BEFORE:
Meeting at work: Danishes
Birthday Parties: Cake, Chips, Soft Drink
School Fundraiser: Sausage Sizzle
It is common that when I walk into a workplace staff quickly rush around hiding the mints and chocolates in the Friday night beer fridge. Or while I talk, workers munch on free biscuits. I am pleased to see an occasional communal fruit bowl.
Whenever a birthday party is being planned, I listen to parents discuss what treats there will be. I search for recipes and unhealthy ones certainly outnumber the healthy ones.
School fundraisers still mainly rely on sausage sizzles and chocolates. Fetes are filled with cake stalls, fairy floss and lolly jars. It's hard to find something fresh.
Whilst I'm not against the "occasional treat", especially as part of a celebration, I believe we all need to think a little before accepting the default position of unhealthy foods for every occasion. It takes just a moment of thought to create a healthier option, or at least a healthy alternative for balance.
Let me share a true story. It was recently my son's 4th birthday and the kinder teacher was describing the protocol for birthdays. I was to come in and bring a cake. My issue was that we had already planned two cakes (one on his birthday and one at his party) and a third seemed over the top.
I refused to accept the default. Instead of cake, we made a strawberry '4' (pictured above). The parents, kids and teachers all thought it was creative and wonderful. Not one child missed the cake.
I'm not suggesting that every birthday should revolve around a flower made of celery, or that you should serve nothing but kale at your next work meeting. But...it is possible, with a little thought, to make healthy food fun and incorporate it into your celebrations and events.
AFTER:
Meeting at work: bowl of blueberries and strawberries
Birthday Party: cake, fruit kebabs and veggies and dip
School Fundraisers: Slinky apples or pedal powered smoothies
Meeting at work: Danishes
Birthday Parties: Cake, Chips, Soft Drink
School Fundraiser: Sausage Sizzle
It is common that when I walk into a workplace staff quickly rush around hiding the mints and chocolates in the Friday night beer fridge. Or while I talk, workers munch on free biscuits. I am pleased to see an occasional communal fruit bowl.
Whenever a birthday party is being planned, I listen to parents discuss what treats there will be. I search for recipes and unhealthy ones certainly outnumber the healthy ones.
School fundraisers still mainly rely on sausage sizzles and chocolates. Fetes are filled with cake stalls, fairy floss and lolly jars. It's hard to find something fresh.
Whilst I'm not against the "occasional treat", especially as part of a celebration, I believe we all need to think a little before accepting the default position of unhealthy foods for every occasion. It takes just a moment of thought to create a healthier option, or at least a healthy alternative for balance.
Let me share a true story. It was recently my son's 4th birthday and the kinder teacher was describing the protocol for birthdays. I was to come in and bring a cake. My issue was that we had already planned two cakes (one on his birthday and one at his party) and a third seemed over the top.
I refused to accept the default. Instead of cake, we made a strawberry '4' (pictured above). The parents, kids and teachers all thought it was creative and wonderful. Not one child missed the cake.
I'm not suggesting that every birthday should revolve around a flower made of celery, or that you should serve nothing but kale at your next work meeting. But...it is possible, with a little thought, to make healthy food fun and incorporate it into your celebrations and events.
AFTER:
Meeting at work: bowl of blueberries and strawberries
Birthday Party: cake, fruit kebabs and veggies and dip
School Fundraisers: Slinky apples or pedal powered smoothies
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