do it for us. Not our
politicians. Not our school board
members. Not America’s CEOs. Not our children’s pediatricians. Not the McDonalds manager. Not the staff at your kids' day care facility.
WE CAN reverse the childhood obesity epidemic. We will do it one child and one parent at a
time.
PARENTS HAVE THE POWER in this fight. This fight is about our children’s health and
their lives. This fight is about
consciously making changes that can prevent kids from facing diseases usually
reserved for older adults like diabetes, sleep apnea, and joint disorders such
as arthritis, and from the psychological damage that can last a lifetime if
adults stand by silently. As a parent,
you are the one who needs to get the skin in the game because in this game,
failure is not an option.
AS PROMISED LAST WEEK, the theme of this week’s Growing
Healthy Kids blog is to launch a year of weekly information, facts, resources,
recipes, and fun stuff that you can use with your family to make a difference.
IN LAUNCHING THE 2013 WELLNESS WEDNESDAY SERIES,
I am asking you to make a commitment to your children’s health.
- Will you DARE TO CARE about your kids’ health by setting them up for a lifetime of success and teaching them how to maintain a healthy weight?
- Will you DARE TO CARE about how often you eat dinner together as a family?
- Will you DARE TO COMMIT to changes that can and will result in a lifetime of real health for your kids and you?
- Will you DARE TO COMMIT to cut back on the added sugars and fats your family eats in the boxed and processed foods you buy?
- Will you DARE TO COMMIT to finding out if your child drinks the flavored milk for lunch at school that contains 7 teaspoons of added sugar or the milk without added sugars?
- Will you DARE TO COMMIT to making better choices about food and exercise?
- Will you DARE TO CARE to be a better role model?
KEEPING New Year’s Resolutions health goals starts with
making the decision to commit.
Once you are committed and engaged to the process of GROWING HEALTHY
KIDS, then we can learn together. You’ve heard the expression, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, it is going to take the whole village
to raise HEALTHY children, as each child who is not at a healthy weight
struggles, often silently, knowing they are different from other kids. They may suffer from the emotional pain and embarrassment from being the victim of bullying
and name-calling. It is highly likely they will have psychological
scars that come from the taunting, the whispers, and the looks from other kids passing them in the hallway at school.
I COMMIT TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP by bringing you a year of
weekly educational blogs and talking with you about the questions you should be
asking your school principal, cafeteria manager, and pediatrician.
DARE TO CARE. DARE TO COMMIT. Join me each week on www.GrowingHealthyKids.blogspot.com for the 2013 Wellness Wednesdays series.
BECAUSE FAILURE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN’S HEALTH IS NOT AN OPTION. Because this is our village and these are our children.
BECAUSE FAILURE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN’S HEALTH IS NOT AN OPTION. Because this is our village and these are our children.
In gratitude,
Nancy L. Heinrich, MPH
Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.
