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"I wanted to get information on how to eat healthy."
10th Grade Girl
Does this sound familiar? More and more girls are faced with tough decisions
about growing up. One decision that affects every girl in everyday life is what
to eat. Michelle Cross, a registered nutritionist who works with The
University of Texas’ Women’s athletic teams, spoke Wednesday September 26th
at Murchison Middle School on ways for girls to develop healthy eating habits
in adolescence to carry through their adult lives. The majority of the girls
at the speaker event were so eager and interested to learn about what is good
for their bodies and what is not, that after the hour and a half had passed
they said that it seemed to "go too fast."
"Girls should not pay as much attention to what society says is thin or what is right."
Michelle Cross, MSW, RD, LD, Owner of Texas Nutrition Consultants
Although it may always seem right and accepted to be thin, Michelle says that
being thin does not always equal being healthy. She encourages girls to follow
the Food Pyramid when choosing their diet and stresses that it is so important
to get all of the vitamins and nutrients in all the food groups in order to stay
healthy. Many of the girls in attendance were concerned that they were getting
the proper nutrition for being in athletics. There are all kinds of ways to eat
healthy and there is no good or bad food according to Michelle, as long as your
diet is in moderation.
"I am concerned about the way my friends eat."
7th Grade Girl
It is no secret that a large part of nutritional concerns in today’s society are
focused on eating disorders. One middle school girl at the event is concerned about
a friend of hers who she thinks is not eating enough and also some friends who eat
only junk food. To many girls it may seem that being thin is the most important
thing and it is ok to eat junk food all the time if you still stay thin. Michelle
says that while it may last a while eventually, your eating habits will catch up
with you and it is better to develop healthy eating habits now, and carry them with
you throughout your life. Eating junk food all of the time and not getting enough
of the foods in the Food Pyramid can be detrimental, but not eating at all or not
eating enough can be even worse. If you do not give your body proper energy, or food,
then you won’t have the energy to do all of the fun things that you want to!
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