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| My Dad & I, Jack Hyatt, 1999(ish) |
Father’s Day comes around just one day every year, but this year give dad a gift that will last him throughout the year, the gift of health! This year I have written a letter to all respective dads to be shared among loved ones.
Dear Dad (Grandfathers, husbands and future dads),
Dad's stand for strength, assurance and kindness.
It takes a great man to stand up to a huge responsibility and become a father
who passes on his wisdom, skills and advice. Keep your body in the best shape
it can be with these ten healthy tips strong enough to help you keep up your “super-dad”
name!
1. Lycopene. An amazing phytochemical found in abundance in tomatoes, watermelon and papaya and has been shown to be a potential prostate cancer reducer. Include red colored fruits and vegetables to increase your intake of this nutrient packed phytochemical.
2. Avocados. Great for inflammation and chocked full of monounsaturated
fatty acids (the good type of fats) as well as being a potential cholesterol
and diabetes reducer. 3. Choose lean protein sources. Only eat red meat or beef one time per week and make it lean cuts like loin and round. Eat chicken without the skin and try to eat fish at least 1 time per week. Consider going meatless one day a week incorporating beans, nuts and soy products as the main meal item.
4. If you drink alcohol switch to red wine for the benefits of resveratrol. In moderation, red wine has shown to be potentially heart-healthy.
5. Don't forget to eat breakfast and regular meals throughout the day. Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day and will balance your mood, concentration and endurance throughout the day.
6. Keep moving for at least 60 minutes per day. Exercise is a great stress
relief and good for all aspects of your body. 7. Sleep for at least 8 hours per night.
8. When you grill consider marinating meat in a mixture of oil, vinegar and spices including onions and garlic to help minimize the carcinogens that may occur during the process of grilling.
10. Remember you are a huge role model for the entire family, what you do they will likely copy.
Happy Father’s Day! This year and too many more!
Sincerely,
Brandi Thompson RDN, LD/N
P.S. Sometimes the best gifts that we can give our dads are hugs and kind
words of appreciation. As a Registered Dietitian it can be hard for me to hold
back when I see my dad eating in an unhealthy way. We would all like to see our
dads live forever and I am often torn between letting him enjoy what he is
eating and reminding him of healthier choices. My dad has always
been a strong and impressionable part of my life and a year and a half ago
he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. As a family we were
devastated and writing about it still gets me teary eyed even though
he has been in remission for almost a year. The celebration of
Father’s Day can be a time of reflection on our families, our work
life and how we fuel our bodies. Taking advantage of the aspects of
nutrition that are valid and evidence based can help
our dads, husbands and sons live a long and healthy life.
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