Michael Phelps said after winning his seventh gold medal during the summer 2008 Olympics when asked about what he believes, "Believing all along goes a long way." You can apply this to any aspect of your life and make change. Believing in what you want makes the difference. Believe.
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believith. Mark 9:23
Tracey sees that her daughter is overweight and agrees with the doctor’s advice not to put her child on a diet. However, it will take her daughter about three years to grow into a healthy weight and BMI without dieting. Tracey is willing to go along with this plan because she doesn’t want to compromise her daughter’s "normal" childhood of enjoying treats as children do. She also doesn’t want to be too restrictive or controlling over her daughter’s food intake that it results in an eating disorder. She wants her daughter to be healthy for her body type and has considered the genetic predisposition as well. Tracey knows and believes that three years of helping her child learn healthier choices will establish life long healthy eating habits. She believes in this approach and is committed to it and to her daughter. What we believe is our truth. Some may disagree with Tracey’s approach…you may believe in another way. You will go the way you believe.
For nothing will be impossible for God. Luke 1:37
Tracey knows that being too controlling over a child’s diet is clinically proven to provoke the opposite response in a child, i.e. overeat, crave and want junk and that sort of thing. She considered her daughter’s health (emotionally, socially and physically), seeked professional advice and made a decision. She wants a healthy child and believes her child is healthy.
Believe in what you want for your child. As parents we want a healthy child that craves healthy foods. We want a child that learns to eat healthy and carries this habit through his lifetime. Believing pulls you toward what you believe. It works in our faith and in all parts of our life.
Faith is the first of the three theological virtues; with hope and love, faith brings about the life of sanctifying grace in the human person…While faith is a disposition of the intellect, it also involves an act of the will, which is moved by the grace of God to believe…Definition of Faith Fireside New American Bible
Believing is easy when you take a step in the right direction and start to see your belief come true. Baby steps count and can add up to giant leaps in no time. Take the first step.
Believe your child is healthy
Offer your child fruits and vegetables for snacks
Stop buying at least one of the convenience foods you have in your pantry or freezer and replace it with a healthier alternative, for example:
No more frozen chicken nuggets, pizza or corn dogs (whatever the culprit)
CHANGE TO SCAMBLED EGGS WITH CRUNCHY VEGGIE on the side (eggs are not just for breakfast anymore)
Switch your high fructose corn syrup yogurt out for a more natural one with healthier ingredients
Change out your summer popsicles with food coloring for ones sweetened only with fruit and fruit juices
These are simple changes that lead to more healthy changes over time. You can do this for your child. We are the parents and out of the top six reasons children are overweight…well…fingers point to us…the parents. Giving into children’s demands (even if it was learned from a food advertisement) is still the parent’s choice. Elizabeth Vandewater, PhD studies media and children’s health and RTI International. She says, "Food advertisers spend roughly $3 billion on ads targeting kids…" and comments that they are very good at what they do. She adds, "Studies show that children first start asking for foods by name by age two." It’s OK to say no to your child and redirect them to healthier choices. Studies also show that children come to like what is familiar. What is familiar is found in the home environment. Providing healthy choices for your family becomes familiar and what is familiar is what we like. Believing in what you want makes it happen. The mother of sextuplets was asked to give advice to new parents and one of her advisements was regarding healthy eating. She advised to keep giving your children healthy food even if they don’t like it the first time or the 100th time; making the point to keep trying. Believe.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your request known to God. Philippians 4:6
