Food Revolution: Episode 2

Episode 2: Food Revolution

Jamie Oliver's 2nd installment of Food Revolution centered around continued education regarding diet and subsequent health for the community of Huntington, West Virginia. The culture of resistance that he encountered in the first episode was still very much present, however, you start to see small shifts in attitudes, incentives, and behaviors at all levels. Parents begin to recognize the nutritional value of what is being fed to their children at school is not conducive to good health. Teachers begin to recognize the importance of simple tasks, like modeling the appropriate use of forks and knives as well as helping children be able to properly identify fruits and vegetables. Families begin to recognize accountability amongst themselves. Perhaps the most poignant moment of the episode involved a family testing their teenage son for diabetes, which he was not diagnosed. Following the test this father and son converse about the long term health concerns that will affect this young man; diabetes, heart disease, and shorter life expectancy. The father asks his son to not only work on his own behavioral change, but also to help keep his father accountable in losing weight as well.

Accountability. The key lesson learned from this episode. For your own Food Revolution to be successful you need accountability. Families need to support one another with maintaining behavioral changes. As much as parents need to help children, children need to help parents. Parents need to question school lunch menu decisions and verify that what is being served has nutritional value. Partners need to question each other with shopping habits and meal choices, ensuring that what they are providing is conducive to health.

Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution: Episode 1

Chef Jaime Oliver's new program on ABC, Food Revolution, uncovers one of the most pressing concerns in America today: our relationship with food, and more specifically the culture of food that is being taught to our children. As this program unfolds in America's unhealthiest town, Huntington, West Virgina, a town that the Center for Disease Control reports has an adult obesity rate of roughly 50%, MindBodyHealth will post weekly blogs following each episode.

Episode 1:

For the first time in American history, children today have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Directly correlated to this shorter life expectancy are lifestyle choices of diet and exercise. Children learn about food and food choices from their immediate experience, most notably from important adults in their life, including their family and what is being provided in the school setting.

From the DJ at the beginning of the show, to the school cooks, to the parents, to the questionable nutritional guidelines being handed down by the school district, it was clear how tightly woven this community is in regards to their idea of nutrition. Also apparent was the high resistant to change at all levels. The important adults in this particular community do not immediately value the need to change. Despite direct evidence of higher rates of disease, poorer quality of life, and shorter life expectancy, there was no immediate incentive to begin making changes, neither for themselves or their children.

Towards the end of the episode, Jamie Oliver attempted a new menu of fresh ingredients that competed with the typical school lunch pizza. It is not surprising that the kids chose pizza, a common meal for them. This highlights the first major take away point from this show: kids eat what is common to them. They will not begin eating fruits and vegetables on their own. Parents need to model healthy choices and teach the value of consuming food that is healthy to our bodies and our overall well-being.

Lesson from Episode 1: as adults, we hold the power in teaching future generations about healthy eating. Children will follow our model of food choices. To begin your own food revolution, start with examining your own food beliefs and current diet. Recognize what you value in regards to food. Think about the choices you are making today. Perhaps a significant portion of what you know about food was taught to you by important adults in your life at one time.

Recovery after a school shooting

Yesterday an adult gunman opened fire at Deer Creek Middle School in suburban Denver, just a few short miles from Columbine High School. Two students were injured, luckily no one was killed.

This traumatic experience can be expected to increase short term stress and fear for those involved. Children, parents and teachers may experience a variety of emotions, thoughts and behavioral changes in the days and weeks following such a harrowing situation. Here are some tips to help.

• Keep routines as close to normal as possible. This includes returning to school once it re-opens.
• Actively listen to your children. Listen to their fears, concerns and worries.
• Be honest with your children about your fears and concerns. Share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
• Adults need an adult outlet. Speak with friends, family and other parents about your concerns.
• Limit media exposure.

Experiencing a significant trauma such as school shooting can lead to a variety of behavioral changes, including sleep and appetite disturbance, nightmares, and thoughts about reliving the event. These are normal aspects of the trauma response. Be sure the lines of communication remain open. Seek professional help should concerns intensify or persist.

