Last week I was reminded how much we can learn from our children about healthy living. My son just completed a week at Art Camp. As I attended the Art Show that concluded the camp I was amazed at the variety of items children can create when given a set of art supplies, a project, and given the instructions “come up with your own creation.” I was very impressed with with the detail of the projects designed and completed by my six year old. Life throught the eyes of a child is very colorful and exciting.
As he told me what he had done each day I was reminded of going to camp when I was a child and the opportunity it gave me to explore activities that did not fit in my “normal” routine through the school year. Somewhere through the process of growing up we seem to forget the value of trying things periodically that are outside our “normal” routine. You may be wondering how this applies to healthy eating.
A full, healthy life includes variety. Variety in the foods we eat and variety in the activities we participate in. As we all move through our busy schedules we tend to fall into routines to be sure everything gets done. We often see healthy eating or exercise to be an unrealistic addition to our already full schedule. I would propose that healthy eating and exercise energizes us to keep up with our busy schedules. How do we change direction without completely derailing our schedule? I think the summer camp perspective can be applied to move us in a positive direction toward more healthy lifestyle choices.
Food comes in a wide variety of colors, tastes, and textures. Your body needs a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc. to work the way it is intended to. How can we apply a “summer camp”-like experience to meal planning? Once a month try a dish from a different culture or simply a new mix of spices. Periodically introduce some different textures of food to a meal. Give yourself, and your family, a chance to get used to new things. Let your creative juices flow. As I have gradually introduced some more variety int our diet I have found my family is more willing to try new things because other new things turned out to be good.
Can this same approach can also be applied to exercise routines? I find myself getting bored with my routine periodically. If I try out a new exercise class for a month or pull out a workout DVD that I haven’t used in a while it recharges my interest in exercising. That helps motivate me to keep moving instead of slowing down. Exercise does not have to be complicated, just consistently keep your body moving. You will ultimately find energy you forgot you had.
How do you add variety to your eating or exercise routine? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
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