healthier eating

[houseelf]

Great suggestions! I will definitely check out the rainbow eating and NFL nutrition program. For non cooks like my, fish is a fabulous option and the kids do eat tilapia and salmon.

For those of you without kids, let my experience serve as a warning. Start out the way that you want to go. Do not even start them on the "kid" marketed stuff: toddler puffs, yogurt squeeze tubes, lunchables, Happy Meals, etcetera). Go straight to the adult version and modify it to make it more healthy from day one.

I swear these crap foods habituates children into eating more sugar and processed foods. I was a busy working mom and he ate a lot of lunchables and uncrustable PB & Js. I wasn't in control of what he ate at daycare and honestly it wasn't on our radar. We grew up on Mac and Cheese and Chicken patties, and we are A.O.K. Literally every nonfiction book I've read recently from the topic of Finances to Childrearing to Nutrition basically says that we should be eating nutrional, homecook foods in their natural forms. Experts don't agree on anything, so I've decided to get on board.

I'm sort of ticked right now because my pediatrician told me to put the baby on Pediasure to gain weight. Here we go again...thankfully the childhood obesity epidemic hasn't hit my anorexic toddlers. After four weeks he now eschews whole milk for pediasure and will eat far fewer vegetables. I swear that his palate has been overexposed to sugar and now he craves it. I'm pissed. He is going off pediasure and I'm going to have to find some sort of more natural weight gaining substance for him. (Um, can I have this problem for just a little while, please?)

That's what my mom always did growing up--grapes were also immediately devoured in our house because my mom would only buy them when they were on sale.

Grapes still are one of my favorite things and feel like a luxury because we NEVER ate grapes growing up and any time we asked for them we got to hear all about Cesar Chavez and the farm workers... I love my socialist of a mother!

I don't always buy organic/free range/happy animal meat but I try to as often as we can afford it and I find that because it's more expensive we eat less of it. I buy a lot of whole chickens or chicken legs and thighs because the are cheaper (and I think taste better.)

Any one out there have chickens for fresh eggs? That's one of my dreams but I just don't think my lab and wolfdog could keep their chompers off em.

[alison]

Kelly--my daughter has a sweet tooth, and I'm sure it's because of all the recommendations on how to fatten her up (ice cream, toddler formula...). My bil said to start given her half a cup of whole milk with half a cup of heavy cream. Crazy, I know!

[SoonerTexan]

For those of you without kids, let my experience serve as a warning. Start out the way that you want to go. Do not even start them on the "kid" marketed stuff: toddler puffs, yogurt squeeze tubes, lunchables, Happy Meals, etcetera). Go straight to the adult version and modify it to make it more healthy from day one.

Thank you for validating this. Seriously, DH's siblings are so picky that they wont even eat certain BRANDS of foods or chicken nuggets from a certain restaurant. Thank goodness the little ones like strawberries--otherwise I think they might get scurvy. DH didn't know what a carrot tasted like when I met him. I feel like a bitch when I talk to DH about this and how I don't want to do it like his mom did, but it's bad! When we babysat this weekend, we followed the "normal" eating patterns so no feathers were ruffled.

This is what SIL #1 (6 years old) ate:

--Breakfast: Brownie from Starbucks, few sibs of a mocha frappuchino
--Lunch: Raw tortellini
--Snack: Popcorn and little debbie brownie
--Dinner: 1-2 McDonalds chicken nugget, a few fries, chocolate milk

And as I've mentioned before, both of my ILs are doctors...

This is what SIL #1 (6 years old) ate:

--Breakfast: Brownie from Starbucks, few sibs of a mocha frappuchino
--Lunch: Raw tortellini
--Snack: Popcorn and little debbie brownie
--Dinner: 1-2 McDonalds chicken nugget, a few fries, chocolate milk

I don't mean to judge and I don't know squat because I don't have kids yet but WOW.

[SoonerTexan]

I'm going to shut up (for awhile after this), but SIL #1 was given pediasure for a long time because her parents were worried about nutritional intake. Part of her picky eating is probably related to her autism issues (diagnosed on the spectrum a few years ago but is in normal classes now), but her older siblings aren't much better.

I'm going to shut up (for awhile after this), but SIL #1 was given pediasure for a long time because her parents were worried about nutritional intake. Part of her picky eating is probably related to her autism issues (diagnosed on the spectrum a few years ago but is in normal classes now), but her older siblings aren't much better.

Well the autism thing does make a big difference. We have a cousin who is autistic and only eats fast food cheeseburgers and fries, milkshakes, mac and cheese etc. You just CANNOT get him to eat anything else and he is morbidly obese. It's a struggle to get him to drink water instead of chocolate milk. Maybe he could have been exposed to better stuff at a younger age but I think it has more to do with his autism than anything else.

