I know this sounds terrible but lately I have been noticing both my cute little kiddos kinda "chunking up." Of course this is normal for a 6 and 4 year old to do this before a growth spurt and while I would NEVER say anything of this sort to them--I mentioned it to my husband and we both feel strongly that we need to set a few more, better health rules in our home.
Often times, when we go to the gym--and the kids have to come a long, they complain a bit...so, instead of feeling guilty that they are sitting on the couch at the gym watching an hour of cartoons I bring them a "snack" which makes them happy. This is not typically the healthiest snack, it is fruit snacks, a leftover halloween candy or something of the sort.
But why do I do this? I don't eat those things on a daily basis, my husband doesn't eat those things on a regular basis--and I highly recommend that no one eats those things on a regular basis. I don't know what the deal is, I guess because I LIKE those things, and some where deep down inside I wish I could eat them and maintain the physique or a leaner one than I have while still eating them. So my kids are young, they don't need to worry about their weight, they can eat them if they want. It's part of being a kid. Treats! Candy! Sugar!
Well, that thinking isn't really in align with what I preach and I worry that I am not setting my kids up for success with their body image, and with their athletics if I don't start instilling better health practices in them now.
So the kids are going on a diet. No more fruit snacks to go to the gym. I make time for my workout every day and now that it is getting nicer outside, I will make time to be active with them. We actually started this a couple weeks ago in doors, playing red light, green light--simon says--hide and seek and other silly games at home in the living room. Today though, we took a hike out at the lake and searched for different color rocks, we looked for birds, threw rocks into the water, and raced each other. It was great fun! And we got to be active together! The best way to teach my children is to show them! Not tell them. So I vow to do better.
On the way home of course, they were hungry and wanted "ice cream." Well they had ice cream with their gramma last night so that wasn't happening. We made some quick granola balls that they love
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp natural peanut butter
melted
1/2 c old fashioned oats
Roll into balls and fridgerate for 5 minutes.
They are delicious, and no--not super nutritious but much better than a bowl of ice cream or a pack of fruit snacks. So I can feel good about that.
I have been working so much lately that we haven't been doing many dinners together as a family either. This is my last week of crazy town work hours though and I stocked up on some healthy groceries yesterday for dinners this week, I will just make them earlier in the day so they can be reheated for dinner with daddy or with a babysitter. Also, often times they wont WANT what I cooked. Roast, potatoes and cooked carrots tonight, well they had two choices--
eat, or don't.
We have decided to stick to our guns more on this because we end up feeding them a convenience food (hot dogs, or peanut butter and honey sandwich) while we eat a healthy dinner. That's dumb. And they do like healthy foods, but sometimes they have to be pushed to try things that are out of their comfort zone. So the stuffed spaggetti squash this week might be a battle, but in the end, they'll try it, eat it or not, but that will be their choice. I am the mom and I control what food I bring into my home. Now, don't get me wrong--I am not going to force them into eating nasty grown up food all the time--I also will make turkey spaggetti, with garlic bread and they LOVE that. I just have to make the time and make it a priority to have it for them.
Oh and carrots. Raw baby carrots. Those kids go to town on those, I have to remind myself everytime I am at the store to grab a bag. Having healthy options at reach is key for this to work!
What about you? Do you eat the same food as your kids do all day? Are you a CLEAN eater, or like us, a CLEANish eater?
I personally do not allow gummy snacks in my house....at all. They are candy, loaded with sugar and HORRIBLE for their teeth. I am not so much concerned about weight issues(my kids are sticks!!) but I don't want them ruining their teeth at an early age. As for dinners, my kids eat about 85% of what I cook. If I know I am cooking something they will despise, then I will whip them up a green protein smoothie and a slice of peanut butter toast as an alternative but that doesn't happen often at all. Tonight we had grilled chicken and roasted cabbage. I kid you not, my kids ate 3/4 of the cabbage themselves. I have always been good about exposing them to foods that aren't "kid friendly" and we just never make a big deal about it. It has worked so far....that or I just got REALLY lucky when it comes to non picky kids.
ReplyDeleteYou always make super yummy looking stuff I can see why they eat more grown up foods then maybe other kids do. I'm not a great cook so this is going to take some effort on my part for sure!
DeleteI like the green smoothie idea in place of.something that may not be appealing to them. My kids love those and that's great source of nutrients for them thanks for the idea!
Teri...This is a little secret you can't tell my kids. We make a similar granola bar recipe, but I add 1 cup of finely chopped alfalfa sprouts to the mix before I chill them. They don't even know they are in there and you can't taste them. They only add a coconut like texture so that's what they think it is. And Since alfalfa sprouts are 38% protein and packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals I find them a great snack I like to eat, too.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I never even heard of that! Where do you get those Melanie?! AWESOME!
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