“Mini and Me” bites into a Weighty Issue

We are very excited about our recent article in the Weight Management section of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram this past Sunday.  I have copied the article below:

By Rhonda Aghamalian

Special to the Star-Telegram

When Arlington residents Sandi Stewart and Shelly Stockum fell victims to corporate downsizing in early 2008, the best friends and colleagues decided it was time to pursue the dream they’d discussed so many times over lunch: writing a book that would help children learn how to live healthier lives.

The following summer, the duo published , a touching story about a little girl, Madison, who adopts a rescue dog named Mini. As Madison learns to properly care for Mini, she discovers the rewards of exercise and healthy eating for both herself and her furry friend, who both have a bit of a weight issue.

The story is based in part on Stockum’s experiences with her childhood pet, for whom the Mini in the story is named.

“She changed my life,” said Stockum. “Even though she had clearly been abused and was a bit different looking, even tragic looking, she was always happy and always put a smile on my face.”

It was perhaps the spirit of the real-life Mini that inspired the pair to leverage a negative turn of events into an opportunity.

Layoff leads to changes for the better

“When we got laid off, we fretted about it for a couple of days, then we realized this might be a blessing,” said Stewart. “We used that time to get educated and certified as children’s fitness specialists and nutrition and wellness consultants.”

Written for children ages four through eight, Mini and Me features an simple but engaging narrative, colorful illustrations and a removable educational guide for adults.

“The whole family needs to be involved in the process of developing healthier habits for children,” said Stewart. “One child shouldn’t be singled out by receiving a different dinner plate than the rest of the family. You can’t tell your child to go out and exercise when you yourself are a couch potato.

“Sometimes parents or caregivers have the best intentions, but how they handle the situation has the opposite effect of what they intended,” she said. “So the guide contains examples of words that hurt, and tips related to certain pages of the book, like ‘this page represents a good opportunity to talk to your child about self-esteem’.”

Author appearances

The book lends itself to classroom or group discussions; in fact, the authors are available for live readings.

“The kids were so excited,” said Stewart, describing a recent reading she gave in a Fort Worth ISD classroom. “After we discussed the book, we did a fitness routine, we did some yoga and we talked about activities they can do outside and things they can do at home when the weather is bad.”

Stewart and Stockum said that personal experiences related to the interconnected issues of weight management, self-esteem and healthy habits motivated them to embark up on the Mini and Me project.

“I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life,” said Stockum, who recently completed a successful weight loss program. “Sandi never learned how to eat healthy when she was kid, and when she got older and less active, this was a problem for her.

“We’re not saying kids can’t ever have a cupcake or watch TV, we’re saying it’s all about balance,” she said. “We want to help kids so that they can grow up healthy and not have the same struggles we have had.”

http://www.star-telegram.com/751/story/1894609.html

Mini and Me: Learning Healthy Habits