This Month Our Goal is helping you eat better, and helping you find ways to take better care of yourself. As part of that initiative, we are asking you to join us and Nestle Pure Life by committing to drinking more water. This year, Nestlé® Pure Life® is asking fans to take a simple online pledge to drink more water. You can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes and share your own wisdom through the Facebook mosaic. Please join us by clicking here
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The Gift That Keeps On Giving… Eating Well

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” ― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

As a child, I didn’t understand the value of good health and good eating, but as an adult I have a much greater appreciation. Not having some of the staples at home that I enjoyed at school or some of the other places I visited was incredibly frustrating for me as a child. Our kitchen was stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, and I was always encouraged to watch what I ate, but when you are young who wants to do that. I couldn’t wait to go out with my friends so I could have some junk food.

My mom never made a big deal about the junk food she just always prepared nutritious meals from scratch. She discouraged me from drinking soda, and we rarely if ever had it in our house. Years of mom’s home cooked meals gave me a love for healthy eating. She insisted that I have vegetables every night, and would inspect my plate to make sure I didn’t just grab a spoonful of veggies when I should have had a full serving. Every night we had a salad, it was a staple in our house, and today I still find myself going for the greens when I get hungry over other choices available, an imprint from my mom’s example. People were astounded when I was a kid, and they still are that I love to eat so many veggies. When I used to fill my plate up with vegetables over some of the other favorites, they were shocked and would usually comment on my choices.

As an adult, and the mother of a teenage, I find myself saying the same things to my daughter, my mom said to me. The lessons my mom gave me about eating nutritious meals echoes in my mind when I am in the grocery store, and when I am preparing meals for my own family. Teaching my daughter the value of eating right and eating healthy is a daily lesson in my household, but I know it’s one of the most valuable lessons she will ever learn. When I tell my daughter to switch out her juice for water, she has plenty to say. Although, when I’m not paying attention she picks up water when she could make other choices. It is fun to see her fill up her plate with vegetables, a legacy from my mothers a great example passing on to another generation.

“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” ― François de La Rochefoucauld

I thank my mom for diligently teaching me how to eat healthy both in word and deed. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

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