Be Well
“I saw few die of hunger; of eating, a hundred thousand.” – Benjamin Franklin
In reference to Mr. Franklin’s quote above – he obviously was very astute (on many levels!) though I am not certain he took his own advice as he was quite corpulent. Although I doubt Mr. Franklin partook of “fast food” it appears that poor eating habits are not new to the 21st century.
Eating can be such a pleasure; a good meal filled with nutrient-rich foods, prepared well and shared with others is a wonderful experience. That is a meal which will leave us satiated and our bodies fueled with the energy we need to “take on the day.” How often do your meals fit that description? Always? Often? Sometimes or maybe never?
My first experience with a “drive thru” meal was about 1965 or so when my family tried out the new Clancy’s on Tenth Street in Noblesville. (I was 15, so I guess you can, sigh, do the math!) My dad drove up the window (no speakers then) and placed our order and we received our meal in a bag and drove away – how cool was that! Thankfully, however, most of my family meals growing up were spent sitting at the dinner table with family enjoying simple fare prepared at home. Unfortunately, life has changed for most of us due to increased scheduling demands and the opportunities to eat poorly outweigh (really, no pun intended here) the opportunities to properly plan our meals.
My interest in nutrition and wellness has persevered over the years throughout a long management career and kept alive in part due to my 20+ years as a certified fitness instructor pursued alongside my professional career. (Now I feel tired just thinking about that!)
As I am now in my “rewired” retirement, I am again teaching classes and responding to those who approach me to ask my opinion in nutrition matters by becoming certified through the American Fitness Professionals Association in nutrition and wellness consulting. I found the study and practicum to be essential to helping clients to assess their eating habits and to meet their weight management and nutritional goals.
Discussing strategies and plans to optimize better fitness and food relationships is very rewarding to me as I work with my clients. Continuing education through AFPA enables me to be on the forefront of presenting the best opportunities and information to those who seek my assistance.
Alas, “fast food” is here to stay, but so are the options to increase our personal eating plans to be more nutrient-rich and satisfying.
As we close up the summer season and look forward to fall, the local produce stands can be your best friend. When in doubt about the source of your produce, simply ask if the items are organic. In particular, I would advise that any items which are consumed with “skin on” should definitely be organic. There are specific guidelines in place by the USDA for organically grown produce. If there is the slightest bit of mold visible, pass it up even if it is on sale! Clean your produce carefully and be creative in your meal planning and snacking – Bon appétit!
Sharon McMahon, CNWC
The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace advice of your personal physician or licensed health professional. Please consult your physician for any issues you may have related to nutrition or fitness activity.