Skinny Europeans: One Thing American Moms Can Learn from Them

While vacationing in Yosemite National Park, I was in a long, slow moving line for the bathroom near one of the waterfalls. While waiting, I noticed a group of women ahead of me. It didn’t take long to notice two things about them: they were from Europe and they were skinny. They looked fit, healthy and vibrant. What do the Europeans know that Americans don’t? Maybe one of their secrets could be found in one of the ladies’ hands. She was holding a raw carrot stick.

Not a 100-calorie snack pack of cookies. Not a bag of potato chips. A carrot.

Let me ask you a question. If I saw you in line snacking, what would be in your hand? If there was a 24-hour survelliance camera zoomed in on you, what list of foods would the camera capture? A convicting thought for sure!

Well, guess what? There may not be a camera zoomed in on you, but someone is watching you round the clock. Your child is looking at you constantly throughout the day. What you model as good foods to eat will be passed on to your children.

So when you think about losing weight after baby, I want you to look down at your hands. Go ahead. Take a moment and look at your hands right now. Picture yourself holding a snack. What kind of snack will you choose? A sugar laden convenience food, or something healthy and natural, like that young woman’s carrot?

The healthier foods you grab with your hands, the faster you’ll be losing weight after baby. The opposite is also true. That’s why it’s important to make the right snacking choices today. By making a series of smart snacking choices, you’ll see positive results on the scale and in your home.

So when you are hungry, remember the skinny lady from Europe and pick up a carrot. You’ll be glad you did and in time, so will your kids.