Jumpified Me

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We are blessed with two beautiful kids. We both work full time and like all parents try our best to be as involved with our kids’ educational development and values. Growing up no one taught at school about healthy eating and having a well balanced perspective on my body. Well, culturally, Tibetans prefer if you look “healthy”-meaning thin, slim etc. is not really considered beautiful, so I guess I did receive informal traditional guidance.

My little girl is 4 years old and she is already so aware about how she appears that I have to be ultra conscious about everything I say and do. In the morning we rush out, as soon as she eats breakfast. The only meals I know she has eaten are breakfast and dinner. I pack her a healthy snack of fruit/juice/ cheese/ vegetables/yogurt or whole what crackers.  But I always wonder if she really does snack healthy or has eaten lunch. Neither am I there throughout the day as she is exposed to so many views and people; often whom have a strong influence on her. I do sound neurotic!!!!

When my daughter came back from school couple of weeks ago, excited about Jump Rope for Heart program at school (check the website  http://www.jumpropeforheart.ca/). All my worries (well, that is bit of an exaggeration, a mother’s worry never ceases, I am sure a lot of us can vouch for that as our mom’s continue to be on our cases) came to a grinding halt. I was assured and felt fortunate that her school, (read about school lunches in the USA http://www.zomppa.com/2010/05/19/5709/) her teacher was my partner in developing my daughter to be exposed to values that we hoped she would imbibe-the importance of physical activity, healthy eating and social responsibility.

We sent out our requests for donations, and on the day of the program, my little girl and her friend came back home telling me about

-          why smoking was bad for your lungs

-          why eating healthy  was important – she was particular about broccoli, carrots, tofu – and how it would make her strong and beautiful!!!!

-          why exercise and jumping was good (now I cannot stop her from skipping inside and outside the house- be careful what you ask for!)

The program was initiated by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Such programs are so greatly needed in schools. Some startling facts that kids of this generation may not live long as their parents, due to childhood obesity should make us all concerned, right!!!! (Check the post on obesity in the USA http://zomppa.org/2010/04/22/research-to-date/)  Can you believe almost 1.6 million kids are obese in Canada!!!

As parents, we often are hard on ourselves but I have learned that we are not alone in bringing up our kids we have partners. Our part is to make sure that

-          we are involved

-          we teach our kids and learn to make healthy food choices

-          let our partners-teachers, school –  know that as parents we support them, by volunteering when we get the opportunity, continue the  learning at home and if there are no such programs see how we can make an effort to change it!

I may be biased but it would be so wonderful, when zomppa bus arrives! Zomppa.org is our non-profit arm; our mandate is to “inspire a global perspective and local consciousness in children through an engaging, interactive, and accessible mobile food museum to promote a healthier, more peaceful, more delicious world.”

Till then let’s jump with our kids for our hearts!!!

Tags: food, health, health-childrens-health, health-fitness, healthy-snack, heart, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Jump Rope for Heart, kids, obesity, snack

Category: Featured Articles: Food Politics, Featured Articles: Health & Nutrition, Food Politics, Health & Nutrition, Kids & Food, Travel & Culture, US & Canada