FLOWERS ~ I come in different colors, I can be given to mothers With numerous kinds, I have beauty that can make you blind I can grow in pot, I can be found in a crack of a parking lot I have different petal shapes I never try to escape I blow beautifully in the wind, I can be put in your hair to make you grin What I need in the end, Is the sun as my friend

Food is life. You probably have heard that saying from the Foodies in your life or somewhere in the media before. It’s true that people love food as there is a special connection with it between our senses and satisfaction. While I don’t consider myself a foodie, I surprisingly agree with this statement. Food is life—but not in the way you think. Food has one main purpose; to provide us with the fuel we need to function and carry out daily bodily processes. In fact, all living things need their “food” to grow in both the mental and physical regard. This can be sunlight in the case of plants, leaves in the case of insects, or fruits, vegetables and other mammals in the case of people. Whatever the case may be, it is clear by now that food has many impacts on the characteristics we acquire. For humans specifically, the type of food we consume directly impacts the outcome of our health. I believe it is important to have healthy eating habits because these habits are lifesaving and life-prolonging. Ironically, healthy eating habits are becoming harder to encounter in today’s climate. You would think that healthy eating habits would be easier to achieve when you have access to good, nutritious food, however, this doesn’t seem to be the case. Young people for example, are notorious for being junk food lovers and consistent unhealthy eaters across the board. However, healthy eating isn’t an area of concern for only this group of people. Healthy eating is important for all age groups since it has potentially detrimental and long-lasting effects. Neglecting healthy eating can negatively affect your metabolism, insulin levels, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, bone strength, joint health, and mental function within a short period of consistent unhealthy habits. In the long term, unhealthy eating can affect the predisposition of your future lineage to certain diseases related to the cardiovascular system and the brain. Combating these potential risks with healthy eating habits will prevent future genetic dispositions and increase your quality of life. I particularly enjoy engaging in healthy eating habits because I know that the substances I am putting in my body will ensure that I continue to live a healthy and wonderful life, a quality very important to me. Although I am no stranger to junk food, healthy eating habits make me feel significantly better than other foods of less nutritional value. I say this because I notice I have more energy when I eat fruits and vegetables vs. processed foods and drink more water. I’ve also found that healthy eating habits increase my mental clarity. I’m able to focus on a task for a longer period of time and comprehend challenging ideas. In addition, when I used to drink many sugary drinks, my skin suffered, and this habit only exacerbated the breakouts I had. Comparing this result to that of water, water was able to improve my skin as well as hydrate my hair and organs. This step especially, was vital for me in practicing healthy eating habits. Even though unhealthy eating habits may taste better in the moment, in my perspective, nothing beats the satisfaction of preserving your health. Self-care through dietary habits is an ongoing journey, but one that I feel is worth the time and energy.