My 4 ½ year old son, Evan, was on quite a roll this
morning!He started off by telling me
his leg hurt.I asked him if he hit it
on something and he said no.I then
explained that when his body grows, it can cause his body to hurt
sometimes.He said, “Oh, I know why!I think I ate too much candy for Halloween.”I stopped in my tracks and smiled.“Really?You think that’s why?”He said, “Yes.Mommy, will you give me something healthy to
eat?I need to make my leg feel better.”I almost fell over.I explained to him that the foods he ate for
breakfast were actually healthy (whole grain waffles, yogurt, orange juice) so
that should make his leg feel better soon.
I think Evan remembered me telling he and his sister about
how candy can make them feel “yucky” if they eat too much.I’ve explained that eating some candy is
fine, but eating a lot can make them feel sick and can even take some of their “super
powers” away.Even when I thought Evan
wasn’t listening, I think that made an impression on him after all.
My kids, Evan & Hannah, about to head out trick or treating!
As parents, let’s remember to tell our children the “why’s”
behind being healthy.Avoid making
associations between food and weight or "to avoid getting granny's sugar disease," but instead
mention things that matter to them right now.Evan loves soccer, being strong, smart and running fast.I tell him that eating healthy foods help him
with those things and he gets it.Get
them invested in the healthy lifestyle for their own reasons; it will stick
with them for the rest of their lives.[By
the way, he recently started eating broccoli after over 3 years of rejecting it
on his plate and now he says it’s his favorite food. Perserverance in healthy messgaging and exposure pays off!]
Stick with those positive messages, Mom and Dad.They are listening even when you don’t think
they are.I was reminded today that my
son is listening to me. J
Meet Jill Jayne, Registered Dietitian with a severe passion for child nutrition. Also meet Jill Jayne, musician, songwriter and creative performer. Who do you have? Jill Jayne, the world's only Rockstar Nutritionist. Jill specializes in engaging and empowering children to make healthy food and activity choices. One of the reasons I love Jill's business model is because I have always believed that empowerment is one of the keys to a child's long-term success in healthy eating. Jill Jayne's performances do just that. She understands that a person can have all the knowledge in the world, but that knowledge must be taught in creative and memorable ways that will last after the educational session. In this case, Jill puts on an age-appropriate and age-interesting show that knocks kids socks off. I have experienced her Rockstar Nutritionist show firsthand, and I and everyone else that attended was left wanting more of her energy and knowledge! We were on our feet the entire time singing, dancing and learning, all simultaneously. Jill's shows historically have focused on elementary school children, however, her shows have been so popular all around the country - over 100,000 children will have seen her show after her Spring 2010 tour - that she is now branching out into the preschool and adolescent population. Jill has a preschool CD entitled, "Jill and Jam" slated for release this Fall. She has just launched a creative new website for adolescents, very aptly named http://www.iwillnotbebought.com/.
Jill is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in nutrition education from Columbia University and a bachelor's in nutrition and theater from Penn State University. The resulting combination launched a unique and exciting career in nutrition entertainment. Before becoming a professional Rockstar Nutritionist, Jill was writer, producer and host of the nationally-syndicated, nationally-acclaimed children's nutrition news program What's in the News for PBS and a New York City public school teacher. Jill is also the lead singer of a real life band called Sunset West. Sunset West has toured and recorded extensively in the mainstream music scene including The Vans Warped Tour and The Next Great American Band on FOX. Jill is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but calls New York City home these days.
Whether you are a parent, teacher or community activist, consider booking The Rockstar Nutritionist to come to your local school or school district. Find the point person for assemblies-- this might be the school nurse, principal, food service director, or PTA. This person is in charge of the school's assembly funds or a pocket of money for health education. You need an advocate on the inside, like a gym teacher or PTA person. Present Jump with Jill's press kit to your local PTA, or at parent teacher night. For more information on Jill's shows, including funding ideas and ways to receive discounts, go to: http://www.jumpwithjill.com/jwj/booking.
I have to say, her single off her Get Me Goin' CD called "Beat of the Body" is by and far my children's favorite tune. My children love the "Whoop! Whoop!" part so much, and the get that the song promotes moving their body so it works well - the heart, the lungs and the muscles. Jill has a music video for this song and I had to post it with this write-up. "It's the Beat of the Body, Whoop! Whoop!" I'm serious. Watch it once or twice and you're hooked. Rock on, Jill!!
