Alternative Health Education
Holistic Health and Alternative Nutrition Education for Kids
In the 1970s and early 80s, the four food groups were taught in schools as the ideal government-approved model of nutrition. After that, students were encouraged to “eat the rainbow” with the realization that a colorful plate offers a variety of nutrients. These days, it's the food pyramid. However, holistic nutritionists don't think it gives a clean enough picture of what the body needs.
Dr. Radka Ruzicka, of Living Energy has been in the field of Natural Medicine for over 15 years. According to her Living Energy website, her holistic view of food and health is that “Nutrition encompasses a wide field including vitamins, minerals, other supplements, food and eating habits, lifestyle habits.”
The Food Pyramid
Health education classes throughout the country that are utilizing the nutrition lesson plans recommended by the US department of Agriculture could be short changing children. Claudia Castillo of Simply Nourished laments that “what we see in most American kitchens nowadays is a variety of foods that require little or no preparation, highly refined and processed, high in sugars, trans-fats/hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and colors, preservatives and so forth” These substandard food products do not offer children all of the nutrition their bodies require. Further, she states that “Children and adults have different nutritional requirements.” and that the proportions of food-types recommended by the Food Pyramid can't possibly provide every individual with their own personal best nutrition plan.
Holistic Health for Kids
Introducing children to real, unprocessed foods can be tricky. Especially when, according to Shirley of Shirley's Wellness Cafe, more than $33 million dollars a year is dedicated to advertising of highly processed food-like substances. Even more is spent on government farm subsidies. Holistic Mom, Barb Hacker recommends cooking, berry picking and gardening as three easy ways to begin adapting a healthier diet with children.
Free Nutrition Lesson Plans
Cooperative groups of ranchers and farmers, like The Corn Council have banded together to create free educational materials for children and even televise their messages. However, a thinking mother would quickly see “what's in it for them.” Teaching children that high fructose corn syrup can be part of a healthy diet would help their bottom line, and help diffuse some of the recent public outrage that documentary films like “King Corn” have inspired.
Health and nutrition experts, like Bill Sanda, of the Weston A. Price foundation for Wise Traditions writes that “Fructose converts to fat more readily than any other sugar” and credits diets high in HFCS with America's obesity rate. In fact, products that aren't considered sweet, like crackers, breads and even deli lunch meats often contain measures of high fructose corn syrup. So attempting moderation is more difficult than many people realize, because the amount of foods containing high fructose corn syrup is often surprising.
Nutrition Education
Homeschoolers teaching food and nutrition don't need to stoop to the lowest standards in nutrition lesson plans. Instead of using the covert websites and free materials offered up by food-producer cooperative groups, teach nutrition by learning where food comes from. Visit farms and ranches. Learn what animals are supposed to be eating. Consider keeping a hen if your zoning laws allow it. Cook and prepare wholesome, real foods and research food labeling and ingredients as a family.
What is considered “alternative nutrition” actually sustained humans for thousands of years, without the health and disease problems common with the Standard American Diet.
Resources: Alternative Nutrition Websites
Health Education
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