Nutrition

Nutrition

Promoting healthy eating and regular exercise; researching the effect of diet on the elderly; teaching the dangers of overeating and overdieting are the responsibility of public health nutritionists. In short supply in both public and private sectors, this field examines how food and nutrients affect the wellness and lifestyle of population. Nutrition encompasses the combination of education and science to promote health and disease prevention. (http://www.whatispublichealth.org/what/index.html#Maternal)

I chose nutrition is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart because since my own personal early childhood years, I have struggled with my weight. Surprisingly I was the fat, pretty, popular girl but none the less, I was fat. I would get picked on by mostly adults as a child, I remember once during summer camp, I wasn't allowed to go swimming with some of the others because the counselors commented that I was "too fat to be out there." I was even known as "Humpty Dumpty" in my community by adults. My parents did not know or understand what I was going through because I did have a lot of friends and I always seemed happy.

 When I finally reached high school, I began to understand the importance of healthy eating habits and exercising and the positive impact the two play not only on your body but also on your overall life. I began to take charge of my own healthy lifestyle and haven't looked back, today I am healthy and happy, however it still saddens me to know children all over will have to go through the same things I went through as a child simply because of their weight. If I can impact the experience for one child, I have succeeded. I think it is EXTREMELY important for parents, caregivers, communities to understand the importance of teaching healthy habits at an early age and helping children to practice these habits. There are so many deterrents now that limit physical activity from young children, most knowingly being video games, TV's and computers; this has got to stop. Children need to experience the bliss of running outside, playing a game of softball or tag, jump roping...

Recently, in the US there has recently been a lot of emphasis on educating young children about the importance of healthy habits. Michele Obama launched a new initiative "Lets Move" American's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids (www.letsmove.org),  Sesame Street has a program "Healthy Habits for Life" (kidshealth.org). However, even with these great programs, we in America have a ways to go.  

Moving forward, the new normal to incorporate healthy habits in the early childhood field will take a positive effect on my future work. I believe more initiatives will begin to develop and the early childhood field will face a transition that will change the field and encourage all individuals to support the idea of healthy habits at an early age.