Part of being a martial artist and a martial arts educator is inspiring us and our students to live a healthier life and maintain healthier eating habits. Today, I want to present some great web sites and organizations that every martial arts school owner should know about and implement within their schools. And every parent should support and check out for their children.
Currently, I believe that our nation is experiencing and eating dilemma. Our busy lives have driven us to feeding our kids with convenient prepackaged foods. And the worst part is advertising on TV betrays these foods as healthy. From lunch packets full of starches and fat to “health” drinks packed with sugar, it’s hard to find foods that are actually healthy.
There are many organizations that have already identified and address these social issues and provide great information and alternatives to this mainstream media food meltdown that the average American experiences on TV.
Slow Food Movement
The slow food movement grew as a counter-revolution to the current fast food movement. The slow food movement “seeks to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they insure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.”The slow food movement wants to get back to the days when families enjoyed time together around the dinner table ~ eating healthy, home-cooked meals. You can visit them at their website to read more about it at http://www.slowfoodusa.org.
Edible Schoolyards
One of my living heroes is Alice Walters. She was a predominant American chef in the 70’s. The goal of edible schoolyards to give “students’ hands-on experience in the kitchen and garden fosters a deeper appreciation of how the natural world sustains us and promotes the environmental and social well being of our school community.”The idea is to start vegetable gardens at local schools and have children work in the gardens. This year at our martial arts school, I plan to have a garden outside our school for students to take care of during the growing season.
For more information about edible schoolyards, visit their website at http://www.edibleschoolyard.org. Also, check out the square foot garden website at http://www.squarefootgardening.com. Square foot gardening is a perfect intensive gardening method to use at any school.
Fruit and Veggie Matters
This website was formerly the 5 a day website. The idea of Fruit and Veggie Matters is to educate and influence people to eat at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables.
This idea of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day can easily be implemented as part of any martial arts program. It also stimulates a lifelong habit of eating healthy for your students.
Visit the website at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov for more information.
Well, there you have it. My picks for three must see healthy eating and living organizations.
Sensei Tim Rosanelli
Maximum Impact Karate
(215) 249-3532
www.maximpactkarate.com
timrosanelli.blogspot.com
60situpschallenge.blogspot.com
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