Exclusive Video: Shrink and Groove—Back to School and Healthy Routines

Now that the mayhem of summer is over, it’s time to get back on schedule and back to your healthy living plan. For some families, summer provides more relaxed time, but for most people that wonderful lack of structure creates somewhat of a free for all when it comes to following a healthy diet. Whichever category you fall into, September is here! It’s back to school and back to healthy living.
In today’s video, Pat from San Francisco navigates the big challenges during the school year:

• Getting everyone ready (including yourself) in the morning;
• Planning breakfast with realistic expectations for what you have time to prepare;
• Eating breakfast mindfully, and not in the car during drop off;
• Making lunches for you and your kids the night before;
• Being sure to make time for preparing your own lunch so you don’t end up at the “roach coach” out of ease;
• Dinner also needs to be planned ahead to avoid rushing to get food ready while nagging kids to do their homework;
• Making time for you and your children to exercise, whether it’s organized sports or bike riding;
• Carefully choosing healthy snack foods to keep in the house.

TRY THESE OTHER GREAT TIPS:
Avoid grazing and nibbling while preparing meals.
Simple, easy-to-prepare meals are fine. They don’t need to be gourmet—just nutritious and satisfying.
Helpful information suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Try to get your child’s school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water, and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines. Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Restrict your child’s soft drink consumption.
Research shows that children who eat healthier meals get higher grades. Groovy, eh?
Have a great week!
—Ellen
Ellen is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Redwood City, California. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates the use of mindfulness into the treatment of depression, anxiety, and emotional overeating. She runs a holistic weight loss program called Center for Thoughtful Weight Loss, www.thoughtfulweightloss.com. You can email Ellen at ellen@thoughtfulweightloss.com and follow her on Twitter at @thoughtfullellen.
Copyright © 2011 Ellen N. Resnick, LCSW