Food & drink have been celebratory mechanisms for gatherings & parties for hundreds of years. Here’s why it is becoming a problem now:
- the abundance of accessible food
- the ready-made processed shelf foods are easy to purchase & serve
- the caloric content is unrealized (glazed donut = 255 calories)
- people & parents find it hard to say “no” in a crowd
Well meaning groups contribute to the issue as laid out in the following article: The Obesity Epidemic in American Churches
Especially concerning to parents ~ Who typically makes a dash for the Sunday morning donuts or the birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve service?… Maybe we should thank groups for providing plenty of teachable moments.
How about a…
- produce potluck
- pedometer party
- fruity fellowship
- small plate party
“Childhood obesity is best tackled at home through improved parental involvement, increased physical exercise, better diet & restraint from eating.” ~ Bob Filner