Paws for thought

Hic! Pardon me, readers. I've had the hiccups for nearly a week now, thanks to ... well, I call it appreciation, but Joyee and Chris say it's pure greed.

Me? Greedy? Just because I ate a leg of lamb, a simnel cake, 12 hot cross buns, 23 roast potatoes, 37 pieces of sushi, four bowls of congee, three bowls of chicken tikka masala and a tub of mint choc chip for Easter lunch, suddenly I'm greedy? Harrumph.

OK, so I did spend most of Monday sleeping off indigestion ... and then I could hardly move on Tuesday, even when biscuits appeared on the food wall for elevenses. But I like my food!

This got me thinking, and I sat down to chat to the team about eating and exercise, and why it's important to know about these things.

Obviously, we need food for energy and nutrition, to help us grow, think and move, and to allow our bodies to repair damage. We need vitamins and minerals, fats, carbohydrates and protein, and it's best that we get them from a variety of sources.

(That's just one good reason nutritionists tell us to eat a 'rainbow' of fruits and vegetables - produced in lots of different colours - every day. This way, we get a really good mix and variety of vitamins. It also makes our plate look pretty!)

It's really important, especially when we're young, to eat enough. Our bodies need a LOT of energy, particularly to help us grow. Not to mention we need energy to get us through school days and socialising. A balanced diet is essential.

But there is such a thing as gluttony - and eating too much. If you eat too much, you're in danger of gaining too much weight, which slows you down (if I put on too much weight, I wouldn't be able to chase that darn cat from the office opposite).

Overeating can also be really bad for your health, especially when you get older. (See the Star Letter today for more thoughts!)

All this made me realise, for the first time since I made (and broke) my CNY resolutions, how important fitness is. I know it's hard to find the time to exercise regularly, but I guess that's part of growing up - deciding what to sacrifice for the greater good.

I've decided that Team YP and I need to get our fit on this summer. The details are still a little sketchy, but we're going to be challenging you and ourselves to get fit, shape up and get our hearts pumping.

I have a feeling we'll struggle, but sometimes things just happen more easily when there's a little competition in the air. Watch this space!