Food Journal Reflection
Did I really need to see on paper just how bad my eating and
exercise habits have become? Yes I did!
My goal going forward: to keep a journal and see myself get
better. What has happened? Well I know a few things: I have
gotten lazy about cooking, lazy about exercise, and I have always been great at
finding an excuse for myself to not do something.
It is so much easier to do something quick or stop somewhere on
the way home for dinner. Between my nights at school and my son's busy
sports life it is hard to work a good home cooked meal into the schedule.
I have always been the Queen of Procrastination but that leads to bad
eating. And on those days/nights when he is with his dad, cooking for one
is no fun. Cheese and crackers is easy and tasty. I was a mouse in
another life; I am sure of it.
Then there is the exercise piece, or lack thereof. I was
talking with another mom at a game. We wondered why when life gets
harried and out of control is exercise the first thing to go? It is when
we need exercise the most. I used to
swim three days a week in a Masters program. I loved it. But I've
gotten busy and haven't had the extra funds.
However, I want to change my lazy habit.
In looking back I realize that I didn't do a very good job of
setting a goal for myself. It was kind
of generic (eat more veggies) and not very quantifiable. In working with my student mentor for another
class, I found myself setting a goal with her and working with her on it being
a stretch but attainable and having to adjust it once reached. I will take that experience into my teaching
rather than my goal setting I did for myself.
Whether we like it or not, we are all role models. Those young eyes see what we do and hear what
we say. It is true that actions speak
louder than words. It is important to
remember that and make good choices. The
kind of choices we would want our students to make. I have read in many places how snack is
important to kids of all ages. Therefore, I will encourage healthy snacks
and bring one too. Fortunately, I have seen snack time modeled without
losing classroom time. It can be done with little disruption and the
benefits are great. Am I snacking healthy? I will make an effort
and I will help them make healthy choices too. And I bet they might
notice a change of shoes and a brisk walk taken at lunchtime too.
This activity can be applied in so many fun ways in the classroom:
goal setting, math analysis (calories, conversions, servings, etc.), writing (predications,
results, a poem of the things you ate today), art, science. It can go with everything. When we take an activity like this and make
it fun, the kids will learn so much. I
am having visions of art from what you ate for lunch. Now wouldn't that stress out the lunch lady?
One step at a time. Awareness is the first step.
Action is second. I am making progress, slowly. Going to get
a piece of fruit.
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