Healthy Choices 2: Kids & Nutrition Rewards (Healthy Living DIY)

In the last article, I mentioned a trial program by NY Mayor Bloomberg where they plan to offer financial rewards for those making certain healthy lifestyle choices. I had a reservation when I first read about this program, wondering if the promise of modest financial gain would really have any long-term benefit on people's desire for a healthy lifestyle.

[By the way, I've heard about certain health-centric businesses offering large-scale financial benefits for long-term healthy behavior among their employees. Different situation, ok?]

Well, I kept my reservation in the "incubation" zone until I read about some research data that had just come in about similar programs offered to school children. According to the article, the US Federal Government will spend more than $1 billion this year alone on nutrition education.

Just how well can we expect this investment of our tax dollars to pay off?

According to the Associated Press, their review of 57 scientific studies examining the results of school nutrition programs "found mostly failure."

The article cites failure after failure. The bottom line seems to be this:

People do what they're used to unless they have a really motivating reason to change. Even then, old habits die hard.
Kids model behavior seen at home, not just what they're taught at school.
Income is a factor in family food choices and exercise habits.
Advertising from publicly traded corporations outweighs the education byte that schools are able to provide. (Remember that July 4 article on Food Independence?)

To put this last bit in perspective, consider this. A billion tax dollars for nutrition education sounds like a lot right? But when you look at the advertising dollars spent in the US by just the top 3 cereal brands in 2004, General Mills, Kellog's, and Post, it adds up to over $621 million.

Just 3 brands of cereal!

No soda, fast food, or candy. No mac 'n cheese or boxed meal mixes. No noodle soup. No little nuggets of fried stuff. Just think what the number would be if we factored all those in! It's easy to see that the federal government's cute little programs, even on a healthy $1 billion budget, are no match for private advertisers.

Bottom line, while eating healthy has it's virtues, taste buds that are trained for junk still hunger for junk. Kids want the same junk as their friends get -- even if the teacher gives them a gold star for eating carrots during a school nutrition campaign.

Today's food for thought: How can we -- as individuals, family members, and community members -- create a situation where healthier choices are more appealing than the less healthy ones?

Elizabeth Eckert can help you explore how simple everyday choices create health — or undermine even the best of intentions. With a background that ranges from energy medicine to structural bodywork to developmental psychology, this "Stick-To-It Coach" has the experience to support you in creating the healthiest possible expression of — you!

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