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November 2008 Keep That Gratitude Attitude for Thanksgiving It is that time of year again when Thanksgiving, Christmas, and plenty of parties in between will be tempting you and your children to indulge just a bit more than you need. Planning ahead will make a big difference and keep you from revisiting those New Years' resolutions. Thanksgiving is one of those holidays where you can be in control by planning a strategy which includes favorite family traditions balanced with some moderation and exercise. Guilt is not an essential nutrient, so begin by talking to your family about what makes Thanksgiving special. A Little History The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 when the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the autumn harvest. On October 11, 1782, President John Hanson signed a proclamation "commanding the observation of Thursday the 28th day of November as a day of solemn Thanksgiving to God for all his mercies... which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness." (Note: Hanson was the President of the Congress and it was seven years later that George Washington became our first President of the United States). The meats for the first meal may have included wild turkey, goose, swan, venison, and seal. The vegetables would have been pumpkin, peas, beans, carrots, and onions. The fruit could have been grapes, plums and dried currants. There may have been walnuts, chestnuts, and acorns. There were no ovens and very little sugar, so they didn't have pumpkin pie. Potatoes were not common and there wasn't any ham. There were no cows, so the cheese might have been made from goat milk. Here is a challenge, try to recreate the first foods of the first Thanksgiving! Balance Go, Slow, and Whoa Foods. In the 1990's, a Texas school system began a program called CATCH - Coordinated Approach to Child Health. As part of their program, foods are ranked based on the amount of fat, sugar, and amount of processing. We should all work toward consuming more of the go foods, less of the slow foods, and even less of the whoa foods. Fruits and vegetables would all be go foods because they are all low in fat, low in sugar, and are not processed which is to say they are lower in sodium than any boxed foods. Spend some time with your child and see if you can identify the go, slow, and whoa foods. Remember, whoa doesn't mean no; it just means control the portion. Moderation is key! Go Foods Slow Foods Whoa Foods Turkey Gravy Pumpkin Pie Green beans      Oyster Dressing Chocolates Corn Candied Sweet Potatoes       Butter, margarine Potatoes Dinner Roll Biscuit Cranberries Exercise Replace some of those hours in front of the television set with a family walk! Take your family over the Ravenel Bridge and try to answer the following Scavenger Questions. Name the towers of the bridge. What four digits are stamped into the wall that separates the road and the pedestrian path? What do the numbers mean? Name the four different shapes of base supports that you see on the bridge. Tell me one thing you learned about Arthur Ravenel from the bridge markers. Name the different types of transportation that can be used to get across, under, or over the bridge. List 5 things you cannot do on the bridge. To find out more about the Lean Team, visit our website at www.musc.edu/leanteam or give us a call at (843)579-4316. Mary Joan Lean Team

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