Angie Lanigan visited Scarborough Family Medicine in Scarborough, ME (near Portland, ME) on 6/10/09. I would like to thank the staff and clinicians there for being wonderful hosts! They’ve worked hard to make AIM-HI a very successful project. They are also integrating a program called 5210 for all their pediatric patients. This program encourages kids to eat 5 fruits and veggies, 2 hours or less of recreation screen time (tv), 1 hour of physical activity, and 0 sweetened drinks per day. They use the 5210 tools to discuss fitness and healthy lifestyles with parents and kids during office visits. Here is a website I found if you’d like more information about the program: http://www.mmc.org/mmc_body.cfm?id=3614.
Unfortunately, it was rainy and chilly when I got to Portland, so I didn’t explore the Old Port area as much as I would have liked! I did get out and walk around though, but I don’t know if I made it to 10,000 steps. I also got the chance to see the Portland Head Lamp, a beautiful lighthouse that I was told is one of the most photographed in the United States.
While in Maine, I did something that I haven’t done in a long time, I tried a new food! I ate a lobster roll (see my picture-ignore the French fries, they were my backup plan)! My previous experience with lobster has always been limited to a nibble and then the thought of, “Eww, I don’t like it.” Since I was in Maine, I couldn’t have forgiven myself if I didn’t try lobster. I decided to just go for it,-and I LIKED IT! In the quest to eat healthy, I’ve found it’s important to try new foods. There are many foods I hated as a kid that are now some of my favorites. If I wouldn’t have given asparagus or green beans another chance, I would have never discovered how delicious they are!
One important thing that I’ve learned about trying new foods is that one bite won’t do it justice. Make a commitment to taking at least several bites (this is very hard sometimes). I’ll admit that I’m not an adventurous eater, but I’m trying. Eating the lobster roll inspired me to try raw kale yesterday at the farmer’s market. It’s not something that I would normally have purchased at the grocery store, but I started talking to the farmer and he told me how to prepare it. Then, he asked, “Would you like to try it?” I thought, “Why not?” and took a bite and it wasn’t bad. So, I’m going to try it again and I think that is the key to liking new foods, you’ve got to eat it more than once. Summer is a great time to try new fruits and vegetables, so go out and buy something new the next time you’re at the grocery store or market!