Eating While Away

Posted on April 26, 2012 by admin

The past couple of weeks seem like a blur. We took a long overdue but short family vacation to Washington DC, where the kids were thrilled to see the Space Shuttle Discovery being flown in on top of a 747 right over our heads, enjoyed the Air & Space and Natural History Museums, had a fabulous private tour of the Capitol Building even witnessing Congress voting on a bill, but maybe even most of all that we stayed in a hotel with an indoor pool. Ah, the little things.

The boys also loved that my strict no soda policy was relaxed. I allowed them root beer one day and ginger ale or Sprite another. Whoa! One thing I noticed since we ate out every lunch and dinner was how shoddy kids’ menus are, especially when it comes to giving kids any vegetable. Almost all the restaurants serve chicken nuggets or tenders and macaroni and cheese. But there were so few that gave any vegetables with their meal— I don’t really count French fries as a vegetable. Of course I pay extra and order sides or my kids split an item off the regular menu. But I just don’t get that these chains can’t see that offering mac and cheese (often just Kraft’s disgusting artificially colored garbage), soda and a free ice cream is not doing these kids any favors. (I guess I’m on another rant!)

We need restaurants to get on board with offering kids meals that are tasty and nutritious. Why must they give the same ol’ same ol’ hot dogs, mac & cheese, chicken nuggets and burgers? Can’t they use some of the creativity that goes into the “adult menu” on the “children’s menu”? Don’t they realize that many parents not only want their kids to eat, they also care about them to eat well? How about a vegetable pasta or a hummus platter? Maybe offering side salads (green, coleslaw, bean)?

I think I wouldn’t have minded so much if it had been only one meal, but when one is on vacation most meals are eaten out. And I find that lunch and dinner are when my own kids eat the most vegetables. Again, I altered what they got by ordering sides or splitting “adult” mains. I just wish it was part of the package they already offer.

What do you do when you take your kids out to restaurants?

Food and parenting

Posted on August 16, 2010 by admin

Several things as a parent I wish to accomplish when it comes to food. Most importantly getting my children to eat healthily so that they will be healthy and making sure they have a healthy relationship with food— no hang-ups, eating disorders or dieting fads. Sometimes in order to do the latter the former must be set aside. Finally, learning to be adventurous with foods is part of not having neuroses but also so they can go anywhere in the world and always find food to eat.

Occasionally they are allowed candy, ice cream, popsicles, soda, sugary cereal, cookies, cakes, fries, chicken nuggets, pizza, etc. But I truly try to see that it’s only on occasion. We don’t have dessert every night and they must finish dinner (to my satisfaction— like all the veggies and most of the protein) to get it. I prefer to give them homemade desserts or those that are perishable over highly processed packaged sweets. We don’t go to fast food restaurants often- but when we do I order one medium fries for everyone (including me) to share and they get milk (regular not chocolate) and whatever fruit is available. When they have soda it’s one 12 oz bottle or can shared between the three of them. I would rather them eat ice cream (real, natural, creamy ice cream) than any other “frozen confectionary” because I don’t fear the sugar or fat, but the ingredients that would be foreign to my grandmother. I’d rather make my own popsicles than buy them because I dislike artificial colors and many preservatives over other ingredients.

I feel always denying my children the unhealthy stuff could set them up for disaster later on. I remember going to a friend’s house when I was little and stuffing as many Twinkies and Yankee Doodles into my mouth during the visit as was possible because I wasn’t allowed them. Luckily I found balance. I want my kids to know that a little of this stuff probably won’t do much harm, but a lot of it will.

I also believe that by opening my children up to many different foods will make it easier to travel in the future. At 16 I went off on my own to the other side of the world. Traveling is a huge love of mine, that I wish to pass down to my kids. If one is unable to be adventurous with foods it can limit one’s enjoyment when faced with unfamiliar foods and cultures.

So you will notice this blog is mainly about cooking and feeding my kids healthful foods, I do sometimes allow them some junk. But how I do it and how often helps maintain the healthier lifestyle that I want my kids to emulate.

Conciliation

Posted on July 4, 2010 by admin

Question/Comment from kimber-leigh:

I take pride in feeding my kids the best possible food, but don’t completely exclude all of the junk but for some reason it’s hard for my family to understand. We usually get some comment on how mean it is or how we should enjoy it now “because it will never last” which is so annoying! (It’s the healthy food options that they tend to make comments about.) We make our own baby food (what a great savings and huge variety) and make sure our oldest (he’s two) eats well, and he loves fruits and veggies! Anytime we have family gatherings we always try to bring something healthy so that we know we’ll have a good option, and then the family will go out of their way to give them junk. And anytime we praise our kids for eating well it’s always the same comment, “it won’t last” and that’s the worst. I just wish they could be supportive.The kids are young enough now not to understand what the family is saying, but got any tips on how to handle those comments later when the kids are old enough to understand?

My Kids Really Eat This:

Yes, this is a time that they’d like it but it is not good for them, especially too much. If you look at the average American we are too big and that’s bad —this isn’t about aesthetics, but health. I’ve heard that they predict our kids’ generation will have a shorter life span because of the way they are being fed. I want my children to have a long, healthy life without complications from diabetes, heart issues, cancer, bone problems and social issues.

Ask them to keep their unsolicited comments to a time when the kids aren’t within earshot. And then if you agree on what they can offer and how much before you get there you’ll both probably be happier. (Like just one treat per visit.)
Also see if there’s compromise…like if they can serve sparkling apple juice instead of soda or all natural ice cream for desserts.

Good luck! Let me know if it works!

(conversation slightly edited)

I completely understand. I have some relatives who I feel are constantly pushing candies, soda and other junk foods when we go over. I bring some healthy things but also let them have one or two things that are maybe not the worst things they offer. An occasional treat isn’t going to do much either, I believe.
But you need to remind them (when the kids aren’t around or when they are asleep) that you are the parent, not them, and ask them, “Please let me raise my
children in the way I want— eating healthful foods. I would prefer it if you could please limit the amount of junk you offer them.”

My Kids Really Eat This

getting kids to eat well in the real world

Tag Archives: junk food

Eating While Away

Food and parenting

Conciliation