Healthy Habits Focus of NPD117 Workshop

The United States has some of the highest rates of chronic illness in the world, which isn’t surprising given the amount of highly processed and artificially sweetened foods that we consume.

“Allergies, skin conditions, childhood obesity, mental health issues and not being focused in school are - in part - functions of eating unhealthy (processed and artificially flavored) foods,” said Waheeb Yassin, a nutrition coach and physical therapist with Avicenna Health in Palos Hills.

“It’s really about being aware of what is out there in terms of food choices and providing our children with the healthiest choices we can,” said Yassin, who spoke to a group of NPD117 PreK parents during their monthly workshop where the topic was “Building Healthy Habits for Our Children’s Future.” He said with the skyrocketing costs of groceries, it is easy to buy cheaper, less healthy foods for your families.

“But that doesn’t need to be the case,” he said.

“Healthier foods do tend to cost more,” Yassin said. “But kids can eat less. They don’t need to be eating all the time. They are not going to starve if they miss a snack.”

He said he and his wife have set times for when their two young daughters can have snacks and what those snacks will be, including peanut butter and (low sugar) jelly on toasted whole grain bread. (Yassin said most of the sugars his daughters get come from fruit).

“A lack of physical activity (too much time playing video games and watching television) can result in things like anxiety and speech delays,” Yassin said. “I see kids who come in and can’t make eye contact. They are staring down at their phones or iPads.

In addition to making sure children are eating healthier foods, Yassin said parents need to limit the amount of time their children spend on their phones, computers, other electronic devices and watching television.

“And (parents) really need to get strict with it,” he said.