|
|
When I was part of a support group for Natural Hygiene*, one of the young mothers who successfully managed this healthy, but in some ways, controversial lifestyle for her children, was bombarded with questions about how she did it. It was then discussed that a children's book would be a great help, and I was asked to come up with something that would fill the gap. This is what I created for parents following the Natural Hygiene lifestyle to read to their young children.
THE ABC OF HAPPY HEALTHY LIVING
by Shirley Friedman
| A is for apple, round and sweet, Red, yellow, green, each one a treat. Packed full of goodness, its shape is just right To hold in your hand for a juicy bite. |
B is for banana, all yellow and thick, Just like a popsicle stuck on a stick. The brown spots show when it's ready and ripe, So you can unpeel and eat all that you like. |
| C is for carrots, and also for crunch. A super sensation to put in your lunch. There's also cucumber, celery and more From kind Mother Nature's vegetable store. |
D is for danger - sugar and sweets. Food cooked in oil, and too much meat. Milk's only for babies. Caffeine's a jinx Found in chocolate and coffee and cola drinks. |
| E is for exercise every day. You can do lots of it while you play. Skipping, jumping. Hop! Run! Yes, exercise can be lots of fun. |
F is for fruit of every kind That grows on bush or tree or vine. Every piece you have. Every bite you chew Gives you protein, sugar and calcium too. For a healthy body and good strong bones, Why you could live on fruit alone. |
| G is for go - the energy you feel When the food you're eating is raw and real. Cooking can take all the goodness away, So your body gets sick at the end of the day. Raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds Supply all the energy you'll ever need. |
H is for health, precious and rare. To keep yourself healthy get out in the air. Enjoy the sunshine, warm and bright, And go to sleep early every night. |
| I is for imp, which is what you will be If you eat rubbish constantly. Quarrelsome, tired, making a din, Just like a smelly rubbish bin. |
J is for junk, processed food So changed that the goodness has come unglued. Crisps 'n sweets, fast food and the rest Are really junk. Raw food is best. |
| K is for kids and the kind of fun You can have if you are a healthy one. Colds won't worry you. Aches and pain Will vanish and never come back again. Would you think that just eating the right food Could make you feel so bright and good? Well it can, so see you do every day. It's worth your while in every way. |
L is for lettuce, crisp and fresh, Delicious when it's fully dressed With carrots, cucumber, tomato and such You'll find you can never eat too much. L is also for lentils, lovely to eat With lots of green veggies, instead of meat. |
| M is for milk, and also for "Moo!" Cow's milk is for calves, and not for you. When you drink milk, your lungs can close And horrible stuff comes out your nose. |
N is for nuts, the protein food That is so nice, and tastes so good. But roasting, toasting, salt or spice Turn nuts into food that's not so nice. |
| O is for "Oh, what a lovely day!" "Oh, the sun is shining. Let's go and play." "Oh, I never get sick." "Oh, I feel so good." "Oh, I love to eat such healthy food." |
P is for protein, not for meat, You'll find it in all the fruit you eat. Vegetables and nuts and seeds Will provide all the protein that you need. |
| Q is for questions you might ask, "Why can't I have food from that place we passed?" "What is protein?" "What's better 'bout fruit?" "Why must we go the natural food route?" "Is bread alright?" "Why shouldn't food cook?" We'll try to answer them in this book. |
R is for refined flour and bread. It's better to eat wholewheat instead. Cereals that have the goodness removed Are useless as a choice of food. R is also for raw, when the food you eat Brings you its vitamins all complete. Cooking can take all that goodness away So eat lots of raw food every day. |
| S for sunlight, salad and sprouts, Things you should not do without. A little sunshine every day Will help you shake the blues away. And salad and sprouts are crunchily nice. Eat lots of them. That's my advice. |
T is for tofu which looks like cheese. Eat it any way you please. Spread on bread, or in a stew Tofu is so good for you. |
| U is for making you understand Why eating right should be your plan. Why fruit and vegetables are the best, With nuts and seeds to add some zest. Other food should only be Eaten very occasionally. |
W is for water, which used to be The ideal drink for you and me. Now it's full of a lot of other things That pollution on our planet brings. Fruit juice is better, fruit is best. Its natural juice will do the rest. |
| X is for meals like chips and steak, Cause protein and starch make your belly ache. So spaghetti and mince, fish and rice, And bread with meat are just not nice. |
Y is for young, youthful you. Trying to grow , straight and true. Reach for the stars, but on the way Try to eat healthily every day. |
| Z is for zero, nothing, nix. The good you get from a junk food fix. There's nothing but bad in that sugar-filled high. Fresh or dried fruit will get you by. Remember, your body can't be fooled By all that high-salt, high-fat food. It knows it's junk, and it will complain By giving you colds and aches and pain. You are what you eat! That's the key. So be the best you can ever be. |
..........(THIS LAST VERSE SHOULD BE SAID ...........TO A REGULAR BEAT AND CHILDREN ENCOURAGED TO JOIN IN)........... |
* Fit for Life of the American Life Science Institute.