Roe’s Healthy News
by Roe Melnicove

Since school will start soon, I thought I would dedicate this article to children’s nutrition and busy parents.

Have you found that after putting in long hours at work, you are just too tired to cook dinner when you get home? Or, how often have you ended up eating fast food dinners from whatever restaurant you happen to pass on the way home from soccer practice because it is getting late and it is just easier? Here is why it is vital to plan your day ahead of time, so that you, and especially your children, eat more whole foods; especially fruits and vegetables.

Here’s a startling fact for you - childhood obesity rates in America have tripled since 1980; today 20 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are obese! What’s more, a disturbing 70 percent of overweight adolescents stay that way as adults. And since obesity increases the odds of a heart attack, stroke, or early death, consider the impact an entire generation of overweight children has on both our families and our country’s health care system.

You may consider yourself lucky because your child is thin. Well guess what? Plaque can still build up in their arteries. It’s a chilling thought, but here’s the thing to remember:  Restaurant food every now and then is fine, but on a daily basis.... Did you ever view the program; "Honey, We Are Killing the Kids?" Essentially the show tells us that we are putting a strain on our children’s cardiovascular systems and reinforcing a taste preference for foods loaded with sodium.

I’m here to tell you, however, that it is not too late to reshape their taste. The first thing you need to do is to get the junk food out of your house and replace it with healthier alternatives. Be sure to READ LABELS! The fewer ingredients an item contains, the better.  Program your family towards eating good carbs, which contain protein and fiber. Stay away from hydrogenated fats, or transfats. The best fats are seafood, flaxseed oil, olive oil, nuts and nut butters. Feed your family more food from nature, rather than from a factory.

Raise a grazer - have a vegetable platter with hummus dip available for your children after school. Or how about preparing a fresh fruit salad for them? Be sure to feed your family lots of fruits and vegetables. Consider fruits and vegetables to be "Nature’s Pharmacy." Try taking your children with you next time you go to the supermarket. Shop only the perimeter with them.  That is where the whole foods are located (meats, poultry, fish, fresh produce). Get children involved when you are cooking dinner. You will find that not only will you get it prepared quicker, but that even the young children love to do their part  (for instance; little ones can help prepare the salad).

The most important thing to remember is to keep trying and to never give up! The benefits to staying healthy are immeasurable! 
 
10 BALANCED BREAKFASTS

An ideal, nutritious breakfast contains a balance of complex carbohydrates and proteins. Think grains, plus protein, plus fruits. Examples of balanced breakfasts are:

1. Granola, cereal, organic milk*, a sliced apple                     
2. Scrambled eggs, toast, fresh squeezed orange juice 
3. Veggie omelet, bran muffin, fruit with organic yogurt   
4. Whole-grain pancakes, or waffles, topped with berries and/or organic yogurt*  
5. Whole-wheat zucchini pancakes topped with fruit, milk*  
6. French toast topped with fruit, organic rice milk  
7. Low-fat soy cheese melted on toast with a piece of fruit  
8. Low-fat almond butter on a whole-grain bagel, pomegranate juice 
9. Peanut butter and banana slices on an English whole wheat muffin, organic milk* 
10. A "breakfast-on-the-run" smoothie

BRAIN BUILDERS

Avocados, bananas, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, brown rice, brussel sprouts, cantaloupe, cheese, chicken, collard greens, eggs, flaxseed oil, legumes, milk, oatmeal, oranges, peanut butter, peas, potatoes, romaine lettuce,salmon, soybeans, spinach, tuna, turkey, wheat germ, and yogart

BRAIN DRAINERS
 
Alcohol, artificial food colorings, colas, corn syrup, frostings, high sugar "drinks", hydrogenated fats, junk sugars, nicotine, overeating, and white bread 

*Many nutritionists disagree over whether milk products should be in your diet; soy or rice drinks are good substitutes. And some nutritionists recommend grinding flax seeds versus using flax seed oil.

About Roe Melnicove
Roe Melnicove is a former Elementary School Teacher and College Professor who is currently living in Pittsgrove, NJ with her husband Howard and her 2 sons, Tyler and Dustin. Roe holds a BS in Nutrition, an MS in Holistic Health, and is a National Marketing Director for the company Juice Plus+ (powered fruits and vegetables in capsules). Roe has always embraced an active lifestyle, but came to realize how well we are nourished will determine our health and fitness. She was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus with Renal involvement and tried many supplements and medications to improve her health. Today she is completely symptom free and motivates audiences in a profound way by sharing her story. She was so convinced of the important role nutrition plays in maintaining good health and recovering from illness that she left a teaching career to become involved in the wellness industry. www.roejp.com