Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Our Responsibility for Providing Healthy Choices

"Mom, here's a great recipe for our next chicken dinner!"

 This is typically what I hear very frequently from Marisa these days. My 20 year old daughter with autism is on a crusade to improve not just her own good eating habits but the eating habits of everyone living in our home. My tried, true and favorite recipes are being put on the back burner and challenged by Marisa's continued, tireless search for healthful new ones. Just last night she placed 3 new recipes on my kitchen counter for me to review. These were Chive & Cheese Omelet, Pita Pizza, and Citrus Chicken.  

"Wow!" I commented as I looked over the recipes that Marisa selected. Then I looked at the small print on the top of the computer printouts. It read, Eat Like a (Hot, Healthy) Celeb! - Seventeen
I have to congratulate Seventeen Magazine for continuing to encourage young women to develop healthy eating habits and regular exercise routines. Each month Marisa eagerly anticipates her next issue in order to browse the latest recipes and fitness routines offered, and each month she changes her routine accordingly. 

What I find amazing is that where most people find comfort in a familiar routine of eating and exercising  the same way, Marisa seems to be just the opposite. Her enthusiasm is refreshing to say the least. I'm jealous of her never ending search for new recipes and exercises. I'm having a hard time just doing the same old cooking and exercise routines, let alone trying new ones every day. Her search for variety just doesn't seem to fit, given who she is, because people with autism are likely to be more comfortable in sticking to sameness. I'm a bit puzzled by this, but I can't say I'm unhappy about it, except that when it comes to preparing new foods, it does create more difficulties for me. For example, I have to check for new ingredients to buy. Then I have to spend more time reviewing the recipes and following the steps involved. The good thing about this, however, is that Marisa is eager to participate and learn how to prepare the foods, because the recipes are the ones that she selected herself. So ... how can I possibly say no to that! I should be absolutely thrilled and, yes, I really am.

So when did Marisa's crusade for healthy living begin? It was back in 2008 when Marisa had a course at school on good nutrition. She learned that she was 30 pounds overweight according to the guidelines given for her age and height. She also learned everything there was to know about good nutrition. Many people with autism take things very literally and in this particular case this attribute turned out to be most helpful. Thus the start of a health kick crusade!

"I'm going to lose 30 pounds starting today!" she announced to me.

"Why now?" I asked.

I didn't get that answer till the end of the year when Marisa's classwork came home, and I was able to view the healthy eating and exercise unit she had participated in. This was a wonderful thing for Marisa, and I have to give a lot of credit to her school for getting her started in the right direction.

Then, just the other day, Marisa came home and handed me a recipe she made in her after-school program at the JCC she attends.

"Let's make this recipe!" she eagerly announced. I glanced at the recipe for an all sugar concoction and looked at Marisa.

"Did you eat this?" I asked.

"Yeah!" she answered.

"This is not a healthy snack. Why would you want to eat something like this? I thought you knew what's healthy and what's not?"

"But it was at the JCC so it must be okay!" she responded.

"Well, what do you really think?" I asked.

"I think I better go brush my teeth ...  now!" Marisa said.

I know that we can't keep our kids in a vacuum when it comes to candy and sugary snacks, but I was disappointed to realize that the choice for a snack preparation activity was one filled with sugar. In a time when our kids have a rising increase in obesity and juvenile diabetes, schools and recreation groups should be encouraging healthy snack alternatives. These groups are supposed to be responsible in setting good examples for all of our kids. That is why I am especially happy to learn that a new children's book series called The Secret Life of Mitch Spinach is now available for children to read, enjoy and learn from. The story is meant to encourage children to pursue a healthy diet and in so doing, they will be stronger, happier and better able to achieve their goals. Isn't that what our children and we as parents both want? Check out this fabulous website to learn more!http://www.MitchSpinach.com