June 25, 2012
Sherri Meyer, MG Registered Dietitian,

As a mother I want to involve my children in the process of purchasing our foods, learning about money, etc, etc.  However, lately our grocery store trip has become a high powered negotiation of what my boys can and cannot put in our grocery cart.  Angry Birds, Sponge Bob, Star Wars, Super heroes, the list goes on and on.  Somehow food (and non food) is just more appealing when it has a beloved character on it (or any character for that matter).  Now, this is not new information and maybe I am preaching to the choir here, but it is a topic that keeps coming up. 

Take children’s breakfast cereals, one of the biggest sources of sugar and refined carbohydrates in our children’s diets.  A recent “Cereal Facts” study from Yale University noted that while cereal companies are making healthier cereals, they are still spending top dollar to promote their unhealthiest products.  On average, children consume 2 servings of breakfast cereal meaning that presweetened cereal consumption can put them at their sugar maximum (20 grams a day) before they even make it out the door. 

I wish in writing this blog I had the answer, but being a dietitian does not give me magical powers and honestly sometimes I just don’t want to fight with my children in the grocery store.  But that doesn’t mean I am going to constantly load my cart with pint sized Oreo’s, M & M’s  and everything else at their hand level during checkout.  So, my “answer” right now is to allow some “treats” as my boys call them, talk to them about food costing money (Oliver says “you mean its not free”) and set a good example by making wise food choices myself (which I often think they don’t pay attention to, but I still try). I combat my grocery store challenges by taking them to the farmer’s market on Saturdays (no media advertisement there) and letting them help me pick out the food.  Oliver had a ball picking out baby squash for us to grill, getting a thrill out of the “twins” that were in the bin.  We have a small garden, which allows the boys to check the “progress” on our tomatoes and maybe someday they will actually take a bite of that juicy fruit!

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CONTACT US

4944 Old Boonsboro Rd.
Lynchburg,VA 24503
434.384.3663

Human Resources
hr@merig.com

Want to talk Business?
partner@merig.com

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Just a note to say thank you for all of the delicious food you and your staff serve each day. I never knew kale could taste so good!

Administrator 
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Outstanding food, outstanding service, outstanding people. I brag about MG to my peers at other schools, and even to my friends and family!

Administrator 
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Thank you so much for all the gluten-free options this year! All of your staff have been so helpful. They make a point to come up to me at meals and let me know what options you have for that meal. Salads are great, but sometimes a warm meal is just what you need!

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Thanks for all of the good work you and your team did to ensure that last night’s welcome gathering for new faculty went off without a hitch. I’m so grateful for Team MG working so hard to make sure things are done the right way.

Head of School 
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I just want to thank you for always having such wonderful healthful choices that taste absolutely amazing! You have truly inspired my palate and given me new love for foods that were once far from comfort for me.

Guest 
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Many times I find a favorite thing out of the many items served during lunch, and although the featured spinach and fruit salad was visually stunning; the SHOUT OUT winner of the day hands down was the very delicious unassuming Vegetarian Pinto Beans!!! The onions were glistening and the peppers served as a complimentary color to the two different shades of beans…I have one regret and that is I didn’t think to take a picture!

Administrator 
Administrator

Thank you for making pimento cheese today! It not only is divine, but also hit the spot. I now regret wasting 62.5 years of life on this planet in which I did not eat this heavenly mix. As I explore different recipes in my home kitchen I will try my best to live up to the standard demonstrated by what I had today.

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Everything was wonderful…as usual! The food was scrumptious…and the weather was gorgeous!

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I would not change a thing! Your staff was not only professional, but warm and caring. They truly set the tone for a memorable night. The food was delicious…our family and friends left with hearts and bellies full!

Catering Client 
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Thanks for the delicious soup and the new harvest salad – and thanks for removing half the calories out of the Farm Basket brownie…haha.

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THANK YOU for your help today with the open house! Our visiting families raved about the personalized environment. We had a student tell us that Guilford went from his 3rd to 1st choice!

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Thank you for all of your hard work on the meals and breaks for the Alumnae Board. The food was outstanding; everyone raved about each meal. Favorites included the grits on Saturday morning and the butternut squash soup on Sunday. YUM!!!

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