Bring back oranges ... please

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If your child participates in a youth sport — soccer or t-ball — and you’ve been asked to bring a “team” snack, what sorts of foods have you provided? Before you answer that question, consider the halftime nibbles of oranges and apples that parents used to bring. Today, that sideline snack scenario has changed, however, such that many players now expect a game “reward” of junk food. The choices are many: Doritos, Oreos, Fruit Roll-Ups, donuts, Rice Krispy Treats and Kool-Aid. Read the label on any of those foods and you’ll see ingredients like partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (a fat that’s converted into cholesterol-raising trans fats), sugar, high fructose corn syrup, salt and artificial colors and flavors. Junk food is fine once in a while but, sadly, many kids eat it way too often. And on weekends when children bounce from one event to another, they end up devouring more high-calorie, nutritionally empty goodies than on any other day of the week. It just doesn’t feel right. Many youngsters today are overweight and obese while lots more are poorly nourished — eating nowhere near the recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. I am writing this letter to urge every parent and coach who participate in a youth sport to go back to the old days when fruit was the only thing parents brought to games. If all of us agree to make that commitment, every child will benefit and no child will feel cheated when they don’t get a bag of chips or cookies after a game. It’s a small step but an important one. Physical activity and good nutrition should go hand in hand so let’s all make it happen now. Fresh and dried fruit options to pair with a cold bottle of water can include the following: • Oranges • Apples • Strawberries • Watermelon • Grapes The way I see it, kids are not born liking Doritos and Oreos. Eating habits are learned. This weekend, teach your children that all they need after an hour of soccer is a sweet snack of fresh fruit. Trust me. They’ll gobble it up. • Wellness Event Reminder: It’s not too late to sign up for the Quick Fix Meals Cooking Class that will take place Tuesday at 6 pm in the Hy-Vee Club Room. To make a reservation, call 787-3070. Wellness works … Make it work for you.