[PrincessFiona]

This is an interesting topic, Kelly, because I have kind of overthought this issue too. I think we all probably have our own ideas about what constitutes a healthy diet, but I kind of got a bit obsessive about what constitutes healthy. For me, I feel like I'm cheating my kids out of nutrition unless I make homemade mashed potatoes, homemade pasta sauce ... you get the idea. I feel guilty using canned tomatoes even (can you say ... therapy?)

So speaking of therapy, I addressed this ... with a therapist because it takes up a lot of space in my head and I have gone from wanting things to be healthy to coming up with these rules about what is healthy. I sort of (forgive me) see myself in the going from Danimals to Yoplait to Greek yogurt thing.

She talked to me about being ... good enough....not perfect....and that the kind of perfection that I am looking for with my rules creates frustration, anxiety and needless worry...ie...it is a painful exercise.

Would my kids be less healthy if I offered boxed potatoes, sloppy joes from the can (EEEK...but I have to make that tonight ) or ... just ... tacos (that they really want) as opposed to the chicken stuffed with lingonberries, breaded, quickly fried and then slow cooked in a Belgian Peche Beer (Wildberry flavor) with the reduction used to make a sauce ... (Oh Yah ... that's what I made) ... that No One Ate but Thomas and I?

Healthy? youbetcha Creative and technically challenging? moderately

Hit? Nope...

My assignment this week? Buy that nasty cheeseburger macaroni, canned and processed stuff and feed it to my family in the name of being good enough and not perfect.

My take on it? You might be overthinking it all just like I am...just in a different way.

Your assignment? Buy Danimals.



Being good enough is ... good enough.

love and smooches,

Kris

[Michele]

Daegan didn't have any "junk" until he was 2....seriously everyone picked on me for it....he has as big of a sweet tooth as anyone I know with one. In the last year I've gotten him to eat typical kid food. It was a pain to eat out bc we'd have to find something for him....he only wanted expensive stuff like edamame and salmon! With Kai, he's had more regular kid foods and it's easier to go out somewhere. I think they mirror what they see at home. They both are way more likely to try something if they see me eating it regularly.

My mom home cooked fresh foods for us so I grew up with less processed foods. In college I was able to eat it and gained a ton of weight! Now I don't want my kids to eat all the various chemicals so I try to find a less processed version. It's usually more expensive though. We still eat sweets and stuff, but I try to make it all from scratch. I figure the butter and sugar are better than artificial sweeteners and low-fat chemicals.

[oceanchild]

This is a struggle for us, too (sans kids). DH loves to cook but only occasionally has the time. I do NOT love to cook. We have had weeks where we only eat a meal or two at home... yikes!

Our goal right now is that each of us cook two meals a week. (I am all about low standards.) It mostly/kind of works. It isn't *explicitly* healthy eating, but I think even just cooking a meal is a step in the right direction.

I took this from something I saw on here, actually: since I hate coming up with things to cook more than I hate cooking, I sat down and spent 20 minutes or so just making a list of meals. Some ultra healthy, some comfort food, some speedy, some time consuming. First I wrote down things that popped into my head, then I started flipping through cookbooks. I ended up with a pretty good list. So now when I'm thinking about the week, I can establish how many days I need to cook and pick some things off the list.

[houseelf]

My take on it? You might be overthinking it all just like I am...just in a different way.

Your assignment? Buy Danimals.

Being good enough is ... good enough.

But darling, I overthink EVERY aspect of parenting because I really want to get it right. I love these children beyond compare and I really want fantastic outcomes for them. This makes it kind of overwhelming for me and every other parent who really tries hard to parent well.

I find that even when the child makes a progress in whatever area I have been worried about, I think about ten other things I need to give them to make sure that s/he turns out. It is freaking exhausting. I'm trying to find that balance of measured thoughtful parenting and "Que Sera, Sera". Sometimes I am THAT crazy mom that overthinks things.

It reminds me of that scene in the movie Parenthood when the grandfather and Gil are discussing an adult child's very bad behavior. Basically the grandfather admits that the worrying never ends. I don't want that. I really want to just enjoy the kids but there is so much to see to, you know? My mind goes to dark places. It doesn't help that there is too much information for us now. Sometimes I think it is better to just not know about plastic toxicity, childhood obesity, childhood predators, etcetera.


Pardon my huge digression into my issues. (They runneth over!) For the record, I am an American. I could never completely forgo brownies or cheeseburgers hot from the grill or a cold beer on a summer day. Life is short. I just want to model good behavior and make sure that these things have their place. I can be honest that we haven't always been balanced nutritionally. It is on my radar now. As always, I love that you give me the free pass.

I find that even when the child makes a progress in whatever area I have been worried about, I think about ten other things I need to give them to make sure that s/he turns out. It is freaking exhausting. I'm trying to find that balance of measured thoughtful parenting and "Que Sera, Sera". Sometimes I am THAT crazy mom that overthinks things.

