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When I was twelve years old my dad decided to cut a deal with me and my three brothers. He promised to pay us each $10 a month to completely give up drinking soda. The only exceptions were birthdays, holidays, or the occasional sleepover with a friend. The deal meant no more soda at restaurants, barbecues, or other places where the sugary liquid is a common beverage. As preteens, this was a very big commitment, but we were eager to have the extra $10 a month to spend on other fun items. I decided to save the majority of the money I earned from this, and soon I had a pretty decent chunk of cash for the average middle schooler. As time went on, my willpower got stronger and it became easier to give up the fizzy beverage.
Maybe soda isn’t a part of your diet. But what about other forms of sugar or processed carbohydrates? Or what if instead of cutting something out, you need to add something in, such as more leafy greens or fruits in their natural form. My dad encouraged us to give up soda by offering a type of allowance not to drink it. I encourage you to find a similar motivator. Will you save the money you would normally spend on a sugary drink or packaged snack for a future vacation? How about that new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing? Whatever it is you want to give up or add in to your diet, I suggest finding a treat that will motivate you. Whether you have a family with kids you want to influence to eat better, or you have a desire to create your own healthy habit, making a deal will serve you well for the rest of your life. I have now gone more than four years without drinking soda, even though my dad stopped paying me when I turned 18! I have no intention of breaking that record now. I recently pulled out the jar where I used to store my earnings, and I have successfully saved over $300, a big investment towards a healthier life. -Ashley Voeller is a college student, future dietitian, dancer and blogger
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 It’s National Sugar Awareness Week, and according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the average American consumes 152 pounds of sugar per year. That’s right, 152 POUNDS! For many people, this is equivalent to eating their entire body weight in sugar in just one calendar year. Whether this is from consuming sugary beverages, canned goods with hidden sweeteners, or simply too much dessert, this statistic is staggering. Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to obesity, which puts you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other obesity-related illnesses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that “more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes." This all goes to show that an “addiction” to sugar is becoming an increasing problem among youth and adults today. As a college student, I know firsthand the danger of the sugar industry, especially when processed sweets are lurking around every corner of campus. For example, it is especially difficult to say “no” to student housing companies offering you free desserts in an attempt to get you to rent a unit!
So how do we stop this sugar epidemic? It starts by making small lifestyle changes in the home and becoming educated on what a low-sugar diet can look like. Go through your pantry and find the foods with unnecessary sweeteners in them, such as pasta sauce and sugary cereals. There are more than 50 different names for sugar and artificial sweeteners, so begin learning what these names look like and how to avoid them when buying packaged or canned goods at the grocery store. Rice syrup, dextrose, and maltose are all examples of nontraditional names for sugar that could be hiding in your food.There are many brands that offer products with little to no added sugar, and these are a great option when shopping for ingredients. An easy swap to make is trading out your normal pasta sauce for a brand like Newman’s Own, which doesn’t add any sweeteners to their sauce. Another easy trade is switching out your peanut butter for a brand that carries something natural, preferably only containing peanuts and salt. Smucker’s offers a great all-natural peanut butter that tastes amazing and comes in creamy or crunchy to suit your preference. You won’t even miss the sugar! Incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, and learn to cook with spices so that your food doesn’t have to lack flavor just because it’s low in sugar. Find new and exciting recipes that keep you from getting bored of the same meals day after day. One of my favorite things to do is cook with friends. We love finding healthy, easy recipes online (try Pinterest!) that are fun to prepare together and taste amazing. This not only broadens our skills in the kitchen, but provides a way to spend time together while preparing something nutritious. Most recently I tried something new and made a delicious cashew chicken stir fry. I don’t always love stepping out of my comfort zone, but trying new recipes has helped expand my palate to enjoy foods that aren't coated in sugar. One of the most obvious ways to cut back on your sugar consumption is to simply not buy it when you go shopping. My dad admits to being a huge “sugarholic”, but if we don’t buy junk food and leave it in the pantry, he doesn’t eat it! Finally, remember to be kind to yourself. A modest amount of sugar in moderation is much more beneficial to your long-term health than binging on large quantities of sugar on a “cheat day” in an attempt to compensate for your overly-restrictive diet. Find what works best for your lifestyle, and don’t judge yourself too harshly if that dressing you put on your salad was a little too sweet. Eating less sugar is sure to boost your mood, energy level, and outlook for the day. Start with small changes in your lifestyle at home and work (use your kitchen, pack lunches, etc.), and you will begin to develop a fresh perspective on nutrition. With a lot of little changes, America can become a country where a constant “sugar high” is no longer the norm. -Ashley Voeller is a college student, future dietitian, dancer and blogger  I love to compete. I always have, I always will, and there is no way around that. As my opportunities as a competitive dancer began to shrink after high school, I needed a new and exciting goal to work towards, and that’s when I found the Miss America Organization. I have started competing in preliminaries for the Miss Missouri Scholarship Pageant, and I’ve fallen in love with the atmosphere, mission, and healthy competition. Not only is my journey to Miss Missouri a way for me to set new and exciting goals for myself and earn scholarships towards my education, but it offers a unique platform where my voice can be heard and I can share my passion for healthy eating with anyone willing to listen.
On the road to Miss Missouri, I seek to serve other women and girls by inspiring and encouraging them to demonstrate their strength and intelligence to the world. I want to teach them to fuel their bodies in the right way so they are best equipped to excel in every area of their lives. As a candidate in these competitions, I strive to earn scholarships that will aid me in paying for my education to become a registered dietitian. It is with this education that I can be best prepared to educate others on ways to practice healthy eating for their individual needs. Lastly, I want to meet other women who have similar goals and interests. Nothing is more encouraging than taking on a challenge with good friends by your side to fuel your passion and motivate you to be the best you can be. Even if your mission looks different from mine, I hope that my story inspires you to create and work toward goals of your own that will encourage you to live life to the fullest and show others how to do the same! -Ashley Voeller is a college student, future dietitian, dancer and blogger  There were multiple factors that sparked my interest in nutrition, but the greatest influence was my passion for dance. I have always loved dancing. I have been taking dance lessons for 12 years, and have danced competitively for almost ten. What started as a hobby clogging with a local group for recreation turned into a taking classes multiple times a week, practicing, competing and performing year-round. As I became more serious with Irish dance in the past few years I found that I was unable to keep up in class if I had eaten poorly that day or didn’t have enough good food to fuel my body. This in turn affected how I improved, which had an impact on my placement at competitions. I quickly traded a snack of a sugary granola bar for nuts, carrots and hummus.
The power of food as fuel intrigued me and I began looking into careers in food science. I soon found dietetics was offered as a coordinated program at the University of Missouri-Columbia and knew it was the major for me. I am on track to apply for the program next winter as a sophomore, graduate by 2024 with a master’s degree, and begin my practice as a registered dietitian. Because I love food and learning about the way it impacts not only my performance but also my overall physical, mental, and emotional health, I am determined to share the importance of proper nutrition with anyone who is willing to listen. My purpose may stem from dancing, but yours could look very different. Maybe you love playing sports, running, biking, or even just leading a healthy lifestyle where you enjoy being active. Not only does proper nutrition impact your physical health, but it can boost your mood and outlook in positive ways that are crucial for living a happy, healthy, and well-rounded life. So with that, I encourage you to find your purpose, feed your passion, and enjoy the endless benefits that a proper diet has to offer! -Ashley Voeller is a college student, future dietitian, dancer and blogger |
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