The Wellness Bitch

My friend Judie and I were joking today that we’re like yin and yang. She’s a fitness goddess…running two marathons in the last week or so. I, on the other hand, had to check the dictionary to make sure I was using marathon correctly in a sentence. (I’m still not sure.)

Whereas I know every last ingredient in every piece of food I’ve eaten over the last three days, focusing particularly on whether or not the ingredients were organic, whole grain, or gluten-free; Judie says she could slack less and commit more to buying organic for her family.

Who’s healthier?

Depends on who you ask. Or, more likely, it’s a trick question and the answer is “both and neither.”

In a perfect world, Judie and I would take each other on as pet projects. She’d goad me into running with her and I’d clean out her pantry once a week. I don’t think that will happen. But, I do think that subconsciously we’re inspiring the other to take on areas of our lives we should be looking at more closely.

I’m not quite ready to train for a marathon (though I promise it’s on the half-assed version of my imaginary Bucket List), but I’m getting a little closer.

Would it be way too trite for me to say “Knowing is half the battle?”

‘Cause it is.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have friends on your side.

The second half of the battle?  Choosing to advance…and then pushing through.

I almost feel guilty saying this because I love my kid’s preschool. But I’m sick and tired of them feeding my kids crap.

Today, at his summer camp, my kid got berries with whipped cream as a Fourth of July treat. It’s not even the Fourth yet! Ok, not the worse treat in the world (though I’d bet my bottom dollar those berries weren’t organic.) But still, I’d rather he get plain old fruit. What’s the big deal? Berries were good enough for the ancients.

Then, there’s the public school my older kid goes to. At the end of the year, as the kids finished up standardized testing, his first grade teacher rewarded them with candy necklaces! No A#1 stickers. No Hello Kitty erasers. But Red #40/Yellow #5/sugar-filled candy necklaces.

I’m a bitch, not a grinch. I think there’s a time and a place for sweet treats. Just not at school. Take into account 20 birthday celebrations and at least five holidays nationally recognized by public schools and you’re looking at 2o store-bought cupcakes + 10 Dunkin Donuts Munchkins a year at least. Add to that the candy rewards or the fruit loops they use to teach math. Then, subtract any adequate oversight of what’s being fed to our kids either in the lunchroom or in the classroom. What do you get?

Hey, I’ll make it easy for you. Food + school = OBESE KIDS.  Making for one unhealthy equation.

(Footnote: I do need to give credit where credit is due. After a lengthy discussion with our preschool director, she’s eager and willing to make changes. We’ve formed a snack committee and we’re hoping to see more fruit and less animal crackers in the classroom next year. Five points for the squeaky wheel!)

What’s right about this picture? Everything on my plate is vegan. And was delicious!

What’s wrong about this picture? It’s a little bit junky.Deep-friend seitan, vegan chipotle mayo. And not gluten-free. Which is a no-no for me typically.

But isn’t it pretty? The plate, I mean? I love that I was in NYC today for a meeting and decided to get lunch on the Upper West Side. Walked two blocks and, presto!, found a menu with alternative options galore.  If there were more places like this in Jersey, I’d be in big trouble. Having limited options forces me to cook from scratch and keep to basics… Like beans.