“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.” Proverbs 15:30. These wisdom words give meaning to what Twanya Linton has applied to her family.
Additionally, readers should seriously research the Let’s Move health initiative, targeted to children by United States’ First Lady Michelle Obama. It gives high credit to “silent doctors” fruits and vegetables as part of the positive solutions for better health.
As promised, this month I will disseminate information about how some Barbadian parents have decided to invest money, not only into the academic development of their children, but also into maintaining good health.
My quest to showcase a schoolchild who practises a healthy lifestyle led me to Diamond Linton.
Diamond is eight and is enrolled at Christ Church Girls’ School. She has a royal, pristine appearance, is very energetic and has an excellent medical report.
Academically, Diamond has mastered what developmental psychologists deem to be important factors for her age range and gender.
Diamond is cognisant of the importance of the foods she consumes.
“I trust my mummy and I believe that she will give me foods to keep me healthy and strong.”
Her breakfast is a combination of oats, barley, sago, linseed and crushed banana as the sweetening agent. Plantain dishes, muffins and bakes, are also included.
Her creative bakes include “silent doctors” water, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Grated carrots, spinach, cassava or sweet potato can be added to your bakes. Her afternoon meals sometimes include Barbadian-prepared School Meals dishes.
Her mother monitors these meals, and if something is served which she believes should not be included in Diamond’s diet, Twanya would give Diamond a packed meal or deliver lunch to her.
Twanya further related that Diamond is not afflicted by any childhood health challenges. When she has the occasional cold, she is given wonder-of-the-world, bay leaf, sweet mint and ginger tea.
For supper, soup is Diamond’s favourite dish. This contains dumplings (made with wholewheat flour) and “silent doctors” ground provisions, green bananas, plantain, turmeric, rosemary, thyme and chives.
Other holistic dishes included for supper are brown rice, whole wheat spaghettis, fresh vegetables, ground provisions and vegetarian pizza.
Snacks are challenging. However, Twanya noted that “I don’t keep unholistic snacks at home”. Her snacks are plantains, grapes, apples, homemade burgers, wholewheat bread and crackers or any holistic finger foods.
In conclusion, study these words spoken by Nelson Mandela: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
• Annette Maynard-Watson, a teacher and herbal educator, may be contacted at [email protected] or telephone 250-6450.
DISCLAIMER: It is not our intention to prescribe or make specific health claims for any products. Any attempt to diagnose and treat real illness should come under the direction of your health care professional.
