Family Nutrition If past suggestions to your family about improving nutrition or weight loss haven’t led to change then don’t feel you’re out of options. Changing lifelong habits can take more than one motivating idea. As a first step, consider how the message is being presented. If the family ‘health talk’ comes across as judgmental about body weight or character it will likely be dismissed. Complicating matters, motivational suggestions about nutrition can fall flat because the short-term gratification of eating junk food can overshadow the distant benefit of better physical health. Another approach is to link food choices to altruistic aims. For many, making a socially valuable choice provides a motivational pleasure of its own. For example, if faced with a stockpile of leftover Halloween candy you might suggest, “ Don’t you think eating a real apple would be better for the environment than an-apple- flavored Starburst?” Mentioning the manipulative nature of food advertisements and “food engineering” intended to make foods more addictive resonates with some as a reason in itself to steer away from junk foods. Adolescents, find motivation to change when they see a connection between their behavior and the strongly held values (social justice, health of the nation, environment, etc.) of their peers. For more ideas about motivational messages read Lisa Damour’s article, “3 Ways to Get Kids to Eat Better.” Her suggestions might even motivate adults. Isn’t there a kid in all of us? If you’ve misplaced you inner kid, join me for a morning walk. Together, we’ll work on finding it. Nancy Neighbors, MD Do Diet Sodas Help You Lose Weight? While diet sodas have fewer calories than their sugary cousins, they can undermine weight loss efforts. In a study comparing diet sodas with water, the water group lost almost 20% more and had greater improvements in fasting insulin. As shown in an interesting infographic, water also provides benefits when compared with the nutrient robbing effect of sodas. (Also see infographic showing negative effects of diet drinks.) While abandoning the sweet taste of carbonated diet drinks can be a challenge, your teeth will thank you, and your health, and your wallet. For more about this study read Nicholas Bakalar’s article, “For Weight Loss, Water Beats Diet Sodas.” Thoughts to Eat By • Begin with simple goals. Reduce portion size and begin walking at a pace that feels good. • Avoid dinners for four unless there are three other's joining you. • If you don't have cookies in the cookie jar, you won't eat cookies. • Portion size is what puts pounds on and takes them off. • Healthy eating starts at the supermarket. • Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels. |