How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Eating Right

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How to Keep Yourself and Your Family Eating Right

 

STAYING WITH IT

People who want to improve their health can be divided into two types: those who

work at it daily and those who don't. Which are you? To help you get going and

stick with a good diet, here are some suggestions:

1. Remember that you are worth it. The time, expense and changes that go with

a healthier lifestyle are an investment in yourself. The healthier you are,

the more you can offer those you love. The time you spend each day on your

health is not lost. Rather, it adds to your productive years and you get it

all back later... with interest.

2. Your entire family does not have to go along with you. It is wonderful if

they do, but don't make it a condition for your own self- improvement. Show

them that you feel great. Dr. Albert Schweitzer said " not only is example the

best way to teach, it is the only way. "

3. Give a little. It is better to live a 90% natural LIFE than to live 100%

natural for a week. Do your best to be as healthy as you can each day.

4. Make health as easy and routine as possible. Specifically:

A. Keep junk food out of the house. Simply do not buy it. If someone else

wants to, let them be the one to go get it, and pay for it.

B. Have readily available good-tasting snack alternatives in the home at all

times. Everybody likes to munch now and then, so make sure the only snacks

around are good ones.

C. Health food stores have aisles full of packaged goodies that are also

nutritious. Supermarkets do too; if you always read the label.

D. How about popcorn? You can make it fresh in an air-popper in no time at

all for next to nothing. Without (much) salt or butter it is very low calorie

and an excellent source of fiber.

E. Have a cold veggie platter in the refrigerator at all times. You know, a

" party tray " with cut-up raw celery, carrots, radishes, broccoli, cucumber and

other vegetables all set out nicely. If they are already washed and cut up and

just sitting there when somebody opens the 'fridge to browse, they will get

eaten. Center shelf, front!

F. Keep the freezer stocked with frozen juice pops instead of ice cream. You

can buy plastic molds at discount department stores and make your own

" popsicles. " Use 100%, unsweetened real juice only.

G. If the kids pester you for a sweet treat, give them a spoonful of molasses

or honey. These are as sweet as candy, but a lot more satisfying.

H. Have a big bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table 24 hours a day. Then

anyone can SEE that they can have as much fruit as they want anytime. There is

no better snack.

I. Fill a candy dish with dried fruit mixed with some unsalted nuts. Fill

another with sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Place them on the table, and watch

them be ignored... but not for long. They'll be eaten sooner than you think.

J. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. Ice water is just as

refreshing as a soft drink and a lot cheaper.

5. Build in rewards for eating right. These approaches work well with a

family:

A. BEGIN each meal with fresh vegetable juice or sprouts. Have nothing else

in sight. Foods get eaten the fastest when you are the hungriest. We would

tell our kids, " Eat your sprouts (or carrot juice, etc.) and THEN we will give

you what you want. "

B. Each person gets a prize for staying on an all-natural diet each week.

Something small will do, with a larger monthly reward. This is every bit as

practical for adults as it is for kids.

C. Give your children money if they trade in junk food from school, friends,

or parties. Our kids made a pile on Halloween.

D. Give each family member a share of the cash you save on doctor and

dentist bills. J. Paul Getty said that such percent bonuses encourage " The

Millionaire Mentality. " If a filling costs $70, why not give a kid a couple of

bucks for having no cavities? You are ahead by $68.

Make it worth their while and make it easy, and you will have a healthier

family.

6. Tasty meals are very important. There is nothing worse than a good-for-you

meal that tastes bad. Consult a good vegetarian cookbook.

7. More fresh, raw foods will get eaten if you serve more salads. Try fruit

salad for breakfasts. Begin lunch and dinner each with a large vegetable salad.

Buy a dozen different bottled salad dressings for variety. The more natural

the dressing, the better. Although, I will look the other way on dressing

ingredients IF it gets us to eat more salad with a smile.

8. You can still go out to eat and eat right. Go to restaurants where there is

a salad bar. Many restaurants will prepare vegetarian dishes on request. When

in doubt, call first.

What really matters is living a healthier lifestyle every day. You have to

actually DO it, not just intend to. Vitamins do no good in the bottle. A

juicer is valuable only when you use it. Healthy foods help you when they are

IN you. No doctor is going to follow you around all day and supervise your

every mouthful. That part is up to you.

 

Copyright C 1999 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. From the books QUACK DOCTOR

and PAPERBACK CLINIC, available from Dr. Andrew Saul, Number 8 Van Buren

Street, Holley, New York 14470.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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