Melanie Hines- Health Blog

  During my routine Saturday morning trip to target, I ended up in fresh produce section picking up grapes and bananas for my three year old daughter. While pushing my cart towards the next isle, My train of thought was interrupted when I suddenly became head on with an oncoming cart, after sharing an apologetic smile with the young lady steering, I couldn't help but notice the infant that was staring up at me from a car seat. She was adorable, dressed in all pink except for the white and purple polka dot bib around her neck covered in bright orange smears of cheese. To my surprise this infant was chomping on a cheese puff. After making my own assumption that this baby was no older than nine months, I cooed over her and asked " how old is she?" The young lady pushing the cart replied with a huge smile. "Shes just six months, and she weighs 22 pounds already! She eats everything!!" My initial thought was well I'm sure you GIVE her everything to eat. I couldn't help thinking about this all day, then suddenly it hit me that it was the perfect idea for a health blog.

At six months of life, an infants intake should be restricted to milk (breast/formula), water, and sometimes a serving of rice cereal depending on the digestive system. In no scenario should an infant have cheese puffs, chips,or anything of that matter as a snack. Not only was this snack high in sodium, but dairy products are harsh on adults digestive systems, I can only imagine the affect it would have on an infant. I pondered all day on the fact that someone would even make that choice for their child. I always look at infants and think of how they are like a blank book, just waiting to pages to be filled with knowledge, manners, habits that all come from people that care for them. If you make a choice to pacify your baby with food, and unhealthy snacks then these are the eating habits they will have throughout their lives. I was astonished that this lady not only seemed entertained by the fact that her child was morbidly overweight, but she still had the nerve to show the world how the baby became that way by feeding her junk food in the middle of the store. I assume she will not be happy with what the end results of these behaviors include; heart disease, diabetes, asthma, insomnia, and depression are all side effects of obesity. 12.5 million children in America are obese. Also, when one parent is obese there is a fifty percent chance the children will be as well.

Changing eating habits isnt the easiest thing to do, but it would be the smartest choice to make. If not for ourselves we need to set positive examples for children, ours or even the ones we run into at target. A proper diet and daily exercise is the key to healthiness. I have made the decision to eat to live, rather than livng to eat, and i feel better already.