Thursday, 14 August 2008
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Healthy Living: What Are You Putting into Your Body?
by Mama Fox 
As a parent, it is my job to make sure that my children are safe, healthy, well fed, and rested. Sure... that sounds fairly easy. That's all about childproofing, regular doctor's appointments, 3 meals and 2 snacks and an early bed time. Um, no. Of course, nothing in the realm of parenting is that simple.- Food. Kids love food. My boys would never stop eating if I let them. I've found empty cracker boxes in the pantry, I've heard little crinkling of bags from the other room, and I've found bites taken out of apples in the fruit bowl. But I don't battle over this, get angry for the "waste" of food. I take the more gentle approach. I am mindful. I ask myself "When was the last time they ate?" or " Could they be thirsty?" or "Are they bored?" If it's been a couple of hours since their last meal or snack, I fix them something to eat and make sure they have a drink. I try to keep them on a regular schedule so they don't get too hungry. If they seem to be eating as something to do, I direct them to something else-- often running around outside.
- Exercise. It is very important for children and adults. No, I'm not talking about hitting up the gym with your 6 year-old... just physical activity. When given the chance, kids will run around wildly (most of the time screaming). They climb and jump. Children are masters of physical activity. Children act better when they have enough exercise (and sleep, of course). Sometimes a lot of behavior "problems" can be solved by 15 minutes outside to get out pent up energy. Without an energy outlet, many kids just go nuts, bouncing off the walls, unable to think about what they are doing! You can stand there, yell, and punish, (which of course being an attachment/gentle discipline parent I try not to do that.) or you can take the kids out into the yard and let them go nuts out there.
The sad part is that it's becoming increasingly harder to do in this world. Kids are glued to the TV and bombarded with junk food commercials. They beg for McDonald's, candy, ice cream and eat their junk in front of the TV. Why? Because the parents allow it. They supply the junk thinking, "Well that's all they will eat." or "This is easier than cooking." Or perhaps that is what they want to eat, too. Parents are dead tired and just want to sit down and veg in front of the TV, not realizing that they are the most influential role models for their kids. Children will copy parents. If they see you eating junk in front of the TV, they will too.
I do not buy junk (often). I keep my kitchen stocked with whole grain, organic foods. I cook from scratch pretty much every night. I don't buy fruit snacks, just fruit. The only person that drinks soda is Papa Fox. The boys and I drink 100% apple juice, water, or soy milk. I make my own bread and tortillas. I check labels and stay away from "high fructose corn syrup." That is hard because it's in EVERYTHING it seems. When I do buy meat, it's "no hormone added" meat (don't get me started on the chemicals they pump into cows that end up in us). I don't put extra sugar in my kids' organic cheerios. They didn't even know what McDonald's was until Fox1 was 3 and Fox2 was almost 2, and even then, it was my mom that took them, not me. Why? Because I am keeping my family healthy. If it's not in the house, we can't eat it. If my kids don't see it, they don't ask for it.
Yes, that part is that simple. My kids would rather have a piece of fruit than candy. They like whole grain pasta. They love natural peanut butter and no sugar added jelly sandwiches. Our food doesn't have to be loaded with extra sugars and colors and who-knows-what-else to be good. If your kid is used to the junk, you will have a harder time getting them to eat healthier, which is exactly why healthy eating needs to start early. It's not hard to make a few simple meals from home. You can even sneak in some good stuff. YOU should be eating healthy anyway. Be a good role model.
I am mindful of what I am putting into my body and what I'm giving my children for their bodies. Yeah, sometimes it would just be easier to have Papa Fox stop and get fast food and allow them to watch TV all day, but honestly, I like feeling healthy and being outside with them. We all benefit from the fresh air.
Are you happy with your kids' eating habits? What steps can you take towards healthy eating and living?
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Comments (12)
I'm pretty much a Drill Sergeant when it comes to my son's eating. He is only one, so he eats what I give him and that's that. But it is so hard to buy healthy and organic foods because they are so expensive. Sometimes we have to settle with mac & cheese and hot dogs, or we'll have our car towed because of late note payments.
@CantHardlyWait38@xanga - Yeah it is difficult at times. The good thing is whole grain/natural/organic food are becoming more available and cheaper. Farmer's markets are great places to look for good and cheap produce. In the long run, you save money by making big meals from scratch then prepackaged processed foods. Of course you do what you can.
We've been there where we were living off oatmeal and pasta. It's sad that in this country the junk is so darn cheap. It puts a lot of people in a tough spot between paying bills and getting healthy food to their family.
My kids love to eat now, I try to have most of it healthy (fruit lasts but two days after a grocery trip). I'm dreading what my three boys will be like as teens, eating wise - which at one point they all will be at the same time! eek.
My general strategy for healthy eating is just to not buy the junk. If it's not in the house, then it's impossible for it to get eaten in the first place. We do get some treats, but not tons. "Dessert" is often things like cantaloupe or watermelon or popcorn, which helps stem dessert being cookies and ice cream. (and I admit, a weakness of mine!)
I think folks think about food, but often forget about all the toxins that are in their homes and that are going into their bodies, their children and pets as well as the environment.
As a cancer survivor I learned things like Lysol and Bleach are pesticides. Think how many people bring home good food and then clean with a pesticide.
