This week on Nana’s Corner Fitness post: 
1.  All those diet plans - which ones are right for grandparents? 
2.  National Nutrition Month grandparent and grandchildren activities. 
3.  Grandchildren’s St. Patrick’s Day fitness actitivies: Pot o’ Gold Coin Toss, Ring Around a Pot o’ Gold, Rainbow Treasure Hunt, and more  (moved to Activities category, 3/5/08)
 4.  Nana’s non-WW and Lori’s WW updates.  (see Week 1)
 5.  Healthy Snacks

1.  Fad diets have existed since 1820, starting with the Vinegar and Water Diet designed by Lord Byron, through the present day.  Did you know the first Low Carbohydrate Diet was introduced shortly after in 1825? There’s been crazy ones such as a Straw Diet and a Cigarette Diet (smoke instead of a sweet - ironic?). How practical can fad diets all be? If you have to eliminate foods that are in the food pyramid such as carbohydrates, is that diet good for grandparents or anyone else?  I don’t think so. All of the fad diets that I’m aware of stress eliminating important food groups which is not natural for your body or your overall health. You couldn’t maintain a healthy life if you followed them for more than a couple of weeks and that’s what we’re all after - a long, healthy life to share with our grandchildren. Right? Right.  I know it’s my goal. Better late than never - wise saying, must have been from a grandparent. 

What diets are right for grandparents?
 National Heart Association has it all right there on their Diet and Nutrition page, including Delicious Decisions, No-Fad Diet, and Heart-Healthy Grocery Shopping. National Diabetic Association offers a Virtual Grocery Store Tour with nutrition labels, recipes, meal planning, shopping list, and meals from the deli when you are short on time.  My Pyramid and My Pyramid for Kids are both informative and interactive. My Food Pyramid will help you plan your healthy eating plan using all food groups while tracking your calories. Detailed nutrition information for each food is given, too. Your food intake can be evaluated for inadequate nutrition so you can learn to adjust towards healthier eating habits. My Pyramid for Kids also has an interactive game and free posters. So, what plan is right for grandparents? A healthy plan. I chose to plan and choose healthy foods, using healthier substitutions when possible. No fad diets anymore for this grandmother. Just good, delicious, healthy meals and snacks.

2.   March is National Nutrition Month. Since grandparents are special role models we can use that to our grandchildren’s advantage. 

• Dining Out: Do you take your grandchildren out to eat when you get together or plan special treats or meals with them? What a great moment to share with your grandchildren in learning about good nutrition.  Together choose healthy meals over not so healthy from the menu.
• Plan a meal together and then go shopping for the items you need - making healthy choices along the way. Don’t make it a one time activity, keep it going and it will soon become just a natural way of life.
• Try a new recipe for a healthy dessert. Make it together and then enjoy it!

3.   (I felt the blog was too lengthy so I moved St. Patrick’s Day fitness fun section to the Activities category.)

4.  Update on Nana’s Non-WW and Lori’s WW Diet:  Well Lori’s Weight Watchers weigh-in was tonight. She lost 4.2 pounds this week.  “Weigh” to go, girl!  Besides portioning and making wiser food choices, she also exercised four times during the week.  And Nana?  I lost 1 pound last week. I think I lost 1 pound this week. If I did, then I lost a total of 4 pounds in 5 weeks. (I had gained 2 one week.) I exercised 2 times.  I also made wiser choices for my food choices. My weigh-in is tomorrow morning.   (Update:  I lost 1 1/2 lbs.! - I’m actually doing better than some of my colleagues - maybe I have a chance at winning some prize $ after all.)

5.  Healthy Snacks:  Utz Orgnaic Multi-Grain Pretzels, Quaker’s Weight Management Oatmeal: banana bread, Light English Muffin with All Fruit spread, Natural Applesauce in Waffle Cone, Quaker’s Quakes: chocolate coated,  95% Fat Free Pop Corn, Weight Watcher’s 1 point Carrot Cakes - Stay with 1 serving size!

Are you dieting? What’s your plan? How’s it working?

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