Starting small.
- Antoinet Webster
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
Newborn
We all started out small! Hearing that you have a healthy baby is a profound moment filled with joy and relief. Those words are reassurance that the new life is off to a good beginning. Maintaining the health of a new born may require regular check ups, monitionring their weight, nutritional guidance on feeding, with Doctors often recommending breastfeeding or Iron-fortifiled infant formula as the primary source of nutrition for the first 6 months of life. Well, atleast for some babies. I was fortunate to be breastfed up until two years old! LoL! Got enough milk mom?
Child
Transitioning, we are then gradually introduced to our parents home cooked meals. Maybe beginning with your mothers smooth, savory and flavorful mashed pototaoes, providing soft, easily digestible nutritients and a good introduction to texture. Or your grandmothers freshly steam collard greens that softens the greens, making it easier to swallow and disgest. And lastly, can't forget using the palmar grasp on dads famous grilled chicken that provides nutrients like protein, iron and zinc.
Childhood
Entering our childhood age (1-12), our parents/guardians would prioritize nutrition, keeping in mind, growth and development, placing a focus on healthy eating habits and overall well-being. Maybe your grandparent cooked oatmeal every morning ensuring you are getting enough whole-grains to fuel you through the morning. Or your bonus parent weekends filled with sizzling turkey bacon, prioritizing protein. Let's not forget grocery trips with mom who restricts and/or limits the consumption of sugary drinks. "DRINK SOME WATER" she would say.
Teen
As a teenager, you are becoming more independent and may want to try new things and experiement with different cuisines. Socialization with friends involves you adapting to their cultural cuisine experience. Resturants and convenient stores become more accessible because you may be busier with school or other activities.
Adult
Then there's adulting. Life can be... very... lifing. This experience is different for every individual. One may become more busy with school, while another is juggling multiple jobs, leaving you limited time to prepare your meals. Causing you to rely more on the fast food resturants and/or convenient stores.
Summary with a personal touch
Growing up from the newborn stage to most of our teenage years, your parents/guardians goal was to prioritize health, ensuring we were fed the proper nutritious meals that builds their young life into a healthy individual. Adulthood, we can often feel sped up. Speaking for myself, I would often adapt to quicky foods from fast food resturants, to convenients stores. Disregarding the basic foods that form the foundation of a diet, often prepared at home as I was shown growing up. I decided to choose foods that often had a low nutritional value, made fast and ready to eat almost on regular basis. I would often feel slugish, felt I was never "full" or even satisfied.
Well, whats it to ya?
The fact is, food choices we make daily significantly impacts the physical and mental well-being, influencing everything from energy levels and mood to long-term health outcomes. According to News in Health , "A new study shows how the things you eat can influence your risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes.
Start small...
If you were like me and became astray from the fundemental eating habits that were shown to you as a child and you are looking for somewhere to get started, this is a reminder to start small. Start by making small, manageable changes rather than overhauling your entire diet. Focus on incorporating more fruits and vegetables, swapping refined grains for whole grains, and being mindful of portion sizes. Remember, these are habits we may have been shown at an early age with the intention to maintain a healthy diet for a healthy youth. So, lets start back small, TOGETHER! on the road to a healthier life style.
Author
Antoinet Webster
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