5 Ways Parents Can Make America Healthy Again

By Aspen LaPierre

Trump’s exciting dream team moving into the White House can make it easy for us to feel like our work here is done. We won. Trump is going to make America great again, and RFK Jr. is going to make America healthy again. Time to put up our feet and catch up on our favorite tv shows. Only, not really.  

Unfortunately, if we really want America to be healthy again, our work is just beginning. There is a real crisis in our country, fueled by pharmaceutical companies who sustain themselves on permanently sick patients. Many physicians have a leftist lean that affects their views on healthcare.  

Major media sources have already begun gaslighting the public about health. Recent articles have downplayed the seriousness of concerns about ultra-processed foods, a pathetically blatant attempt to paint RFK Jr.’s aspirations uncredible. This stance is also in stark contrast to 2010 articles praising Michelle Obama for criticizing the chemicals in foods.  

In light of this, it is important to be proactive about taking control of our own health and supporting politicians in their goal to rehabilitate America. Only so much can be done through top-down legislation and it will take time.  

Parents are the key to healthier future generations. Their influence is crucial in ensuring that we turn out adults that know how to take care of themselves and make informed decisions about their bodies. Firmly establishing these concepts and the fact that everyone has the right to ultimately decide what is best for them can help morph our kids into knowledgeable forward-thinking adults that won’t make politically based medical decisions.  

Here are five ways parents can help make this happen.  

1. Don’t normalize chemical-laden food and body products. 

As a clean beauty entrepreneur, this is something we’ve always done in our house. While some kids know Lucky Charms, my kids know “Marshmallow Galaxy” from Whole Foods or “Mallow Oats” from Better Mom’s.  

All the fun advertising that’s constantly in your child’s face can make this difficult. It makes unhealthy foods seem appealing. The marketing teams at giant food corporations are experts and of course, many of the foods are unnaturally bright in color or developed to maximize taste. Children are enamored by all of that.  

Try introducing them to brands that are fun but don’t have any additives or unnatural ingredients. Luckily today you’re not limited to buying name brand natural goods. Stores often have their own healthy versions of most snacks. This helps a ton with the affordability and many of them have colorful branding. 

It is also imperative that you normalize real, simple foods. Your children should see that a good meal consists of some combination of fruits, vegetables, meats, and whole grains. This helps them learn how to nourish their bodies properly and not rely on packaged foods.  Help them to understand that the body gets hungry because it needs nutrients within these food groups. 

The same logic should be applied to products put on the body. Children need to get familiarized with body care that has better ingredients. If you’re not sure where to find it, try a local health foods store, or online stores like Thrive Market. Thrive has natural goods at discounted prices. 

If you can’t afford Thrive Market, they offer free annual memberships to teachers, students, nurses, veterans and lower income families. You can find an application on their website and provide supporting documentation to see if you qualify.  

2. Limit Unproductive Screen Time 

One of the most concerning epidemics of our time is the addiction to screens. Drive around any suburban neighborhood and you’re unlikely to see or hear any children playing outside. In fact, it’s so unusual, it stands out when a child is actually outside playing. The majority are indoors, playing video games or scrolling social media.  

Not only can excessive screen time cause cancer and weight gain that leads to other serious issues like diabetes and hypertension, but it also increases irritability and mood swings. There are fewer opportunities for creativity and it hinders social and emotional competence. Studies have even shown a decrease in white matter in the brain, causing a disconnect between hemispheres when they’re trying to communicate.  

If your kids are going to spend time on screens at all, aim for one hour a day during which they're creating, not consuming. This exercises creativity, and potentially teaches them new skills that can be relevant in a tech-centered society.  

If you’re going to let your children consume, try to do it only occasionally and make sure they’re consuming something wholesome that will benefit them in other areas of their lives. Bluey is a great example of this. It is an Australian kid’s show exploding across America that teaches excellent morals. It constantly shows the main character and her younger sister using their imagination to play. It also encourages an open-minded approach to new and healthy foods.  

3. Model good behavior by taking care of yourself.

My husband and I have worked out in front of and with our children for years. They’re very young, but we’ve been thrilled to see that they now like working out on their own. Our first grader, in particular, is obsessed with yoga and gymnastics, always working on improving her skills. 

If you despise working out, try to take your children on outings to the park, nature walks, or try doing anything active with them. Normalizing movement throughout the day can make a huge impression on them. They’ll think twice about any sedentary activities and will likely begin minimizing them on their own. 

4. Prioritize sleep for your family.

Emphasize the importance of sleep as a time to recharge. Your body heals during sleep, repairing itself and working to prevent serious diseases. Good sleep equips you with more energy during the day and improves mental health drastically.  

5. Consider a hybrid approach to Healthcare. 

I’m definitely not suggesting you stop seeing your conventional doctor, but you might want to consider blending the types of healthcare you receive. For example, after receiving a diagnosis of chronic heartburn from your conventional doctor, maybe you can see a holistic doctor to try to manage it naturally. I try to use conventional medicine as a last resort, but of course, it has an important place. 

The pandemic increased mistrust in medical professionals drastically and, rightly so. You shouldn’t write off plant- based medicine for anything that doesn’t require conventional intervention. We shouldn’t forget that modern medicine has its origins in herbal remedies. Notably,  the discovery of penicillin cemented that plant medicine works, and it works well.

We are very quick to pump our children full of synthetic medications that sometimes have more severe side effects than the original ailment. Often, our medicine is even made by political enemies. We need to be smart consumers – both in terms of purchasing and ingesting. Check labels, do your research and teach your children to do the same. 

The results of this election have really given me hope that more parents are going to be proactive in creating a generation of healthier kids. 

Aspen is a clean beauty entrepreneur and mother of four with a lifelong passion for health and wellness.