If it's any help, I usually take the snob approach when confronted with feelings like this. I remind myself that there are tons of people in the world who either don't care at all, or care a whole lot less than I do, and somehow they manage to raise "normal" people. I figure I can do it, too.

[PrincessFiona]

But darling, I overthink EVERY aspect of parenting because I really want to get it right. I love these children beyond compare and I really want fantastic outcomes for them. This makes it kind of overwhelming for me and every other parent who really tries hard to parent well.

I find that even when the child makes a progress in whatever area I have been worried about, I think about ten other things I need to give them to make sure that s/he turns out. It is freaking exhausting. I'm trying to find that balance of measured thoughtful parenting and "Que Sera, Sera". Sometimes I am THAT crazy mom that overthinks things.

It reminds me of that scene in the movie Parenthood when the grandfather and Gil are discussing an adult child's very bad behavior. Basically the grandfather admits that the worrying never ends. I don't want that. I really want to just enjoy the kids but there is so much to see to, you know? My mind goes to dark places. It doesn't help that there is too much information for us now. Sometimes I think it is better to just not know about plastic toxicity, childhood obesity, childhood predators, etcetera.


Pardon my huge digression into my issues. (They runneth over!) For the record, I am an American. I could never completely forgo brownies or cheeseburgers hot from the grill or a cold beer on a summer day. Life is short. I just want to model good behavior and make sure that these things have their place. I can be honest that we haven't always been balanced nutritionally. It is on my radar now. As always, I love that you give me the free pass.

I know. I guess what I'm learning is that it is too personally exhausting to aim for perfection. The cost is too high. Getting it right? ouch ... it can be so much to put on our shoulders. You have it correct ... there are many, many issues facing us as parents and if we exhaust ourselves with the minutia of the details, we miss out on some of the enjoyment of being parents. 30 years from now, it won't matter if your kids had danimals, or mine had mashed potatoes from the box ... and deciding what is and isn't important ... and how to be good enough ... and to accept that perfection is not attainable ... it's hard.

I speak more of myself and my issues and maybe this does or does not fit you. I feel like you share some of my tendencies to overthink things.

There is no certainty. No right way. We can only do our best (within reason ... without exhausting ourselves and feeling overwhelmed).

Danimals and potato flakes are little deals....even though they feel like big deals.

In any case, I made sloppy joes with browned meat and flavoring sauce from a can. and. My kids loved it. They absolutely loved it ... as in eating 2 helpings instead of pushing food around their plates and begging for a sandwich later. My husband thinks that it's success. I suggested that I might make the sauce from scratch next time so that it is more nutritional but he pointed out the work involved and the fact that the kids had really enjoyed it. It was simple to make, it contained enough nutrition and everyone enjoyed it. I have to figure out how to leave it at that.

It feels like a relief to think about letting that go .... next time, maybe I'll make it from the can again .... and not worry about whether the meal is dynamic enough or nutritional enough ... it is ... it just isn't perfect....and I can move on to other worries ... like why is my first grader crawling under desks at school.

[ides]

I just want to say that you can do simple nutritional meals that kids like. For me it's about avoiding processed foods. I make stovetop mac & cheese fresh- not from the box & it's easy & quick. I don't try & make it fancy or anything I just use cheddar cheese.

I agree about relaxing & it sounds like to me you over do the gourmetness. Simple is really best I think. That said sometimes there is no time & I'll order in a pizza.

[DCJenn]

My issue is that I have a kid with a really sophisticated palate but who also has texture issues.

For example, we went to the Belgian place last Friday night. He ordered the cheese plate which comes with 7 or so different cheese- some of which are so stinky and gross that it nearly makes you wonder if they're any good. With it comes garlic toasts. He ate the whole thing. We ordered some fries (the place is called La Frite for a reason!) and he prefers the aioli to the ketchup.

However, entire meals have been ruined over the refusal to ingest SIX baked beans. Took 2 and a half hours of him throwing a fit to eat them (and then the little shit says, "they're cold" ARGH) This week we had a chat- I won't force him to eat meat in meat form anymore (it's the texture thing- he gags and then whoop- there it is!) but he needs to agree to eat the vegetable I put on his plate. and by vegetable I mean a singular slice of zucchini. I figure one slice of zuchhini is mentally more managable for him than a whole bowlful. and so far it's worked.

I agreed to chicken nuggets and fish sticks, pasta and peanut butter sandwiches. He'd eat liverwurst every day but there's not a whole lot of nutrition there! I've made my own chicken nuggets and fish sticks but I found some really good ones at Whole Foods that I buy by the big bagful. I also buy kefir and greek yogurts. He does take the Stoneyfield Farms yogurt tubes for lunch because I freeze them and by the time it's lunch time they're thawed but still cold.

As for dairy and produce, we have a slick little online grocery store that delivers and it's focus is locally grown organic foods. I order once a week. The milk is devine. We also shop the Farmer's Market pretty frequently. Of course, our weather means a longer growing season, too.

Jenn