About Robyn
Robyn Openshaw is the author or editor of 10 titles, including the bestselling book
The Green Smoothies Diet, the children's book,
The Adventures of Junk Food Dude, and the course
12 Steps to Whole Foods. She’s passionate about overthrowing the Standard American Diet by teaching people to eat more whole foods easily, inexpensively, and deliciously. She’s the mom of 4 competitive athletes as well as a runner, cyclist, skier, and competitive tennis player. She travels all over the world speaking to sold-out audiences and studying non-toxic cancer treatment for her next project.
Please change the bike rides from Sunday to Saturday for those of us who go to church on Sundays. Thanks!
Hey now, I go to church every Sunday. And then my family goes for bike rides, together, later.
Please change Sundays to Saturdays for those of us who have church and do not want our kids to play on Sundays. Thanks!
I didn’t think my first message went through and I didn’t see your comments. Well, it is your book and you must have your reasons. I know that the nutrition theme is what you are going after here.
I’m just kidding Christa–it’s easy enough to change it to Saturdays. Of course, that might offend Jewish people, as that is their Sabbath.
Just curious why Junk Food Dude has to be fat. I know a TON of kids that all they eat is sugar and they are thin as rails. Also if a kid who eats junk food and is fat doesn’t know he/she is fat do we really want to label them as “the fat kid.” Isn’t that creating an additional problem for a kid that already has a problem? After all most of the blame in this scenario is the parents so why are we dumping more on the kids by calling them fat? I have 4 kids all of whom eat a plant based diet and are not fat but it just seems unkind to those kids who don’t have control over what has been served to them to label them fat. I would have a hard time reading this to my kids for that reason. Kids today don’t need more pressure.
I love your blog and what you do, this just doesn’t seem right to me.
All the best,
mystique
I would suggest instead of: “He wasn’t chubby anymore.” something more like: “He was a healthy weight.” It’s not that looks are not important, but I think our kids get enough messages about why the way they look is inadequate. Your book focuses on being active and healthy, so I think the emphasis should be on health, not appearance.
My children have gathered around to check out each installment of the story. We are all delighted at it. My 7 year old likes it when I call him “green smoothie guy” now. One thing I notice is that from the minute JFD tries the new eating habits, he loves it and is perfect at it. Smooth sailing, continual progress, no bumps in the road. Is this how it is for most people? It mkes me feel kinda bad that we try and fail and try some more, and mess up some more. We are making continual, overall progress, but frankly, it is REALLY HARD to change our habits and lifestyle. Not everything is bliss. We have relapses of junk food eating, and we also get teased by friends and family sometimes. I think that JFD’s experience is a bit to idealistic, and might set people up with unrealistic expectations. Then when one struggles, they are left thinking, “What is wrong with me that I can’t do it like it said in the book?” That’s discouraging. Do you think it would be ok to have a page that mentions that it was not always easy. Maybe slip in some coping strategies for when it gets hard? I really hope I’m not the only one in the world who didn’t just flip a switch and be completely changed forever.
Well, anyway. . . It was jsut something I was thinking about. Even if you keep it the way it is, we will still buy a million copies and hand them out to everyone. It’s a great idea and a wonderful message overall.
Deanne
PS –about the Saturday – Sunday thing. How about: They rode their bikes on the weekends, or in the evenings together.
Deanne–that would certainly be realistic, to show JFD’s fits and starts! I just have a page count to minimize . . . but you are so right. I didn’t just flip a switch either. I wish!