Can you say, “Upper Body Strength?”

After a week after signing up for the One Hundred Push-up Challenge, I’m feeling muscles I’ve never felt before, in places I haven’t felt in awhile.

No pain – No Gain.

I also started an upper body workout regimen at my local gym I just joined, incorporating both free weights and machines into my routines.

I used to have great upper body strength--I had to.

When I was the school nutrition program manager, sometimes we all had to, at various times, carry large pots of food. A few programs still cook their food instead of only using processed foods-- --mostly the smaller private schools.

As the supervisor of an institutional based school, and still having the freedom to cook and serve “real food,” it was very gratifying to implement various menus for the children and watching them choose better eating habits, by offering different things and ways for their school meals.

I spearheaded the drive to introduce fresh fruit for the kids, along with the old standbys of hamburger and fries. Of course, hamburgers and fries are still being offered (in the proper portion size), but I strove to give the students a better choice for their diets in creative ways. Since we were mandated and overseen by federal guidelines, the students were required to choose at least three food items to fit the government’s definition of a “meal.”

So what do you think I made them take when they arrived at the cash register with only a hamburger and fries?

A fresh fruit, of course!

I strategically placed a bowl of apples, oranges, pears, plums, and peaches next to the cash register. The students, who only had two items on their plate, were required, then, to take one.

But guess what started to happen since I implemented this program over time?

The students started asking for the fruit .

Not elementary kids, but high school kids. Yes, I said the word “high school” kids and put it with “asking for fruit.” Due to the extreme budget constraints of most public school nutrition program, fresh fruits are seasonal. So, when peaches were in season and inexpensive, we served peaches.

Now I have the satisfaction both personally and professionally, that some high school students love peaches and other fresh fruits.

Sometimes what starts out with a plan of action or lifestyle choice does seem to be a chore, and hassle, and rebellion soon swirls; however quite often the “tough love” to make changes in people results in them learning to make the right choices for their diets, and habits.

To watch the students have a change of heart and mind to make fresh fruit part of their diets and have it turn into a positive part of their lifestyle, made my job really magical.

I felt good and the students were adapting healthy eating habits.

Who knew?

OK, so how does this story relate to upper body strength?

Have you ever lifted baskets of apples, peaches, pears, and oranges for 600 students?

OK, you get the idea.

But that was years ago, and now it’s great to get it back in the groove, because

After all, it’s about a healthy lifestyle!

© Iowa Avenue

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