In the News

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County

Helping Every Time You Eat
March 2000


Time For A Tune-up?

The slogan for the American Dietetic Association's March National Nutrition Month (R) 2000 is
"Food & Fitness: Health for a Lifetime." This month's article asks what would happen if you
treated your car like you do your body. A special thanks to my auto-savvy assistant Celie Vaughn
for helping me get the car comparisons correct and to Linda Boeckner, Ph.D., R.D., extension
nutrition specialist, for helping assure my nutrition recommendations are on track. 




If you treated your car
like you treat your body,
would you own a RACE
CAR or a CLUNKER?




If you cared for your car like you care for yourself, what type of miles per gallon would you get?
Or, would your auto move at all?

Take this 10-question CAR CARE TEST and then compare the human equivalent (HEQ) for your
body.

1. Do you recharge your car's battery if it runs low?

HEQ: Do get you get enough sleep?

2. Do you refill your car's gas tank when it's empty?

HEQ: Do you eat meals/snacks at regularly-spaced times
throughout the day? 

3. Do you use the right type of fuel for your car?

HEQ: Do you eat the right variety of foods from each
Food Guide Pyramid group?

4. Do you make sure your car's radiator has enough water?

HEQ: Do you drink about 8 cups of liquid a day -- mostly
from water, juice and milk?

5. Do you read the owner's manual to get the best performance from your car?

HEQ: Do you take advantage of opportunities to learn more about
healthy eating and other healthy lifestyle choices?

6. Do you clean your car's body so it doesn't rust out?

HEQ: Do you brush and floss your teeth daily?

7. Do you limit passengers to a number your car's structure can handle?

HEQ: Do you keep your weight at a healthy level?

8. If smoke poured from your car, would it concern you?

HEQ: Do YOU smoke?

9. Do you give your car regular tune-ups?

HEQ: Do you participate in moderate to vigorous physical
activity most days?

10. Do you keep the proper pressure in your tires?

HEQ: Do you keep your stress at a healthy level?

Sometimes there seem to be a lot of similarities between our cars and our bodies. There are,
however, two major differences:

It's easier to replace damaged parts on our cars.

We can trade our cars in for a newer model every few years. We have to live with our
bodies forever!

Perhaps, after reading this, you feel it's time for a tune-up to get back on track. Start your engine,
rev up your motor and begin caring for your body as carefully as you do your car!

Related Topics
Indulging Without Bulging 



ABOUT FOOD REFLECTIONS

FOOD REFLECTIONS is a FREE monthly e-mail newsletter and is also archived on the Internet
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/ianr/lanco/family/archives.htm. FOOD REFLECTIONS provides a "how-to" message on food, nutrition, or food safety for health professionals, educators, and consumers. 

Author: FOOD REFLECTIONS is written by Alice Henneman, MS, RD, LMNT, Extension Educator
and is archived on the Internet by Celie Vaughn, Extension Assistant.

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