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| Eating one's own feet is better than some of the food options out there |
Excuse me while I climb aboard my high horse for a moment. (For any new readers... I don't rant very often - at least not on my blog! - so please bear with me here.)
I've written before, briefly, about healthy food options for kids when eating out. But what about at home?
There has been so much talk lately about how families eat. The extreme cases on television, such as on Jamie Oliver's shows and The Biggest Loser, make me angry. When I see these shows, I tend to yell and turn the television off.
Because it's one thing to eat badly yourself, but it's a whole other story when you're giving your kids these things.
When we become parents, I believe it's our responsibility to learn about health and nutrition. We're all so concerned about it in relation to those early days of breastfeeding or bottle feeding, but somewhere around the toddler years it seems to get lost.
All of a sudden, it's okay to feed children lollies, softdrinks and takeaway. It's okay for us, as parents, to be 'too busy' to think about what's going into their bodies.
There have been some articles around about homecooking becoming a lost art, that women shouldn't be expected to be home baking instead of out living their lives (as a side note, cooking is a shared responsibility in this household, and I never for even a moment would suggest it's solely a woman's job; I believe it's up to both parents, or if not, then it's an agreement as to who will handle it). But I'm not of the belief that it's an either/or situation. Cook or live? To me, it's cook AND live.
I was raised in a house of simple but healthy meals, with two full-time working parents, and now as a parent myself I can tell you that things are definitely not always fancy in this house either. Meals can vary from chops and vegies to a beautiful three-course dinner here, but on a day-to-day basis they err on the side of the former.
And I certainly don't want to appear as though I'm trying to come across as perfect. We, too, give in to the temptation of fish and chips or the like at times, and Abbey has absolutely eaten things that aren't wonderfully nutritious. But they are the rare exceptions amidst a healthy lifestyle.
It really isn't hard. And even if it is at times, isn't it worth a bit of effort? Don't people worry about these things anymore? Are we so caught up in the supposed convenience of takeaway or a frozen meal that we really believe they're providing the nutrients our children, and we, need? Or is it something that so many people find too hard to think about?
This is all a fairly recent trend - think back to our grandparents' generation; they didn't have these things. I know life was different back then, but as humans our nutritional needs haven't changed.
For the sake of our kids, we need to make changes. We need to look at what we're feeding our families, and I mean really look. Is this the food that's going to get them through a big day? Week? Year? Through their childhood? We need to teach them (and by that, I mean teach by example) how to cook, how to eat, how to look after themselves. To give them the best start in life - physically, emotionally, mentally and practically.
Our children are worth it. Aren't they?
18 comments:
When watching the early episodes of Biggest Loser this year, my 6yo turned to me and said 'We're lucky because you teach us all about eating healthy foods'. We have our share of sweets and treats, but the message is always given about the need for a balanced approach to eating.
My children love to cook and I think that teaching children what goes into the meals they eat is a big part of helping them to understand how to eat well. It's easy to ignore sugar/salt/fat content in foods that come from packets, not so easy when you have to put those ingredients in yourself.
I am currently on a rather restrictive elimination diet managed by a dietician. I am amazed that my children (aged 6, 9 and 11) have so quickly grasped what foods I can and can't eat and how much effort is currently going in to making sure I am still have a healthy diet.
Oh you know how much of a bee I have in my bonnet about this and I'm on your page totally. Bebito thinks you only get icecream at "markets" & IKEA. These things SHOULD be special treats. I'm so freakin over all the people who have a go at me for not wanting chocolate on my child's babycino and sending it back when the order comes in wrong. I think it's a sign of laziness (harsh maybe?) when people don't offer anything apart from junkie treats as everyday fare for kids. We looked after our niece and 2 nephews for a week when they were much younger and the CRAP their parents shoved into them was un-be-freakin believable. Lunch boxes were full of lollies, chips and processed crap. My 2 nephews, now 17 and 15 are severely obese (see Biggest Loser style) and it makes me incredibly sad to look at them like that as it is purely a lack of proper nutrition and exercise that has made them that way. I have NOTHING at all against a treat every now and again but it shouldn't be every day. Unlike every other kid on the planet the Bebito doesn't like cooking but because he sees that it takes me time to cook he has an appreciation for the fact that things just don't fall out of the cupboard onto his plate. It's absolutely about giving our kids the best start we can give them and that doesn't mean you have to spend hours slaving in the kitchen it just means not giving bad food choices as an option all the time. Ok, so my rant is now over too.
Well said ( or written, I s'pose). I am guilty at times of giving in to too many 'sometimes' foods or treats - but I know that overall I am putting good food in front of my kids. It may not always be fancy, but even a simple mushroom omlette or meat & salad is soooo much better ( and quicker!!!!!) than prepackaged so-called convenience meals.
Like most parents I want the best for my kids and I don't always get it right. But I think one of the best things I can do for them is to teach them about 'real' food. Great post xx
Good on you. I totally agree. My toddler thinks rice cakes are chips and I am fine with that. I have found that we eat very simple meals such as meat and steamed veg to ensure we are eating fresh and healthly without unecessary additives and preservatives. I have noticed I have relaxed a bit introducing more sometimes food such as ice cream but I am determined to keep the overall position of fresh non processed foods every day. Id rather be cooking boring food than eating crap. When he does get a chance at sometime food and he doesn't like it I am always smile to myself. He jumps up and down when he gets bubbles in a cup - sparkling mineral water with ice and a straw is his everyday treat. And yeah I just don't want to know what Nanna gives him...
