So I’m talking with a friend the other night and we’re chit-chatting about nutrition and workouts and doing a 3 day juice cleanse (even in my spare time I talk about this stuff, can you stand it?) and then she goes on to mention how at her kid’s soccer practice (they’re young, maybe 7 or 8 years old), about halfway through the running around, the kicking, the yelling and more running, the whole group stops to replenish. Pretty standard I guess. I don’t attend kid’s soccer practices but I’m a ready audience, willing to believe what is told to me.
She then details the snack: 3 Oreo’s each and a juice box.
Jaw, floor, in an instant.
Are you KIDDING me?
What brilliant “coach” came up with that snack idea? Elmer Fudd? I’m still speechless over this… c’mon! Is it any wonder that we’re in the middle of a childhood obesity epidemic? Coach: “Hey kids, run around like little field mice and when you’ve had enough come on in for a break and we’ll inject you with as much sugar as we possibly can!” Kids: “Yeah, we love sugar!!!!!!!!!”
Ugh.
What happened to orange slices and water? That’s what we got back in the day. (I all of a sudden feel like my grandparents, droning on about how back in the old days they had to walk 5 miles to school, uphill both ways with no shoes and how it took a week’s worth of child labor wages to buy a piece of candy!) Now Oreo’s fall from the sky.
But seriously, I was appalled to hear that that was their snack and maybe someone had a lazy moment in the supermarket and grabbed the easiest thing possible but c’mon, this is the future and they’re getting fatter and fatter each day. Pick up a bag of little carrots instead. Make an effort, these are your kids… and research claims that if this obesity trend continues, this is going to be the first generation that will not have a longer lifespan than their parents. That’s crazy!
I think soccer, Oreo’s and juice boxes should be the first thing to go! Any thoughts?
Anne Marie Costanzo is a nationally certified personal trainer and owner of Little Black Dress Personal Training. She can be reached at AM@LittleBlackDressPT.com or (914) 841-1121.
