The grocery store is a scary place. I know…this seems pitiful…a single dad having trouble with groceries. But try out your observational skills the next time you are at the grocery store. Look at the carts of the moms that are shopping – looking like pros. I’ve done this and I have learned that commercials are, indeed, effective.

Overly sugared cereals; white bread; cases of soda, frozen dinners; single pack juices; convience foods ranging from snack packs, lunchables…and I could go on. This list will not build a healthy child.

I know what my problem is: I always shop unprepared, and that problem comes from not having a line-up of good meals that I can cook. This leaves me turning circles in the aisles. There has got to be a better way than this.

Time to look at iPhone apps for more help. I might rely on this phone a bit too much……..nah.

1. Am I doing what is best for my children’s health?
2. AntiOxidants to help fight influenza.

1. I must admit that, since my divorce, I have been growing into a bit of a fanatic about not only my health, but especially the health of my children. I am working on a few things concerning this topic. There is no shortage of information out there concerning what should be done to keep are children healthy. Proper diet, exercise. I’m very big on mental stimulation as I have learned – for myself – how very important the art of being “active” is. What is that saying…”Idle hands are the devil’s playground?”

My observation is that our lack of knowledge concerning diet (what we should actually put into our bodies) has led to an unhealthy American society. Is it laziness? Apathy? To be honest, I’m past the point of trying to figure out the “why” and moved on to the “how”…as in “how can we change this?”. I have two children who need me to do this for them. That is my job. And so I will…

2. Can antioxidants help fight influenza? I came across a report out of the University of Alabama at Birminghan that antioxidants could help in the prevention and treatment of the flu. WellnessResources.com has a nice article that simply illustrates the findings of the researchers. They point out…

“All flu viruses, including H1N1 swine flu, produce a protein named M2.  The production of M2 protein disrupts cells lining the lungs, causing fluid to build up in the lungs and setting the stage for pneumonia.

The researchers proved that M2 induced its damage through a mechanism of free radicals, which progressively rise as the virus replicates.  They further showed that glutathione, the primary cellular antioxidant, stopped the M2-induced free radical damage, thus preventing the problem.”

I, like many parents, have wrestled with the decision of flu shots for H1N1. I do believe in prevention, so I’m interested in these recent findings. My next step is to research glutothione.

Antioxidants have become quite the buzz word. The fact that most of your antioxidants come from vegetable and fruit sources is a cause for concern. Why? Because people already know that fruits and vegetables are good for you but still do not eat them. As an adult, I have that choice because, arguably, that choice only affects me. But concerning my children, I don’t have that choice. I am here to take care of them. If I feed them unhealthy food, they will be unhealthy. I can’t have that.