The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 1st Issue | Page 27

Be sure to follow us Feature Article knowing eating healthy will improve their performance Step 4. Set a goal and stick with it until you’ve mastered it is important. Poor eating habits maybe contributing to Our family’s first goal was to start the day with eating missed days of school due to colds and flu. If focus and a healthy breakfast. For example, we had to decide learning are a challenge making better food choices what a healthy breakfast is, then strategies to make gives you the nutrition to make learning easier. it happen. As a family we decided the easiest and community where we live. If your kids are in sports, then Scientists know diets high in fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts improve learning, athletic performance, reduce weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The Juice Plus Children’s Health Study* has research on over 150,000 children around the world, demonstrating children who eat a whole food supplement, eat Juice Plus+ whole food supplement, eat more fruits, vegetables, drink less sugar drinks miss less school, less doctor visits and experience improved health. Step 3. Everyone learns the importance of healthy eating Now your family has to learn this too. How you teach your kid and how they learn is age and developmentally specific, however the grocery store is a good place to start, learning about fruits and vegetables, what they are, why they are good for you. When you understand why eating healthy is important, how good it can be for you, and if you do not eat healthy how bad it most nutritious option was to make smoothies each morning. The kids decided on the smoothie recipes they liked trying different ones until they settled on 2 – 3 variations. If they were late for school the smoothie went into the car with us to save time. After about three weeks we were all consistently drinking smoothies and very happy with our decision. Our next goal was to stay away from the fast food restaurants. To do this we traveled with food in our car for snacks, and had food ready at home for dinner to expedite the time from our arrival home to food in front of the kids. Helping your family eat healthy is not always easy, certainly not without obstacles but it’s well worth it. Once our children started down the road to better health they missed less school due to illness, improved their focus, and grades. They slept better and were happier kids. u Your partner in health, can be; it’s easier to make the healthy decision. For example, I remember my granny telling me to eat carrots because they help you to see at night. I did not want to be blind so of course I ate those carrots! Didn’t you? *The Juice Plus+ Children’s Health Study is enrolling now for ages 4 – 18. If you would like to know more about it, contact the local representative Cindy Cohen RN, 800.245.8917 [email protected] About the Author: Cindy Cohen is a registered nurse with 35 years of experience from the bedside to CEO of a hospital. Cohen is recognized as an accomplished author, wellness expert, and corporate wellness leader. As a health coach and wellness consultant, Cohen is the guiding force behind the C2 Your Health team in helping others find their way to improved personal and business wellness. C2 Your Health LLC, through the corporate wellness division Health-E 4 Life Worksite Wellness, assisted industry leaders with certification and was awarded the 2009 - 11 Indiana Small Business Wellness Tax Credit. C2 Your Health LLC also promotes the annual Expo for Women bring wellness to the community. Cohen has written a number of books, the latest 2012 Prevention Benefits Healthy Employee Costs Less (Amazon.com), and 2013 What’s on Your Plate a Simple Guide to Healthy Cooking (Amazon.com) Cohen speaks on a local and national level about personal health, corporate wellness, and business leadership. Her expertise helped build an award winning franchise as a Qualified National Marketing Director for the Juice Plus+ Corporation winning the Top 10 in the category for developing new business. Other awards include the 2000 Temple Beth El Woman of the Year, the 2009 nomination for WSBT & Enrichment Strategies “Success Story of the Year”, the 2010 -11 Annual Social Media Summit nomination for the Up and Coming Business Award, and the 2012 Wellness Council of America Faculty Status. You can find Cindy www.fb.com/CindyCohenRN, www.Linkedin.com/in/ CindyCohen, www.CindyCohenRN.com [email protected] 800-245-8917 vm Winter 2014 ~ The SpecialMoms magazine   27