Here is my take on it and I will use a specific example. There is a child I know that is allowed little to no sweets. My kids? Well, it is basically a free for all. Side note: They actually have pretty healthy appetites and eat plenty of fruits and veggies. But I don't say that certain things are completely off limits. If they want a cookie after dinner and they have eaten pretty well, then they can go right ahead. Well, this one child that is allowed barely any sweets was given the opportunity to eat munchkins. My kid (who was there at the time) ate 3 or 4 munchkins. That was it. It was nothing new to her and she was over it. The other child gorged him/herself on over a dozen munchkins. It was a complete bloodbath.
You see where I am going here? Everything in moderation.
It always starts the same for me though. When the kids were babies, it was SO easy to control what they ate and when. Organic? You betcha. So easy to buy organic when it you are spending under a dollar on a jar of baby food that equals a whole meal. Sugar and sweets? No need for that when they are babies. As they get older, it's not so easy. And even if you try to strictly limit what they eat, they will just go totally OUT OF CONTROL when they are given the opportunity to get their little hands on some sugar. It would not be pretty, trust me.
Now, I am pretty much flying by the seat of my pants. And by "flying by the seat of my pants" I mean I try to make them eat as healthy as possible. I offers tons of fruits...and veggies that I know they like. I certainly don't allow all you can eat ice cream sundaes every night. Again, I guess it is everything in moderation.
Because I know that I don't want my kid to be the one elbow deep in the munchkins while other children are enjoying one or two. I saw that happen first hand. And I will tell you what, I talked shit on that mom as soon as she was out of earshot. I thought, "HA, serves you right. Guess who got the last laugh now, Mommy Dearest."
So what is a mom to do? What do you do? I would love to know.
For the most part, we eat healthy foods throughout the week. On the weekends, I am more relaxed about this. I do limit sweets because I can really see the difference it makes in my children's behavior. They go ape shit when they have too much sugar. I agree, it is absolutely about moderation.
ReplyDeleteThe ONE momma that didn't stay at my younger daughter's birthday, came back 15 minutes late and was irrate that her kid had a piece of cake. "He can't have SUGAR!?" Initially, I thought hypo/hyperglycemia, diabetes, etc... Nope. "It's the only healthy thing to do." She was fuming. I debated telling her that he'd also had two more pieces and had eaten four little containers of ice cream PLUS, juice with ~gasp~ RED DYE. Served her right.
ReplyDeleteI won't let my kids have whatever they want, but choosing their food is something they'll do for the rest of their lives, so why not let them start now? Plus, *I* eat lunchables for breakfast. What now??
You're not alone!!! My kids ate rice crispy treats for breakfast and lunch the other day...hey, it's main ingredient is cereal, right?
ReplyDeleteI ate salami sandwiches for breakfast when I was a kid. If they're eating something, good. As long as it's not fluff sandwiches every morning, right? My son's friend came over and had a bowl of Lucky Charms. I found out while he was eating them like a wild animal, that he had never had them before. His mother freaked. Went to their house and there was an industrial size box of Pop Tarts on the kitchen counter. LOL I agree with you, everything in moderation. If it's taboo, they'll want nothing more than that which is forbidden.
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