Your body, your choice – by guest blogger 10-year-old Mia

Written by Changing Habits

September 23, 2015

Some days I literally get goosebumps when I hear someone’s story about how they have transformed their health or someone gets in touch with me to tell me that I’ve made a difference in their life. It’s why I seek the truth about food, where it comes from, and what it does to our bodies and why I share this information with anyone who is ready to hear it. My job is to give people information; it is up to them to act to get the results they need.

A few weeks ago I received an email from 10-year-old Mia. She is a Year 5 student in New South Wales and was doing an assignment on whole foods. She had some questions for me, which I was happy to answer. She asked some fantastic questions! It’s so inspiring to see the next generation taking control of their health and vitality and trying to educate those around them that I thought I’d share her questions – and my answers – with you.

But first, this is what Mia’s mum Rebecca posted to our Changing Habits Facebook page the day I answered Mia’s email. She has since told me that Mia’s friends have all changed what they have in their lunchboxes at school as a result of Mia’s passion for whole foods and healthy eating.

This is why I do what I do!!

Happy Changing Habits,

Cyndi

(PS – Just this week, Mia sent me a copy of her final report which she has entitled ‘Your body, Your choice’. It’s amazing. Well done Mia!!)

Facebook post from Mia to Cyndi O'Meara

Mia’s question: How do you feel about today’s eating habits?
Cyndi’s answer: For the most part many people don’t know how to eat a healthy diet, they eat too many packaged foods filled with artificial ingredients. Having said that there is a growing number of people who are waking up to the food industry and are starting to eat whole foods again, making them in the kitchen.

Q: How can people learn to make their own decisions with what to eat and not be influenced by advertising and marketing of the food companies?
A: Education is the key, marketing is never about truth it is only there to sell a product. By being informed then you can make better choices. The issue though is that there are so many different views on diet and nutrition and it is about finding someone you can trust and who has perhaps been in the industry a long time as opposed to someone who hasn’t.

Q: In today’s environment of fancy food and exotic ingredients is it boring to keep it simple?

A: Simplicity doesn’t mean you can’t use exotic natural ingredients and enjoy a delicious diet. Healthy doesn’t mean boring it actually can be the exact opposite eating a variety of amazing foods that are available to us. With simple ingredients we can make 1000’s of stunning recipes.

Q:
Throughout the day what is the most important thing to prioritise with regard to food?

A: Be organised and have the pantry well stocked so that you are never in a position where you can’t eat healthy. By having everything on hand it’s easy to make a quick meal (much faster than going down to the local takeaway).

Q:
Everyone’s body is different and everyone prefers different types of food. What advice would you give to people to eat for their own bodies?
A: Make sure you are listening to your body rather than to advertising. If a food makes you perform well, with more energy and you’re not feeling sluggish then listen to the body. We forget to listen to our body and acquaint body and mind changes to something else rather than food.

Q:
How important do you think food is to your health and vitality?

A: Food is one part of being healthy, we must also look at sunshine, movement, connection and sleep, they all work together in order to be healthy and have vitality.

Q:
Lots of foods promoted as “healthy” are in fact GM and contain numerous additives, preservatives and chemicals. Some food labels can’t even be read with a magnifying glass. As consumers and part of the next generation, what tools do we need to navigate this new world of food?

A: The first tool is education, the second tool is knowing where your foods are coming from and lastly it’s important to get away from packaged foods, stop being seduced by the food industry, get back into the kitchen and feed a family healthy traditional foods in order to heal a nation.

Q:
What learnings can you share about how to motivate others to take their esky bag with them each day?
A: If I have to motivate someone every day of their life to eat well, then I am not doing my job.  My hope is to inspire someone with knowledge so that they will keep themselves motivated to do this on a daily basis. Respect for the only body you are given is paramount. Inspire means that it is within that they find the motivation to do what they need to do to be healthy. Motivation from the outside usually doesn’t work.

Thank you Mia, glad you like my work.  Your questions were fantastic.

Cyndi x

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