#140: Teaching Children the Foundation of Wellbeing
“One of the greatest things we can teach children is to be the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves.” -Shaun Conaghan
Shaun grew up as the son of a farmer, putting cheese on everything and eating loads of dairy. It wasn’t until his mother fell ill with cancer and subsequently his father with prostate cancer and heart disease that he started asking “why?” He discovered Dr. Michael Greger and he learned more about plant-based nutrition and integrated it into his lifestyle. He has even helped his own father integrate more whole plant foods into his diet. But what I feel is very impressive is that he developed a week long program in his classroom called “Eat Like a Champion Week” that integrates eating more whole plant foods, exercise, sleep and mindfulness. He’s now busy creating resources for other educators as well as interested parents. He is truly an inspiration and I can’t wait for you to learn more about him!
In this episode of Veggie Doctor Radio, we learn from Shaun Conaghan, a teacher in Ireland who is empowering students to take control of their health and wellbeing.
We discuss:
His plant-based journey
What it’s like to eat a plant-based diet in Ireland
Why he started to teach his students about health and wellbeing
His “Eat Like a Champion” week and some of his favorite stories
His 5 ingredients for health and happiness
The Activ8 Camp
What he wishes more people knew
The personal habit he is most proud of
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Shaun Conaghan
More about my honored guest:
As a teacher, Shaun believes in the great opportunity of education to empower children and their families to take ownership of their own health and wellbeing.
He has developed his own school programme called “Eat Like a Champion Week” which has received national television coverage on RTÈ enabling him and his students deliver their healthy message to hundreds of thousands of households and classrooms in Ireland and in the UK. The school programme helps break down the barriers and supports children and families in making a habit of the programmes’ 5 ingredients for health and happiness.
Shaun is co-founder of Activ8 Camp who run full day healthy lifestyle summer camp programmes for hundreds of children with a focus on developing healthier lifestyle habits and proudly serves whole food plant predominant meals every day as well as a “100% Plant Based Wednesdays”.
Shaun is also co-founder of the Donegal Dragons rowing team that has over 70 Breast cancers survivors who train twice weekly and compete in national and international dragon boat competition.
Shaun is currently doing a research masters in Nutrition and works closely with Doctors and Health care professionals to provide the most reliable science in nutrition and well being to the children he teaches. He is an Active member of the Plant Based Healthcare Professional UK and a committee member of the Plant Based Doctors Ireland.
Shaun passion for health promoting motivates him to travel to International conferences to hear world experts speak on the latest in Nutrition based science and has him himself delivered talks to national medical conferences for Health Care professionals.
Future plans to further spread his healthy message through school information evenings, National Healthy Eating week (with a fibre focus) and a free E-book to assist parents and children to start making simple lifestyle improvements. Activ8camp.com
The information on this blog, website and podcast is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace careful evaluation and treatment. If you have concerns about your or your child’s eating, nutrition or growth, consult a doctor.
Call to Action —> Empower children to ask “why?” and be curious about food.
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