Now Walmart's Telling Us What to Eat...Is that a Good Thing?

Thanks to fast food and junk food advertising campaigns we know exactly what to eat to perpetuate the growing obesity epidemic.  But have you heard the news?  Walmart, the largest seller of food in the U.S., recently unveiled a new logo with the tag line Great for you in an effort to do a better job at telling us what to eat. The seal identifies foods that are healthier options and actually has legitimate criteria.  Only fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, eggs, whole grains and foods lower in sodium and sugar earned the seal.   

 

For years Walmart has been one of my best and most reliable excuse busters for folks who are convinced that healthy is not affordable.  Believe it or not this is a picture I recently took at Walmart of a ‘value pack’ that was actually a fantastic value.  It may surprise you, but affordable healthy choices have been at Walmart all along, they were just a little harder to find.  But this is exactly where I sent some of my very first 20-something year old clients back in 2005. 

Thanks to their Health Initiative and now this new logo, Walmart has continuously increased its healthy offerings and made them easier to find.  To top it off, Walmart is committed to improving even more ingredient labels by lowering sodium and sugar contents so that by 2015  so they can earn the seal too.  President and CEO of Walmart said that “No family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them and food they can afford.”  And despite all the cynicism, I can appreciate his remark and the position the company is making to help our nation.

Walmart has long been my go to place to help people budget for healthy living because they cover all the bases from the food to the workout gear, exercise equipment and DVDs.  Plus they have the inspirational books, candles and bath salts needed for the rest and relaxation that is also a part of total wellness.   In fact, when I co-authored FITatudes Just Tell Me What to Eat: Ready to Use, Budget Friendly Eat Well Tips for Busy Folks in a Bad Economy back in 2009 we included a sample menu with pricing from Walmart so people could really see the possibilities.

For as much heat as the mega store gets, they do quite a few things right especially when it comes to living well.  For one, they were among the first to start making organic foods more affordable.

This move is huge and sets a standard because Walmart stores are everywhere.  They are where Whole Foods are not and offer prices that the everyday American working families, college students, single moms and seniors who have the most hurdles to overcome with healthy living can stomach (pun intended J).    

My hope and prayer is that they will take it a step further with promotions, sponsorships, events and contests that will engage young people and young adults, foster customer loyalty for young people and young adults, encourage prevention and contribute to a Fit Destiny for Generation Y.

Watch out for the Blitz on Super Bowl Sunday: Have A Party Game Plan

Are you ready for some football?  Well the super markets, member warehouses and pizza places sure are.  In fact while I was in Costco yesterday and there was music, there were decorations and the sample stations had quadrupled! This was carefully planned, well executed blitz on arm chair quarterbacks. Okay and yes I did come out with a couple of extra items I sampled LOL! It really works.

 

See they know that Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest eating days of the year – second only to Thanksgiving. It also tops the charts for television sales, which go up drastically prior to game day. Just in time to sabotage our New Year’s resolutions to get FIT and save $money$.

Well not so fast! You can enjoy the festivities and still remain on the winning side with a Super Bowl Party Game Plan. Here are the plays:

 1.      Budget Action Fake: If it’s not in your budget to buy the new flat screen TV don’t buy it.  You will still enjoy watching it on what you have, at a restaurant or on a friend’s flat screen TV.  And come Monday morning you won’t have the TV Bill blues.
2.      Pre Game Plan: Have a small healthy snack before you head to the party that way you won’t be in binge mode when you get there. You can just focus on the game, the fun, friends and family.
3.      Single Plate Run: Prepare yourself a plate rather than mindless munching from a bowls. Then go ahead and eat a cookie or brownie for dessert - and let go of the depravation “being good” mindset.  Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial so enjoy in moderation and pray for contentment.
4.      The Crystal Punch Play: Choose Crystal Punch as your beverage of choice (That’s Water…NOT to be mistaken for Crystal Light J).  Jazz it up with a lime.
5.      Couch Potato Route:  Get up from that couch for more than seconds and a potty break.  Here’s how (remember, passing the chips does not count as exercise, no matter how heavy the bowl):

o   Commercial Seats: This tightens your legs and buttocks.  Start with your back against the wall and your knees bent, so legs are at a 90-degree angle.  Hold this position till the end of one commercial or you can do this while chatting with your friend right next to you!

o   Commercial 10s:  Three exercises, each lasting 10 seconds -  First perform as many push-ups as possible for 10 seconds.  Next turn onto your back and scissor kick for 10 seconds.  Stand up and do jumping jacks for 10 seconds.  Take a 30 second rest and repeat cycle.

o   Buddy Lower Lift:  Lying on your back on the floor, grab hold of a friend’s ankles. Lift your legs up to 12 o-clock.  Keeping your legs together and  lower them as far as you can without your back coming off the floor then lift back up. Go for 30 seconds then switch with your friend.

Have fun and never forget that you are Destined To Be Fit!

Remember, before starting this or any exercise program you must consult with your health care provider first.