I have just finished reading the Sweet Poison Quit Plan and the section about children and sugar (written as a father of 4 who has been researching our relationship with sugar for some time) was very interesting - talking about the need to lead by example, to educate and inform our children in order to enable them to make informed choices as they grow up without standing out from the crowd (as no teenager honestly wants to stand out). He also talks about not banning anything as banning only makes it all the more attractive to children (especially once they are school aged and over).
I just find the simplest way is to not have the food in the house, then a healthy option really is the only option.
I give my children a healthy, rounded diet most of the time. But I might be a bit guilty of letting 'sometimes' treats creep into 'too many times' treats. I do keep an eye on it, though and I don't believe in denying children these treats from time to time. Mind you, they are things like muesli bars, bags of ready-made popcorn and sweet yoghurts, so it ain't all bad!! Great topic, Megan. x
I've definitely found that there is a huge difference in the way my kids behave and concentrate when sugars and colours and flavourings etc are taken out of their diet. And TV is my friend when it comes to showing the kids. I can tell them, but when they see it on the news or a current affairs show, it really hits home that Mumma isn't nuts, there is proof these foods are bad for you. My 10 no longer asks to go to McDonalds, having seen how the burgers are preserved for years when left out of the fridge. He no longer wants to eat really fatty, junk food ... he said much the same to me when watching the Biggest Loser, that he felt sorry for those people because their Mums didn't teach them about what food is good to eat. He would rather help me whip up an omelette or wrap at home than buy one from a takeaway, and I'm so proud of him for that.
You know i'm with you on this, all the way.
My youngest is about to turn 10, and while we do have treats, everyday food cooked at home is the norm.
It's not hard! I work, Hubby works, but real, non processed food? That's a must in our house.
It can be as simple as an omelette with baby spinach for tea, quicker and easier than getting take away.
We bake too, and the kids take home made slices and biscuits to school. It's about balance, variety and knowing, as you say, it's our responsibility as parents to provide good, nutritious foods.
Yes, yes, yes! Completely agree with everything you said. Our children (and ourselves) are worth so much more that the processed crap that is common 'children's foods'.
I also agree that we need to lead by example, educate our children about real food, teach them to cook and to enjoy good food but also teach them about balance and moderation. Knowing how to eat in moderation is such a skill, especially in today's food climate (an abundance of poorly made processed rubbish - food-like substances as Michael Pollan calls it).
I particularly like Christine's comment about how banning foods doesn't work. The research shows just how true this is. Banning foods only makes kids covet that food more. Kids need to be taught about 'sometimes, often, rarely' as a tool for managing intake of treats.
In our house I try and cook most things from scratch. I include a fruit/veg at every meal, my son snacks on fruit and dairy and I also do a bit of baking (using ingredients like wholewheat flour and fruit purees to sweeten baked goods).
It is our responsibility as parents to provide healthy, nourishing and enjoyable foods for our kids.
Great post. I agree all of this is learnt at home. And it starts when they're little. The funny thing is, convenient foods aren't really all that convenient. You can't beat a banana or a carrot for convenience IMO. We do have take away sometimes, but it's not part of the regular cycle of meals.
My rule of thumb tends to be to stick to unprocessed foods, food prepared from raw ingredients and prepared with the right balance of the major food groups, with treats as the exception.
Cat, I am so with you on the babycino chocolate. I routinely check before they make it that there is no chocolate syrup added, which you only discover when they get to the bottom.
Sounds like everyone here is on the same page. Unfortunately this also probably means that we are "preaching to the converted". I think that most mums that take the time to write about, comment on and generally take in interest in these issues are already educated on healthy food choices. In the past I have taken the "when in Rome" attitude that when we are out at friends places, but I am starting to wonder whether I should make more of a stand and suggest they all have somehting different. This is the aspect of it that I find the hardest as you find yourself being seen to judge the choices of other parents.
I think most people I know are pretty good with the food they offer, we all have fruit on offer at the park and only water or milk as drinks. My main problem is that children, like mine who have not had takeaway food a a lot don't really like it. When Popps was first born we lived in inner Melb, we ate out a lot, but it was Thai, Japanese, African food. When we try many restaurants now the kids menu includes nuggets, pizza or the boring spaghetti Bol. We have to order an adult meal and split it between the two kids.
I totally agree with what you have said.
When watching the biggest looser my 5 year old figured out that these people are the size that they are cause in his worrds "They eat billy food all the time" Which translates to silly (billy) food which is food that we have as a treat.
My kids have these foods as a treat. The excitment we saw at christmas when we had...icecream. As it is such a rare thing in our house.
I love that such a simple treat can cause such happiness and excitment.
Oh, don't even start me on this! and so delighted to see so many positive, supportive reactions. Love it.
Remember when I posted on this same topic last year and got mostly great responses, but was also attacked by those defending their right to be lazy and feed their kids shite?
Good nutrition is EVERYTHING and I stand by this all the way. And I totally agree - it is SO easy to do. It's one of the most valuable gifts we can give out children.
x
If you're going to rant about something, this is such a GREAT topic!! What resources did you find best for planning meals when your girl was a wee one?!
Good you Megan! I don't have kidlets yet but I completely agree. You should put together a healthy yummy kids cookbook with all your gorgeous recipes. x
I agree Megan, I am not a total fitness freak but I have always exercised with my children and provided healthy three course meals with all the groups involved. I hate watching that show because it really frustrates me! I do not understand how parents allow their children to get so big. I also do not understand how doctors do not report this as child neglect and get these parents on a probation period to hold them accountable for such unhealthy eating habbits that lead to such obesity. I am not being insensitive but that is just plan neglect in my opinion.
Yes, my kids are worth it. Every child is worth it. And it's not too much effort either. And the kids in later years will thank you. xx
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