Please do not hesitate to contact MindBodyHealth for support, counseling and advice in the days to weeks to come.

MindBodyHealth

(303) 831.6248

What Do We Do Now?

Bringing a Child Into the Relationship

Becoming a parent often brings up the question: What do we do now? With so much time, energy and devotion to being the best parent possible, the relationship with your partner often shifts to becoming a second priority.

This 6 Week group for parents of a newborn offers education, support and skills for adjusting your relationship to meet the needs of being a parent. Learn valuable skills for building your relationship with your partner while at the same time becoming the best parent possible.

Stress Reduction

Health care professionals are especially prone to high levels of stress, fatigue and burnout. According to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), health care providers who suffer from significant amounts of stress are prone to producing lower quality direct patient care, as well as a myriad of personal problems (including sleep difficulties, interpersonal/relationship turmoil, increased substance use, and suicidal ideation - particularly in medical residents). JAMA also found that a simple intervention utilizing mindfulness training sustained positive effects in each of these core areas over time.

MindBodyHealth offers in-service stress reduction training for professionals who work in direct patient care. This involves us working directly with your treatment team in your natural setting, whether you work in a hospital, clinic, or outpatient facility. Our 5 week workshop will teach you skills to:

• Reduce Stress
• Reduce Burnout
• Reduce Fatigue
• Become More Present with your Work
• Improve Quality Patient Care
• Improve Daily Life Functioning
• Improve Coping Skills
• Become Aware of Daily Factors that Compound Stress, along with Simple Daily Interventions

This important training is specific for anyone working in direct patient care. If you want to reduce job related stress, call us NOW to set up a FREE initial session.

MindBodyHealth implores you to keep well!

1115 Grant Street, Suite 103
Denver, CO 80203
www.mindbodyhealth.us

mail@mindbodyhealth.us

Looking Back...

Imagine this: you are 80-years-old and looking back on your life. What do you say? Are you happy with the choices you made, or do you have regrets about living too many years struggling with depression, anxiety, disorder eating, or pain. Now realize that you have the power to change TODAY. Because your life is complex, you deserve an integrated approach to therapy. At MindBodyHealth we believe in YOUR HEALTH, wellness, and helping you live your life in a valued way.

Getting your life back on track in the direction you want to live is our primary goal. We have a dedicated staff of clinicians (male & female) who focus energies on building a solid therapeutic relationship with YOU, and helping YOU address the concerns that are interfering with your WELL-BEING.

Call now to set up a FREE CONSULTATION. Our clients tell us that we offer a fresh perspective, that we make your goals a priority, and that we make therapy an enjoyable experience.

Mindfulness For Health Providers

MindBodyHealth recently held a free 2-hour mindfulness seminar for health care professionals, based on a September 2009 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) posting research findings that mindfulness training reduces burnout, fatigue, and stress for these providers. (Article Link). Building on this seminar, we are offering a 5-week mindfulness course for health care professionals, beginning Monday December 14 from 6 - 730 PM. The course will follow a similar pattern to the JAMA article research design, and is of importance to health care providers for the following reasons:

• 60% of health care providers experience burnout, fatigue, or significant stress.
• Burnout is linked to poorer quality patient care, increased patient dissatisfaction, and increased errors in diagnostic and decision making. Burnout is also correlated with substance abuse, family discord, automobile accidents, stress related health problems, and suicidal ideation in physicians (particularly with medical residents).
• Health care professionals often struggle with daily self-care management of stress.
• Mindfulness training has been demonstrated to decrease fatigue, stress and burnout in health care professionals while at the same time increasing overall mood stability, and ability to monitor and cope with stress.
• Increased mindfulness skills and decreased levels of stress led to increased patient directed care, and lower levels of reported patient dissatisfaction.

Space for this group course is limited and filling up quickly. Reserve your space today by calling (303) 831.6248 or emailing (mail@mindbodyhealth.us).

MindBodyHealth, LLC
1115 Grant Street, Suite 103
Denver, CO 80203
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