“Eating healthy, that helped change my life.”

houston – Texans veteran safety Jimmy Ward admitted he had a lot to learn about the importance of healthy eating while growing up.

He was eating candy. He was eating late at night. He lacked the energy for grueling training. Then he threw up during soccer practice.

Finally, Ward realized it was time to make a drastic change and adapt her diet to a healthy lifestyle.

Now, he is sharing his personal success story as the author of the children’s book “Jimmy Ward’s Nutrition ABCs for Active Kids.”

Ward held a book signing Friday night at Lifetime Fitness Greenway, interacting with families and handing out T-shirts, healthy drinks and snacks.

“It’s great to be able to spread information about happy living, happy nutrition, and letting young kids know about doing the right thing for their bodies,” Ward told KPRC 2. “The more you eat, the more your body won’t lie.” Your body is like a machine. Once you start putting in the good stuff, you’ll keep saying this is what I want to eat, this is what I want to consume.

“Eat healthy. It helped change my life. It helps me become a better person. And if you try it, it will make you too. It It definitely makes you feel good.”

Ward is an advocate of healthy eating, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. He sets his example by avoiding sweets such as candy, fried foods, processed foods, and alcohol.

“It basically makes me feel better overall and helps me in the long run. I didn’t know how to eat growing up. I used to eat a lot of things that were bad for me. I was eating a lot of sugar and a lot of candy after 9 p.m. With my previous diet, I couldn’t complete my workouts. I used to get up at 6 a.m. and try to run or exercise, but I would throw up. I did.

“I didn’t learn how to eat or eat the right amount of food until I was an adult. When I was 21 years old and in combine training, they told me to eat three colors of fruit, three colors of vegetables, and one He told me about eating three times a day.If you have to snack, choose fruits or vegetables that are healthy.

Inside the Houston Texans cafeteria, Jimmy Ward is a strong advocate of proper nutrition. He plans to educate his teammates about how certain types of fruits and vegetables can help with energy and overall health.

When the team captain is at home, he is determined to instill the values ​​of good habits in his children, including his daughter.

Ward is an advocate of healthy eating, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. He sets his example by avoiding sweets such as candy, fried foods, processed foods, and alcohol.

Ward wants to help others build a foundation of health.

“I think it’s better to learn when you’re young that it’s like watering a tree,” Ward told KPRC 2. Put something appropriate in there. Once you have water and suitable soil and start watering, the roots will become stronger and the sprouts will begin to appear.

“What if the bottom isn’t strong?” It will tip over and fall. Just like humans, if you eat the right foods, your lower body will become stronger and you will grow taller. That’s why I created this book. ”

When it comes to diet, Ward is more of a convert to the benefits of clean eating.

It includes a diet full of different colored fruits and vegetables, brown rice, lean chicken, fish, or steak.

“I have children, and like my daughter, I always preach to them about getting the right kind of nutrition into their bodies,” Ward said. “Sometimes she listens to me. Sometimes she doesn’t. Sometimes the kids hear it from someone else, a teacher or a friend or my sister, and they might listen. That’s why I wanted to write the book, because I can help them and instill it in their children’s brains and help them eat healthy. ”

Ward said his teammates sometimes grow tired of his repeated messages about what they should eat to stay healthy and energetic.

“I need to stop preaching, but I try to be helpful to people,” he said. “They don’t always want to hear it. There’s nothing they can do about it.”

And what about his daughter? Well, sometimes if Ward doesn’t eat dinner or doesn’t eat his cupcakes, he has to threaten to take away his phone.

From his perspective, his biggest personal temptation is a plain brownie. Yes, it’s been a long time since he had one.

The former San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick, entering his 11th season, says eating right is a big reason for his success as a hard-hitting safety who intercepted Russell in a game-winning game against the Denver Broncos last season. I truly believe that this is the case. Late in the fourth quarter, Wilson, who was in the end zone, ended the game.

“Build a routine so you know when it’s time to take a break,” Ward says. “It’s probably because you ate the wrong thing, missed a meal, or were just in a bad mood. You haven’t eaten anything after 9 p.m., so you wake up hungry and don’t want to put certain foods in your body. I put it in and perform, and when it’s time to perform, I’m at my best. If I’m off, it’s because I’m eating too much sweets or I’m not getting enough protein. plug.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.