Like many families in the U.S., we live in the suburbs. Although I love the city, our family, due to job opportunities, family, and the desire for space, we made the decision to live in the suburbs. We have two young children, and love walking “the sidewalk loop” around our small neighborhood. My daughter always insists, “let’s keep going”, and I have to explain that we can’t go on the “busy road” because there are no sidewalks there. “Why are there no sidewalks there, mommy?” she asks and I think to myself, where do I begin in trying to answer her?
Should I explain how developers build neighborhoods, making sidewalks that don’t connect to other neighborhoods? Do I explain how we have the alternative to walk on the secluded, deeply wooded park trails if we take the car there first? (although that alternative is obviously too dangerous for young children and a mom), or do I explain how the town is not focused on issues like this, because they don’t understand that this truly is an issue, and a contributor, along with poor food choices, to the childhood obesity issue? Whenever our kids want to go somewhere, in the suburbs, you can’t walk because of poor infrastructure. My kids’ friends live less than a half mile away, but because neighborhoods don’t connect, and it’s too dangerous to send the kids on busy, crowded streets alone, or even with us, you need to take the car, always. You need to take your car EVERYWHERE. This Does contribute to childhood obesity. Kids are taught at an early age today that using the car all the time contributes to too much pollution, and that you should walk or bike. Yet, our towns still don’t realize the role they can play, and that inaction is leading to obesity.
My vision is that every neighborhood could be connected by a sidewalk system, that connects to a park or trail system. Wow, that people could walk outside their house, and have access to parks and trails, making it easy for people to exercise. And it would foster a sense of community too, making it easier to get to know neighbors that live just across the street.
We at First Juice are working hard to offer better beverages for our children, so that at a young age, children can get used to tastes and foods that are better for them, and not so sugar-soaked, so that they can grow up with better eating habits. But the other side of the equation is getting kids to have more activity. We all know that. Our society and government also needs to step up to play its part too, and to create infrastructures that provide the right environment, that does not contribute towards obesity, but rather helps to make it a story of the past.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Thomas
VP Marketing
First Juice, Inc.
www.firstjuice.com
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