Our Youth:
Are you aware that our children are the first generation predicted to not outlive their parents? This is greatly weighed on the eating habits and lack of exercise of our children. What do your children eat, what is a snack in your house, do you pack lunches or let them buy school lunch. When is the last time you visited your child’s cafeteria to see what you $2.25 is buying? How healthy of a meal can you buy for $2.25?
Having walked through the school cafeteria a few weeks ago at the school I am at, I observed some of the lunch food that is served. The “hot” lunch was spaghetti and 1 meatball, garlic bread and frozen ice pop. I then glanced at the longest line in the room. It was the burger, fried chicken sandwich, pizza, chips, and cookie line. You know all the good healthy food! I then took a look at who was standing in the lines and realized that yes we do have an obesity problem within our youth.
That evening I asked my elementary aged children about their school bought lunch and what they thought about it. I then asked if they would rather bring their own. They immediately jumped to the idea and said that school lunch is gross and they don’t give you enough. So that Sunday we went to Target and bought new lunch boxes and started packing lunch. We make lunch at night and have them ready for the am so there is no scrambling while trying to get out the door. The kids are involved in picking our their snacks and what their protein will be. I have occasionally asked them since they have started if they like packing their lunch. The answer every time is YES, So much better. So what do you pack them?
We have learned that if we slowly remove the sugary items from our kitchen they wont ask for it. If the item is not available they will learn to eat what is right for them. All four of our kids ask for fruit and sometimes even seconds for veggies! Our lunches consist of a water, a protein for the main dish (turkey, ham, or prosciutto), fruit or veggies x2 and then a “treat.” Remembering that they are kids we still put one item in their box that is kids friendly. Over time we hope to remove the “treat” and make it a Paleo treat!
If we together join forces and start with our kids it will spread to others. Other kids will see what they are eating at lunch and will become curious and tell their parents. When their friends come over to play and their snack is healthy, they will start looking for that at their house. Then the meals start changing. We have the ability and all the resources to change this fast growing problem. Lets start within our own Crossfit homes with educating our kids about food and whats right. They might be resistant or not want it at first but they come around the more they see it and when their “whys” are answered about it. Save the $2.25 for the so called “hot” healthy lunch and go to Costco and stock up. It will save you money over time. When the cafeteria’s see the lack of buyers they will clue in that they are poisoning our youth.
Snack for the kids- tell them its a fruit roll up and they will think it came from the box!
All-Natural Fruit Roll-Ups
Ingredients:
2 large apples
2 cups strawberries
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ cup purified water
Clean, core and dice apples. Add diced apples and strawberries in a blender and add a ¼ cup of purified water and cinnamon and process about 30 seconds or until smooth. Pour mixture on a teflex sheet (a Teflon-coated sheet commonly used to dehydrate delicate foods) and place in a plastic dehydrator. Dehydrate for 6-8 hours, remove teflex and flip fruit. Continue drying another 4-6 hours or until desired consistency is achieved. Use a pizza cutter to slice into snack-size pieces.
The last two recipes may be done in an oven if you don’t have a food dehydrator. Times will vary so keep an eye on it, but they will likely take about as long. A good rule of thumb when using an oven to dehydrate is to set the temperature between 100 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep the oven slightly cracked for the duration of the dehydration.
The WOD:
5 rounds for time
team up with someone of equal strenth :
Take 85 % of your team average dead lift- ( in example: person #1- PR= 200 and person #2 PR= 225, team average would be 212, then take 85% of 212 and lift that weight)
While 1 person dead lifts that weight the other completes one burpee. The dead lift and the burpee must be completed at the same time. The burpee member may not go ahead of the dead lifter.
Complete 5 reps on dead lift and then switch with partner and complete burpee
run 40 yrds together
