First Lady Michelle Obama has done more to enlighten the public and government officials about childhood obesity than any other person. When Mrs. Obama speaks of her own family, she mentions that it didn’t take many changes to start seeing significant differences in her kids’ health. As aunties, there is a lot we can do.

I’ve been discussing nutrition with my nephews and nieces since they were toddlers – as aunties, we have a huge opportunity to educate our nieces and nephews about food. Here’s a guide to beginning, using Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move initiative as a starting point.

Mrs. Obama: Water Instead of Soda.

Julie: Americans, especially kids, have gotten in the habit of drinking a lot of their daily calories. In addition to limiting soda, I also think kids should cut back on juice, sports drinks, etc. Most store-bought juice is very refined so there are few nutrients and fiber left - and it ends up just being sugar water. I think that non-water drinks should be considered more of a treat than a reliable source of nutrients. I’m not big on calorie counting, but it’s worth noting that one cup of orange juice has roughly 100 calories. Our bodies are made of mostly water so what kids need is: water, water, water!

Mrs. Obama: Desserts were on once-a-week when she was a child.

Julie: Recently, I asked my 8 year old nephew if he wanted a treat and he responded with, “Nahhh.” Can you remember ever turning down a sweet when you were a kid? I can’t! His response is not unusual, though. Kids are so used to getting “treats” and desserts these days that it’s not even considered fun anymore! I’m a big believer in homemade goodies and treating ourselves on occasion. The problem is that kids are getting treats every single day. If we offer desserts to children after every meal, they will become adults that feel the urge to eat sweets after every meal. I think Ms. Obama’s once-a-week dessert idea is a great one - unless, of course, it’s fresh fruit, popcorn, or some other healthy option.

Mrs. Obama: Kids need at least 60 minutes of exercise a day.

Julie: YES. She astutely pointed out that 1 hour may sound like a lot but that the average child sits in front of a screen (computer, TV, or video games) on average 7.5 hours PER DAY. Now that the weather is improving, take your nieces and nephews to the park, go for a bike ride or, if they are older, play paintball with them. You’ll be the cool aunt who does fun activities with them and teaches them how to stay active!

Mrs. Obama: Kids are not in charge of deciding what’s for dinner.

Julie: DITTO. I saw a Burger King commercial a while ago where the parents are whining to the kids and asking the KIDS to go out for dinner! Sure, it’s an exaggeration but I think its representative of a current trend. I understand that it’s challenging as an auntie to figure out when to spoil our nieces and nephews and when to be authoritative. It depends on how much time you spend with them. I see my nephews a couple of times a week so I’m stricter with them than I am with my nieces, whom I only see a couple of times a year. Just recently, my nephews asked if we could eat dinner at a certain chain restaurant that I don’t like. Instead, I convinced them to try a local Italian eatery. They resisted at first but my older nephew ended up loving the roasted cauliflower dish and ate a lot of the Caesar salad along with some pizza. I felt good that he ate some vegetables and enjoyed a more sophisticated dining experience.

Mrs. Obama: Start a garden.

Julie: YES. It doesn’t need to be as big as the White House garden in order to help kids connect with nature. Start with growing herbs or tomatoes on a windowsill if you don’t have access to a yard. This is the time to start planting, so visit a nursery with them and pick out some seedlings as a fun auntie activity!


Julie Negrin is a Certified Nutritionist: www.julienegrin.com.

Photo: Official White House photo/Samatha Appleton
Published: May 18, 2010