The very real truth is that America as a nation is becoming obese at an alarming rate. The facts do not lie. More than one-third of American adults, that’s 72 million men and women, along with 16 percent of all U.S. children are obese. Those facts come from the federal Centers for Disease Control. The CDC defines obesity as having more than 25 percent body fat for men and 30 percent for women. The epidemic is not centered in one area, like around your Pebble Beach real estate, it is a nationwide pandemic. There are several theories about what is causing us to become larger and larger. Here are a few of the theories and a dinner idea that you can make with your children to help them learn about the basics of good nutrition.
One theory is that a person’s attitude about food can lead them to or away from obesity. A researcher studied a small group to reach his conclusions. You can read the results for yourself in the comfort of your Pebble Beach real estate in the December journal Health Education and Behavior. What these researchers found was that the people who were genuinely concerned about what they ate, how much they ate, and what they cooked were less apt to be or become obese. On the other hand, those people who were ”too busy” to be concerned about what they ate were running down the road towards obesity. This study was conducted using women only; since the mother prepares the meals in a vast majority of homes, you can see how these attitudes would affect the entire family, especially the children who have to eat what is prepared for them.
Another leading study has shown a direct correlation between depression and obesity. The study went on to say that there is a direct link between all mental disorders and obesity. Many of the medications taken for these disorders tend to leave people feeling as if they do not want to exercise and hopeless about their situation, so they do not try to improve or take care of themselves. This is something that many of the doctors near your Pebble Beach real estate have been aware for many years. Until now it was a common, but unproven side effect of some medications.
The Surgeon General of the United States has weighed in on the problem of obesity in our children. He claims that the problem of obesity in America’s children is two -pronged: poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Simple enough, but very true. We live in a world where the video game is more important than football or the old swing set in the backyard. Supper is often fast food or take out of some kind. Sure, if you are careful, you can find low fat take out, but do you? The important thing to remember at your Pebble Beach real estate, is that you have to teach your children what to eat and to work off the calories by encouraging them to go outside and play.
Maybe, some of you are wondering: ”How can I teach my children to cook responsible?”. Here is a link to a set of recipes that you can make with your children. Just in case you do not have time right now to follow that link, here is a recipe for a healthy dinner that you can make in the kitchen of your Pebble Beach real estate:
Ingredients:
- 1 yellow zucchini-chopped
- 3-4 large carrots-chopped
- 1 cup brown rice-uncooked
- 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes-undrained
- ½ of a small cauliflower-chopped
- ½ cup diced onions
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 49.5 oz can of chicken broth
- 1-2 tsp oregano
- 1-2 tsp Italian seasoning
Saute garlic and onion in oil in saucepan. Add and lightly saute carrots, zucchini, and cauliflower. Add broth, rice, and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Simmer 35 minutes or until rice is soft. Add seasoning.
By including your children in the preparation of the evening meals, you can educate them by encouraging them to emulate the meals that you cook. It doesn’t have to be a complex lesson in nutrition to stay with them through their adult years.
The author, Gregg Camp, sells Pebble Beach real estate as well as writes on senior topics as an SRES.