This tip is all about becoming regular. No, not that kind of regular. It’s time to bring our routine to some kind of regular events, so we can plan for a healthy tomorrow.
There are often times in our lives, vacations, back to school, travel, that we take off our normal clothes. This tip is all about getting back into the rhythm of a routine. One of the big issues we want to address is nutritional changes throughout our day. After trips, or vacations, we break the habit of eating normal healthy meals.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from our patients is their lack of ability to pay attention. Many people are frustrated by the lack of concentration during the day, and I have a solution for many of the problems of lack of concentration that adults and children face alike.
One of the best ways to help eliminate lack of concentration is to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the 3 “targets” from your or your children’s diet.
The three targets are “white sugar, white flour, white salt”
By cutting out some of the sugar and salt, many people are able to focus better and are much less scattered. The best way to do this is to watch what you or the children eat. This is especially true for breakfast. Quite a few of the cereals we feed ourselves or our kids are LOADED with sugar (more than a can of coke per serving!!!) and then you get sugar psyched and crash around 10: 11/30. Then you crawl for the next hour or hop on the early bird lunch and have pizza or burgers and feel the white flour/salt rush again that blares until 3:00 when you crash again and then we have to deal with our sons. or grandchildren going through the same routine!
Then as parents we have to fight with the kids to get their homework done, and the kids seem exhausted and cranky and we wonder why.
Good nutrition can solve many of these problems and can help ourselves and our children live happier, less-stressed lives. So here are some simple tips to help nutrition in our diets.
Breakfast Tips: Avoid cereals that are high in sugar. If available, try adding high-density carbs (they break down slower and last longer in the system) like bagels or less processed breads (rye, wheat, whole rye, etc.).
Proteins are also recommended in small amounts (eggs, nuts, etc.).
Lunch is a bit more difficult – learn what’s available, and then choose wisely. If it’s a meal that’s high in sugar and white flour (eg, pizza, burger, etc.), you may want to choose something else, or at least add a fruit or vegetable to go with it. If you get used to eating the same thing, switch it up to keep it exciting and nutritious. fruits can be a great snack (grapes, strawberries, bananas, etc.) and they have a good amount of natural sugars so we can get rid of any sugar cravings without eating too much processed white sugar.
Dinner – Everything in moderation. Foods that are good for you are often good for everyone involved, including children or grandchildren. If they’re not good for you, they’re even worse for the kids. So pay attention to dinner. Also, dinner should be a smaller meal as many of us don’t exercise after our last meal of the day and often fall asleep after eating.
As always, fruits and vegetables are highly recommended for any time of the day, and should be constantly on hand for snacks and cravings.
If you want more information about the benefits of fruits and vegetables, you can call our office and we can provide you with the information you may need. Call the office and we can get you covered (336) 887-9460.
We also offer a nutrition support program that is available at no cost to children participating in a National Nutrition Research study. If you are interested, call us and we will give you more information.
Until next time,