Light Is Right As Family Proves It's Easy Being Green

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday August 12, 2006

Jamie Pandaram

A COOKBOOK given as a wedding gift to David Green from his wife, Denise, has shaped the family's healthy attitude to food for more than a decade.

"I was very influenced by Gabriel Gate's Good Food Fast. My wife gave it to me as a present years ago and I went through it from front to back," David says. "Our children were brought up with fruit and vegetables as a normal part of their daily diet."

The aptly named Greens, of Marrickville, believe in eating only fresh food and getting plenty of exercise in the great outdoors.

David and Denise and their sons William, 13, and Thomas, 11, steer clear of takeaways and junk food, lollies, TV dinners, soft drinks and even full-cream milk.

When shopping, Denise will always look for a low-fat alternative to dairy products, cereals and snacks.

David will cook dinner every night except Wednesdays, when Denise takes over in the kitchen for what she calls "Fun Food Wednesday".

"This Wednesday I'm making Mexican," she says during a shopping trip at her local supermarket. "I'll try to do interesting and fun dishes."

Pushing a trolley through the aisles, Denise picks out the healthier versions of staple foods. "We always eat grain bread," she says. "Our household does not know the difference between low-fat and regular, the boys have grown up eating the lighter alternatives."

Low-fat yoghurt, light milk, light peanut butter and dried apricots are put into the trolley, along with light sour cream for the Mexican meal.

"We send the boys to school with packed lunches from Monday to Thursday, and allow them to have a canteen lunch on Friday - with one condition, that they have a piece of fruit." The packed lunch comprises sandwiches or crackers, fruit and yoghurt.

William and Thomas play sports year-round and walk to school, unless it is raining. Denise walks with Thomas to school three times a week and has started aquarobics classes. David drives to work - Monday to Friday - but opts for walking on weekends.

Train stations and shops are within walking distance of the family's home and they prefer to use their legs instead of the car.

The family eats fish twice a week, and Denise shops about three times a week in order to stock fresh food.

David visits a fruit and vegetable market on the weekends because he prefers its products to those of the supermarket.

"The old Aussie meat-and-three-veg has been much maligned, but if more Australians ate it, they'd be a lot thinner and healthier," he says.

GOOD HABITS

This family is doing a lot of healthy things. Diet is excellent and there's plenty of physical activity and positive family time. It can take quite an effort to make healthy lifestyle choices, but following a program as a family can support the process.

Many children, particularly in primary school, would benefit from walking to school, and lifestyle habits start early. The time with a parent and the calming effect from walking can help with concentration at school. The trip to school, however, is generally determined by how the parents get to work.

I was surprised that David drove to work, but without knowing his destination it's hard to tell if cycling or public transport are viable options. I got the impression he would walk if he could.

Denise's frequent walking to the shops is a great way to build into her day regular physical activity. Why spend all that money driving to a gym when an active lifestyle will provide you with much the same benefits and is more sustainable?

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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