Soda Intake

One thing our 4th grade classes looked at this year was how much sugar we take in each year through the soda we drink. This project was an eye opener for many of our students. I have done this project for the last few years and each year I have a handful of students who, based on our estimates, take in over 100 pounds of sugar a year from soda intake alone. That doesn't include other junk foods that usually accompany the soda. ( I mean, who washes down their broccoli and bananas with a Mountain Dew?) And there are many students who take in over 20 pounds of sugar a year. This is a large contributor to the number of overweight children in our country.

The good news is, this problem can be easily addressed. Cut back on the amount of soda we allow our children to drink and the amount we ourselves drink. After all, our children copy our behaviors. I'm not saying one should stop drinking it completely. I like a soda once in a while, too. But drinking a soda once in a while is a lot different than 2 or more every day.

If you or your kids drink more soda than you should, try these tips to scale back the amount consumed.

- Substitute milk or water. It's a lot cheaper and a lot healthier. Be careful with fruit juices as a substitute. If it's not pure juice it probably has a lot of added sugar. And Kool-Aid isn't much better than soda.

- If you don't think you can cut the soda (or caffeine) out completely, cut back gradually, slowly substituting water or milk, especially with meals.

- Try diet sodas instead of regular. At least the sugar is gone.

- Especially avoid drinking soda during hot weather or sports activities. It will just dehydrate you sooner, possibly leading to heat illness.

Got Exercise?

One of the best things we can do for our own health is to exercise on a regular basis. But many people feel they don't have time or maybe can't afford a gym membership or expensive home equipment. Well, I have good news. You don't have to spend lots of money on a gym membership or fancy equipment that ends up gathering dust. You just need to give yourself about 20 minutes 4-5 days a week. Keep in mind, though, if you are not currently an active person, you should check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

Check out the following links for some more helpful information.

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/stretching-exercise.html

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/physical/basics/059.html