Nixon, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau - March 2018

Get Your Kids to Eat HEALTHIER THAN EVER

Do your kids get enough nutrients in their diet? If they’re like most kids, the answer is probably no. You want your children to eat more vegetables and less processed junk, but that’s easier said than done. Getting the average kid to chow down on a serving of broccoli is a chore. Food manufacturers have built an entire industry around our kids’ penchant for sugary cereal and fast food. However, a diet of processed foods can lead to a host of problems, including hindered brain development and even behavioral issues. A study in the American Journal of Public Health found links between poor diet and the development of depression in kids and teens. So, how can you encourage your kids to eat healthier foods? One way is through presentation. A mound of plain old veggies is unappealing, whether you’re 10 years old or 40. The solution is to think of vegetables as an ingredient rather than as a stand-alone dish. Take lasagna, for instance. You can easily modify this beloved Italian dish. Instead of using lasagna noodles, slice zucchini into thin, noodle-like strips and layer them as you would typical pasta. The same can be done for other pasta dishes. Zucchini noodles Nothing’s worse than having an accident when you’re out trying to have a good time with your friends. This happened to one of our most recent clients. She was out at a “biker bar” having a good time and drinking with her friends when she ended up breaking her leg. As she was leaving, her heel got caught between two pieces of slate due to some missing grout. She fell and broke her leg. We tried the case because it was a $2,500 offer, take it or leave it — no negotiation, nothing. The offer wasn’t as crazy as it sounds. My client admitted that she had been drinking and was also aware that the grout had been missing for a while. Even so, her medical bills were about $40,000, and this offer was going to end up costing my client money. She had missed weeks of work, owed money for her medical treatment, and hadn’t caught up on her bills.

made with a spiralizer — also known as “zoodles” — make a mean substitute for spaghetti. Pair them with your favorite marinara sauce or toss them in a slightly less decadent, but still delicious, Alfredo. Vegetables can also be incorporated into other foods your children already know and love. Did you know you can make brownies with avocado and black beans? Slipping in a few healthier ingredients here and there can deliver the nutrients your kids need to power through a busy school week. If you want to foster long-lasting healthy eating habits, the best thing you can do is offer your child some agency. For example, saying to your child, “You can have the cauliflower or the broccoli. It’s up to you!” empowers them to make their own decision based on their preferences. Psychologists and social scientists, including the famed Dr. Maria Montessori, argue that when kids feel in charge of a decision, they are more likely to embrace the ability to choose, even if it’s between two kinds of vegetables. Ultimately, as a parent, you are in control of your child’s diet. Help them explore new foods and foster a positive culinary environment. Your kids will develop a taste for healthy eating in no time! understood the whole fix. They connected to my client and saw that she was really a wonderful human being. She was open and truthful about what had happened that night. She explained that when she fell, she didn’t scream or start to cry. Instead, she cursed — loudly! That really spoke to them. It was a pretty realistic reaction. The defense lawyer we were going against is the most experienced and, arguably, the most successful civil defense lawyer in New Hampshire. In the past 10 years, he’s tried more than 200 cases, and there’s only one verdict over $100,000 recorded against him — mine. Instead of taking the $2,500 offer, we left it; and at the end of the case, the verdict for my client was $400,000. Remember, make the jury laugh and make them cry, and they will go with you anywhere, as long as you’re honest.

THE $400K BROKEN LEG A Pleasant Woman, a Pleasant Jury, and a Pleasant Verdict

The jury was awesome. Not only did they appreciate our honesty about the whole situation, but they really

2 • www.DaveNixonLaw.com

Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter