Fit Happens with Nutrition!

After writing my first book, Fit Happens with Know Exercise! 28 Days of Success for Every Body, I literally hit the road, juggling a packed schedule of fitness bootcamps and speaking engagements. After tackling and surviving the writing process, it was such an exhilarating experience to meet people who were interested in taking on my personal plan as their own weight management strategy. At one engagement, I met a gentleman who wanted to ask me a question concerning his daughter. I could visually tell that he was extremely overweight and living an unhealthy lifestyle. Even though I wanted to address his overall health and wellness goals first, I listened to his question. He began by saying, “My daughter loves to eat,” and I recall the anguish on his face as he slowly and emphatically spoke the words. “I know she gets that bad habit from me, and I have to make a change for both of our sakes.” It was heart-breaking, but it was then that I realized the important role parents play in setting healthy examples for their children to follow, whether it’s treating friends and family members with respect, teaching and modeling good manners, or providing and indulging in healthy meals and nutritious snacks that are appropriate and nourishing for active lifestyles and growing bodies. Obesity is on the rise in the United States, and I was appalled to learn that the children’s section of many department stores now carry prominently displayed plus-sized clothing. More teenagers than ever before are dealing with weight-related issues like heart disease, diabetes, and a whole host of issues that threaten to do serious, long-term damage to their self-esteem. As a mother of a toddler, I realized that it is never too early to teach a child to eat the right foods, in a variety of textures and colors, and in the right portion sizes. When I thought of that father and his daughter, I couldn’t help but wonder how different their lives could have been if they had taken a different path toward healthier lifestyles. What would happen if we all take more responsibility to start teaching our children sooner about healthy eating habits? My daughter watches everything I do, and every child is influenced by every observation. I’m teaching her how to indulge in nutritious, colorful foods, and showing her good examples that will hopefully inform her eating decisions for the rest of her life. I have to share those lessons with you— and every parent— who is truly committed to giving their child the very best life he or she can live. Thank you for making Fit Happen With Nutrition for your toddler! The Reason behind my Madness! Attention all Parents: this is your official wake-up call! Beyond that, this is a CALL TO ACTION on behalf of your little loved one. Countless studies have confirmed that a child’s first five years of life are a critical mental and physical development period. The habits they are exposed to in these early years can, and will, set the stage for the rest of their lives. With that, we have to discuss a few “musts” for every parent who reads Fit Happens with Nutrition! 4 Weeks of Success for Every Toddler: I can’t say it enough: Parents must take responsibility for every bite of food their children eat. It’s just that simple! The school your child attends is not at fault, especially if your child is eating one meal— lunch— and breakfast and dinner are provided at home. Parents must be parents ALL THE TIME. What does that mean? It means not giving in to the “drive-thru solution” on a daily basis. We’re all living fast-paced, “eat-on-the-go” lives, and it can be so easy to just pull into the drive-thru lane of your favorite fast-food restaurant. This book can show you some easy ways to plan meals at home and prepare take-along snacks that allow for valuable learning moments with your child… and help you save the drive-thru for “a special treat!” Parents must be aware of the healthy tools at their disposal to help their children learn the basics of good nutrition. This book features the tools you’ll need to start your child on the right path of learning healthy habits and recognizing healthy options away from home. The transition from baby foods to table foods is a big step, so let’s take it together! In Fit Happens with Know Exercise, I explained the steps to take for establishing healthy new habits that lead to positive and lasting lifestyle changes. What I will share in this book will help you to create and reinforce healthy habits for your own child, and you can rest assured that everything here comes directly from my home to yours. No two children are exactly alike, but every child enjoys learning. For children at the 18 months to five year-old stage, every day is an adventure, and parents must be fully engaged! I’m so glad you have chosen to take on this adventure in healthy eating! Let’s begin the Fit Happens with Nutrition! 4 Weeks of Success for Every Toddler journey together! Learn Your ABCs: A Bullying Chapter It’s hard to believe that your sweet little boy or girl is very likely to be one of three things: a witness to bullying, a participant or instigator of bullying, or the victim of bullying. Even more amazing, you should realize that your child is actually learning the basics of bullying— how to use and react to hurtful words or intimidating situations—directly from you. While bullies can’t claim a certain, magical age when they come into being, they certainly get an early start in their overall development by absorbing cues at a young age. Young children are highly impressionable and very much in tune with emotional situations. They absorb the energy and commotion of a car chase on television; they observe the interactions between their peers when it’s time to share a toy; and they listen to how their family members relate to each other during a disagreement. Your children are watching every action and every reaction. If Daddy laughs at something funny, the child will make an immediate connection: ‘Daddy thinks that is funny, so that is funny to me, too.’ Or, if Mommy describes an object a certain way, the child will think, ‘Mommy said it, so it must be true.’ Now, consider how a child is affected when Daddy finds it funny to point out and joke about people who are overweight. Or, when Mommy says the neighbor is nice but should ‘lay off the sweets.’ Young children hear those words, internalize them, and sooner rather than later, the words grow into ugly, hurtful remarks. Remember, our children are gardens, and we, parents, are farmers. Every lesson we teach, every meal (and its contents) we serve, every action (and reaction) we show our children, and every word we speak into their lives is like fertilizer that we add to our little gardens. Are you cultivating a child who can see the beauty, diversity, and value of every person? Or, is your child growing into a personality that is intolerant, selfish, and insensitive to others’ feelings? Your child is the ultimate reflection of the effort you’ll sow into his/her life. Now is the time to put ‘good stuff’ in by watching your words, paying attention to your own actions, and helping your child to resolve conflicts and intimidating situations with confidence and thoughtful solutions. Sticks and stones can break big and little bones, and words can hurt feelings, self-esteem, and so much more…