the Monday Morning Debrief: Trying to Avoid the Love Handles
A big part of Youth Ministry is food. I’ve used food for so many different occasions whether it is for when I meet up with students, leaders or parent or to simply provide snacks during youth gatherings. I use food so much in ministry because people love food. Check that, TEENS LOVE FOOD! In the past, it seems like every time I advertised certain food for a youth meeting, I could count on at least a 25% increase in attendance for that event.
And, because teens love food, food is always around for youth leaders to eat and devour as well which could cause some very unhealthy eating habits for us. All that food…especially junk food can put some nice love handles on our bodies
But just because food is apart of youth ministry, that doesn’t mean it all has to be “junk” food. Now, I’m not one of those “eat healthy” type of guys (I still love my pop-tarts and candy fixes). But, just the other day I stumbled upon this clip from Dr. Oz on healthy food before you go to bed. So this is my Public Service Announcement to all Youth Ministers about Late Night Snacking
It's a big problem having food around and I've slowly made the shift to adding in some healthy options to when I get food for group, retreats and events. I am bad with my own personal food intake and needed to do something or else my wife would be a widow with 2 little girls. I've dropped about 25 pounds in about 6 weeks and trying to get down to 220. We have to take care of ourselves.
Great word Ty. I can get completely out of control with the amount of junk food I take in when I'm with my youth. If you have any suggestions for healthy food that youth like, post them. BTW, are you going to Orange next week? If so we should connect.
I've been shocked that a lot of my kids have been liking the fruit trays and carrots and celery that I've been adding in. As a kid I wouldn't have touched that stuff if you paid me!
I think they all get so much junk that having something fresh and healthy is something they respond to. At least my high school students anyhow.
But then again, they all wash it down with Mt. Dew and Monster. Yikes.
Unfortunately I won't be at the Orange Conference, but I'm looking at the possibility of adding it to my sabbatical next spring.
Blessings!