Positive Tracks spokesperson, Ethan Zohn, is a former pro soccer player and inspired philanthropist who crushed cancer and won the million bucks on Survivor Africa. He used his fame and fortune to create change by cofounding Grassroot Soccer – a Positive Tracks charity that uses the power of soccer in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Follow him on twitter @ethanzohn. Yes, his hair is real.
Back to School Survival Eating Tips
By Ethan Zohn
I’m not proud of it, but I’ve been known to under sleep so I can over eat. I’m the wandering Jewish kid clutching a hand held GPS device in the shape of the stick of butter that tracks the most active kitchens in the neighborhood. When I arrive to the party in my short shorts, I locate the highest point in the kitchen, perch myself like a panther and get ready to pounce on any crumb, flake or drip, that may be launched from the counter top.
Summer provides all too many eating opportunities. Pool parties, BBQ’s, baseball games and toasted marshmallows over a campfire are all beautiful way to overload your calorie consumption. This year, my holiday eating celebration started early…on July 3rd. Slowly but surely, the remaining holidays rolled into my belly. There was Independence Day, National French Fry Day, National Junk Food Day, National Bagelfest Day, and National Sponge Cake Day. By Labor Day, left over steak tips found me treading water weight in the triple digit calzone…I mean calorie zone.
In order to keep my rolls of chub relatively under control, I’ve developed a plan, a method to my eating madness. Plans are good, especially this time of year when schedule overload and countless afterschool activities can challenge your best eating intentions.
These are my TOP 5 BACK TO SCHOOL EATING TIPS, that (bonus!) will also help you SURVIVE the upcoming holiday eating season.
1. Never leave the house hungry. It seems smart to skip breakfast, starve yourself and rush off to math class. DON’T DO IT! I can guarantee that at lunch or snack time, you will shovel enormous amounts of bad stuff into your mouth way too quickly. Eat a good breakfast, it’s the easiest meal to control and can be healthy. “People who do not eat breakfast (about 18 percent of all Americans) consistently eat unhealthier for the rest of the day, researchers at the University of Missouri found after a small study.” Read here about why eating breakfast pays you all day.
2. Carry a bottle of water, club soda or unsweetened tea at all times. Do not drink the sugary stuff. Concentrated fruit juices, soda, sports drinks are all chock full of empty sugary calories. “Recent dietary guidelines have called for reducing the amount of sugar in one’s diet, and for many, sugar-sweetened drinks are a major source of sugar. Excess sugar has been linked to obesity and related illnesses such as diabetes”. Read here about the evils of sugary drinks.
3. Become the nutcracker you always dreamed about. You know that ugly can of nuts, the one that stands alone in your parents pantry? …crack open that bad boy and eat a handful of nuts. “Nuts are nutrient-dense foods and they contain unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Previous research has linked nut consumption to a lower risk of heart disease, as well as improvements in risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol” so read up on how eating nuts can help you live longer.
4. Try just a taste. If your friends are squirreling away some sugary snacks or crispy crunches from a bag, try to avoid them. It’s ok to taste everything, but resist the urge to have a full serving. This includes dessert!!! A tiny tiny piece of four different treats is a good plan.
5. Most Importantly, EXERCISE! ! If gym class is not your thing, then make a plan to work out after school. Take a walk with your loved ones, shovel a hole and plant some flowers, have a dance-off or you can even dress up as the school mascot jingle your bells all over campus. The American Heart Association recommends that kids get a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity each day. This may sound overwhelming at first when you have to factor in an already hectic schedule, but with some planning and a positive mindset you will be well on your way to a happy, healthy and less stressful school year.
Five Shmive–Here’s a Bonus Tip! How about this amazing idea? Charge your new iPhone6, log onto Positive Tracks and exercise for a cool charity (like Grassroot Soccer) that is using exercise and sports to save lives around the world. Working out and saving lives at the same time—How cool is that?!