Use moderation, common sense to avoid holiday bulge

ItÂ’s no crime to overindulge during the holidays: high-calorie treats and sweets are part of the good times. And as long as a little common sense and moderation prevail, most of us can avoid the post-holiday bulge.

But when you stop and consider how we eat during the rest of the year, holiday indulgence doesnÂ’t seem all that indulgent. For example, food-court choices at the mall run predominately to burgers, corn dogs, tacos, French fries, sodas and the norm, while healthy options like yogurt, fruit and whole-grain breads are harder to find.

Unless and until we commit to addressing issues of nutrition year-round, we are risking our populationÂ’s health and workplace productivity.

Fortunately, an increasing number of business leaders are taking an interest in optimizing nutritional status for their employees, families and customers. Why? They know itÂ’s good for business.

Good nutrition is, quite simply, good for business. A healthy Texas means lower health care and insurance costs, less time lost due to illness and a healthier workforce to maintain competitiveness with the rest of the world.

We have our work cut out for us. Here in the Lone Star State, more than 35 percent of children are considered overweight or obese, a significantly higher percentage than the nation as a whole. And according to the American Cancer Society (Texas division), scientific evidence suggests that about one-third of the cancer deaths in the United States each year are due to nutrition factors, including obesity.

Consider the scale of impact that healthier nutrition programs can have right here in Texas. During the 2008 state fiscal year (September 2007 - August 2008), Texas schools served more than 514 million lunches and 234 million breakfasts, and received more than $1.2 billion in federal funding for these meals. Almost 1,200 Texas school districts with 7,495 schools were eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program, and 7,499 Texas schools were eligible to participate in the School Breakfast Program. About 4.6 million Texas schoolchildren have access to nutritious, balanced meals under these programs.

According to the national School Nutrition Association (www.schoolnutrition.org/), school wellness policies in Texas and across the nation are doing great things. Nearly all of the schools it surveyed recently offer fat-free or low-fat milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, salad bars or pre-packaged salads, and yogurt or yogurt drinks.

The good news is that positive, progressive change is making its way through our community. The result will be healthier children who will become active, contributing adults and will pass on their nutrition knowledge to their children, creating a circle of better health.

 The holiday season is always a time of celebrating lifeÂ’s good things. This year, go ahead and indulge (in moderation). But make sure to take a moment and reflect on the progress weÂ’re making as a community to better health — and perhaps make your own commitment to helping those for whom indulgence is not an option. Sharing the seasonÂ’s joy just might be the best gift youÂ’ll receive all year.

Ransom is president and professor in obstetrics, gynecology,

health management and policy at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.