Or that cascade dish washing soap is such a serious danger to kids or how many products have formaldehyde and then the amount of stuff that has a formaldehyde releaser in it - like shampoo, soap etc that then release that colorless gas into the air.
It is amazing that we need to be on guard all of the time!
love
t
I strove to do what you're doing. We eat pretty healthy already, and I've made a conscious effort not to buy junk food. Maybe as a very occasional treat, but otherwise I try never to have cookies, chips, etc at home because I KNOW if it's there I'll eat it. I may treat myself when I'm out, but try to keep it out of the house.
We do still rely on a lot of processed stuff for easy dinners. That's something I would like to change. Hubby's pretty good at cooking, and I'm getting there. It's nice to know that you can make something super simple, like whole grain pasta with frozen veggies thrown in, or maybe sautee some squash, etc, and it comes out tasting pretty good.
It freaks me out knowing that D is going to eventually (sooner than later) copying everything we do, that at least until he gets to the teen years WE are his primary role models. I need to work on being conscious of everything I do, my habits, and keeping them in line with the ones I want to instill in our little boy.
I am pretty happy with my kids' eating habits, and us as a family. I buy about 50% organic. Not too much junk food, except for ice cream, and even then I often buy Breyer's all natural. My son does like candy, and he's allowed to have a piece or two each day, or a few gummi bears, etc. I don't generally buy it, but there always seems to be some around from parties, church events, etc. If you ask him what his two favorite foods are, he would probably say apples and carrots - that's generally what he asks for. I also cook mostly every night and if I do purchase any processed foods, they are always organic (I''m a big fan of Annie's products - mac & cheese, etc).
I don't buy as much organic produce as I should. We live in the middle of farm country, but most of it isn't organic and what is organic is very expensive. All of the snacks we buy are usually organic or all natural (granola bars, crackers, pretzels, etc).
So far I have made almost all of A's baby food organically. I bought a few jars to have when we're on the run, but for the most part she eats only what I've made.
This post makes me so happy. As my son gets older, I become afraid that he is going to start prefering candy over raisins and that he is going to just stop eating healthy. I do admit to on occassion eating processed foods and quick meals from local restaraunts, but for the most part I make everything from scratch.
It really does stink being a teen that wants to eat healthy, when the family eats fastfood probably 2-3 times a week. I admit I consume my share of processed goods, but unless I make the food it usually ends up being either Whataburger take out or frozen fish sticks/hot dogs... Fastfood restaurants stink too... I make them at least go to subway today, got the kids meal, and they didn't have any of the apples they were supposed to include with the meal... discouraging. Something that helps me is finding ethical reasons not to eat something... I admit to being a chocaholic, but after doing some research I learned that 80% of chocolate comes from western africa where 200,000 children are employed for less than a dollar a day harvesting coacoa. So now I only buy fair trade which is much less convenient, so it ends up being healthier in the long run since I'm not constantly having access to it. =)
This post makes me happy too! My niece and nephew eat fast food on a daily basis and drink NOTHING but soda...I don't know if they even know what water tastes like. I'm sure they're prediabetic, and they both weigh more than me at my 10-months pregnant weight. It's nauseating to me. I'm so sick of the "awww...look at the baby eating a french fry" type of attitude where people blow off the fact that kids have higher cholesterol and obesity rates than ever before. I am planning on being very strict with my kids intake. It's just healthier. I want my daughter to be one of those kids who is active and loves fruit, and sees McDonalds as a very rare treat instead of a daily necessity.
I don't have kids but I work with them so have seen my share of parents who unwittingly do what's terrible for their kids, under the pretense of making them happy. I think it would be very tough to be a parent in today's society. Like you said: everything caters to kids these days and what they think they want. Junk food. Tv. And materialism is out of control. I always said that if I ever have kids, I hope they spend the majority of their time outdoors, away from the tv and lethargic influences. A friend of mine while pregnant joked that her baby was going to pop out going, "WHERE'S MY CELL PHONE? WHERE'S MY IPOD?" Hehe. Sad but true. I think feeding children all healthy food at a young age is a great idea. I personally fear high fructose corn syrup and have been trying to steer away from it in my own diet (tough!). I have nannyed or sat for children in the past whose moms raise them on organic, soy, whole foods and their kids don't know the difference. Definitely a good way to start good habits.
The only danger, I think, comes when you completely forbid anything unhealthy or pretend unhealthy food doesn't exist. Once kids start school they are going to be exposed to crappy foods that other kids bring to lunch, even if their mom has packed them a healthful lunch. My mom used to forbid junk food in our lunches and so every day at school, I would wheedle and trade, say, my carrots for someone's twinkie. Mostly because we'd have the same healthful food in our lunches every day and I'd get sick of the same ol' thing. When I got to college, believe it or not, I completely binged on fruit snacks because growing up, I wasn't allowed to have them unless I was at grandma's house and they were this huge novelty to me; perhaps eating them was a minor form of rebellion?
Anyway, everything in moderation.
i adhere to the same nutritional guidelines as you ; growing up i never appreciated my mother's healthy food only policy. now i understand why.
i hope my future children do not resent me for passing down the same nutritional philosophies.
I think a lot more than food impacts health.
Exercise, indoor air quality, outdoor air quality, clothing choices, etc, etc, etc