Live It Articles Goals for a Healthier Family

It’s that time of year when we all think about a new beginning and setting new goals.

I want to be honest with you. When I joined First Place 19 years ago, my thoughts were not on health, just losing weight. One of the miracles that God has done in my life is to completely change my thought life about why I continue in First Place. I am what you would call a First Place “lifer.” As I consider new goals for 2003, my concerns are as much about health as they are about weight loss.

What a blessing we receive through our faithfulness to the commitments in First Place in the area of “good health.” The basic information we learn and apply improves our chances of avoiding cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Of course, there is no guarantee that we won’t contract a major illness; however, we are doing “our part” to deflect these awful diseases that are plaguing our country. We live in a country that affords the best medical technology and the best food at a cost people can afford; yet, we are losing the battle to diseases that we could avoid if we choose to consistently eat healthier and get proper exercise. We often refuse to buy grapes because the price seems too high, then, throw a bag of chips in the cart that cost several times more per pound. We end up paying $100 per month for the prescription of medicine to bring our cholesterol down that the bag of chips caused to rise. I would like to challenge each of our First Place members to make it a “goal” this New Year to make choices that benefit the entire family.

I was shocked when I heard the news that there was a lawsuit against McDonalds because a child who often ate there was obese. My first reaction was, “Aren’t the parents responsible?” Then, I remembered statistics I recently read about McDonald’s and Burger King spending more than $1 billion on advertising each year! Our government has a fraction of that budget to teach Americans the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.

As a First Place member, I have developed a desire to learn the basics of good nutrition. I sometimes assume that others know what I know. When I take my grandchildren to a fast food restaurant, it is not for a healthy meal; it is a treat, a fun outing. I then realize that I need to prepare healthy food for them at the next meal. We can find healthy choices when we eat out, but it takes effort and some good glasses since the nutritional information is usually in very fine print. You are likely to pick up a small package of dressing that looks like a good choice judging the calories; yet, in very fine print on the back, you see that the small package contained 3 servings and it was not a good choice at all. I believe our government may come to the decision that some of the fast food choices we are given need to come with a warning label, much like you see on a tobacco product. Without some type of warning or good nutritional education for all Americans, we are going to continue to see sick, obese children and angrier, litigious parents.

Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder. Only 5percent of childhood diabetes cases were obesity-related, or Type 2 diabetes. Today, according to the National Institute of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in our country. In 1969, $2.6 billion was spent on health-care costs related to diabetes. Today’s number is an unbelievable amount of $100 billion a year. Diabetes is now listed as the #6 disease causing deaths in America. Wow! This is a disease when diagnosed early can often be held at bay or maintained with healthy eating choices and proper exercise. Yet, many do not choose to follow the good advice given by health professionals. I have Type 2 Diabetes in my family history and I believe that if God had not brought me to First Place 19 years ago, I would probably have been diagnosed with Diabetes 10 years ago.

I pray that God will give each of us the strength to make healthy choices for ourselves and for those that depend on us. Bev Henson wrote a great article last month about exercising with your children, which is so important. We all know that children learn from what they see their parents do. If you take the time to fill your home with healthy food choices, your children will begin to like them.

The healthy goals you set, and faithfully keep this New Year, will benefit your entire family. Ask God to provide you the desire to attain knowledge and the strength to be consistent.

May God Bless Each of You and Your Family!

Kay Smith
First Place Associate Director


P.S. I receive calls each week from members looking for the Fast Food Facts and Convenience Food Facts books that we formerly carried. You can find these books at www.idcpublishing.com. or call, 1-888-637-2675 and request a catalog.

Kay is the associate national director of First Place and has been on the First Place staff since 1987.

Kay is a popular speaker at retreats, seminars, Conferences, FOCUS Weeks and Workshops across the country. Kay is the First Place food exchange expert and writes a monthly article in the First Place E-Newsletter on nutrition. She also was a contributing writer to the Today Is the First Day devotional book. Her delightful personality and love for people endears her to everyone she meets, and they quickly become her new best friend.

Kay and her husband, Joe, live in Roscoe, TX. They have two children and five grandchildren. Two of the young grandchildren are making a name for themselves on the golf circuit. Two of the young grandchildren are making a name for themselves on the golf circuit, and the three oldest grandsons are all involved in numerous sporting events, which Kay and Joe attend as often as possible.