One of the events which led me to write this blog was a fight my youngest and eldest children had… over Swiss chard. Really. They fought over a vegetable. And one that most kids wouldn’t even eat let alone fight over. I hadn’t even eaten it until 16 while visiting another country. At dinner one night my 3 year old got up from the table (which is not an uncommon occurrence around here, to the complete chagrin of his grandparent). My oldest son took the opportunity to stealthily stick his fork into the younger one’s pile of Swiss chard and shove the forkful into his mouth. Well, the younger one caught him in the act, ran over and grabbed his face screaming, “No, that’s mine!” He really grabbed his cheeks hard. Over chard. I was so proud.
Ok, obviously, the behavior wasn’t ideal, but the object of their desire was healthy food. It (chard) is something I didn’t learn how to cook or even eat raw until a few years back (yes, I tried it at 16 but that doesn’t mean I cooked with it for another 16 years). I thought, I might be on to something here. I’m not sure this happens everyday. Yes, siblings squabble over the silliest things. Yes, kids eat food. But, I read daily about how dire our diets are getting. How kids are unhealthy from eating junk food, getting obese, entering puberty early, etc. I want my kids to be healthy and I’m sure every parent wants the same thing. I figured if my kids are fighting over who gets to eat the Swiss chard not who has to eat the Swiss chard, maybe I have something to share. Maybe if I tell you how I do it, others who’ve had trouble getting their kids to eat well will find insight and inspiration. I hope I’ve helped. I really am not here to preach.
Today at the beach a longtime friend pointed out her potato chips to me and how there are no preservatives or artificial ingredients. I remarked that there’s really no nutritional value in potato chips- just empty calories and lots of salt. But, I really wish I’d kept my mouth shut. I don’t want people to be afraid of food around me… whether it’s good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. I want the relationship between us and food to be normal. No pressure, no prejudices. I tried to make it up by saying we eat potato chips and usually pick that brand too, but I sounded insincere. She reads the blog, so she was proud of eating something not so bad. But, I probably messed it up by making the empty nutrient statement. I guess I just want everyone to realize I am not perfect. And I must say, I really enjoyed my Snickers Ice Cream today. I love some junk—candy, cakes, French fries, yadda, yadda, yadda. But, strive for the healthy stuff. Limit the unhealthier stuff. And enjoy it when you do eat it! And make sure those kids of yours get the healthy choices often. Because amazingly when they’re given them, they often eat them. But for your sake hopefully they won’t fight over them.
© 2010 mykidsreallyeatthis.com
