Solutions, Not Resolutions—2016 Health Commitment.

Solutions, Not Resolutions—2016 Health Commitment.

My dad was a master of one-liners. “You’ve Come Along way Baby,” Virginia Slims “Coke Is It,” “Fly the Friendly Skies of United” “Go for the Gusto” and “If You Don’t Have Schlitz You Don’t Have Beer. In a couple of words his iconic ads captured a generation. Quick, Snappy, Memorable, fun were his mantra’s. He was convinced the same principles should apply to dieting--often tipping the scale at 450 pounds.

 “Quick, Fast, Easy.” So he embarked on Tape Worm Diet, The Elvis Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, The Rice Diet, Ayds Candy Diet. Whatever diet he was on—my whole family had to be on to support him. By nine years old I had tried them all—even praying beside him while he was convinced he found the answer in, I Prayed Myself Slim,” and supported him by consuming only apples, nothing else while he thought he found the miracle on the Israeli Army Diet—eating only one kind of food a day.

 Each New Year, a new plan, a new resolution.

Many years later my dad is 210 pounds and vegan and I am a nutritionist and cooking teacher. In my new book, My Fat Dad: A Memoir of Food, Love, and Family, with Recipes, I share our crazy journey, along with my beloved grandmother’s recipes cards which saved my life – spoonful by spoonful.

http://www.amazon.com/My-Fat-Dad-Memoir-Recipes/dp/0425272230/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

http://www.dawnlerman.net/

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/author/dawn-lerman/?_r=0

And as a nutritionist I encourage lasting solutions, not unrealistic resolutions.

Make 2016 your best year yet!!!

Bloomberg's Sugary Soda Ban

Last Friday, Mayor Bloomberg proposed a ban of large sodas in New York City with hopes of reducing obesity. Bloomberg’s focus on healthy eating habits is a step in the right direction. However, merely limiting New Yorkers does not teach individuals how to make the right choices by themselves.

Rather than simply telling New Yorkers what and how much they can and cannot drink, Bloomberg should put more emphasis on why products like 32 oz. sodas are unhealthy.

A good example of prevention over restriction is the display of calorie counts in chain restaurants; consumers can still purchase foods, but they must face the shock value of the calorie content. For example, a consumer might not choose a seemingly healthy Starbucks blueberry scone if they knew it contained 460 calories.

If Bloomberg instead used a similar policy with the amount of sugar in beverages, people could see the consequences of their unhealthy choices. If people knew a 32 oz. Coke had 85 grams of sugar, they might think twice about their daily indulgence.

The average consumer cannot visualize just how much sugar is in their carbonated beverages. If places of purchase had posters listing the sugar quantities and provided a visual, consumers could draw better conclusions on their own. If measures like this were taken, corporations would be forced to create more health-conscious products.

While Bloomberg’s efforts might be a positive step and obesity is a serious issue in New York City, limiting consumers’ choices will not solve the problem. Educating consumers from a young age so they understand the benefits of a healthy diet would be a more effective approach to take.

What were your reactions to Bloomberg’s proposal? I’d love to hear your opinions!