There is a green eyed momster in all of us-by the wa, cute name!

I just had a conversation witt my 9 year old sonthe other day when he asked me why we have to buy organic groceries, when his friends get to eat whatever junk food they want.  Sorry to say, there isn't an age when it all just disappears. I took a deep breath and held my position, saying that as a mom, I want him to be the best and healthiest he can be and sometimes he might not understand, but it just is.

 

 

I completely agree, the most efficient way to learn and make healthy and wise decisions is by actually making the decisions ourselves, of course with guidance and proper education, but ultimately it will be up to us, regardless if our parents will prohibit certain things. In order to learn from our mistakes, decision making has to take place, but then of course, there should be some ground rules to maintain order and keep us on the right track! Most importantly, I think that the best education is learned via example behaviour.

I myself am not a parent as of yet, because I feel I am still not prepared for it, however, I'll definitely try to apply these principals into my childrens' upbringing!

by the way, love the nickname, adds some comedic relief to the intensity of parenting! :)

I try to set a good example by exercising and eating a healthy diet, but kids will be kids.  My children are trying to find themselves and their voice.  I hope I have instilled in them the right principles so they can make the right decisions on their own.

You'll know when you're ready to be a mom.  Nobody is completely ready, believe me! 

But it's important.  Even if it's what they rebel against, at least during their growing years they get some good food, good habits.  Maybe it'll stick?? Thanks for the insights! Parenting is the ultimate tragi-comedy, half the time I'm at the end of my rope, half the time I'm cracking up.

Thanks for this great conversation!

One of my kids has a high gag reflex, is easily influenced by sensory inputs and is a picky eater.  He spoke a little as a toddler but his language skills have been coming out on their own time.  We find everything is connected, he doesn't like the texture of crunchy green veggies, and won't keep them down.  So that cuts down on many of the great natural vitamins, also his jaw muscles and glottal stops needed crunchy food to practice on.  We've had to be really creative, with lots of fruit.  I play spy mom and put cooked spinach or broccoli into brownie mix, the chocolate or carob completely masks the taste.  He loves to make carrot juice and participate in the cooking, we throw the left over pulp into muffins.  I hope he'll make healthy decisions on his own, so we keep lots of options around.  Once a week we get a box of organic fruit or veggies delivered to the house.  It's a bit more than going to the store, but we're supporting local farmers and eating something great.  I love having something come to the house, saves my driving about!  The kids love box day, it's a bit like Christmas, they unpack the food and put it away.  We talk about everything as we put it into bowls, even if it's a food they don't choose to eat, they've given it a name, smelled and touched it.  We think about it as a family and try to come up with fun dishes everyone might try once.  

That sounds amazing.  I like that you have made it fun-that is so important for kids.  The more you pressure them, the more they rebel.  I know this for sure.

They say you have to expose your children to a new food 4-5 times before they might even try a full bite.  It seems excessive and I seem to peeter out before the 5th time, but it may work for you or someone else. 

I don't have kids of my own (yet) but I think that perserverence does reap great rewards. I was brought up in a time and place where there was nothing 'trendy' about healthy eating and reducing your environmental impact. My parents fed me simple, unprocessed foods as a child.

At school, my friends' lunchboxes contained white bread sandwiches with nutella (wrapped in plastic wrap), packets of chips, lollies and all manner of exciting things. Mine contained a pritikin bread sandwich with peanut butter or cheese and lettuce (no butter and wrapped in lunch paper) and an apple. For maybe a year, I threw out my sandwich every day because I hated pritikin bread. I envied my friends' lunches and swore that when I grew up and could choose what to eat, it would be white bread and chips.

Once I started buying my own food, I admit, I ate lots of junk for a while. But I soon found that it made me sick and fat. Now I'm back to the healthy ways that I learned from my parents and I'm not floundeiring the way that many of my friends are. They decide to 'go healthy' but they have no refernce point, I can always think back to the 'boring food' I ate as a kid!

I try to find a balance between healthy and out of hand with my two boys.  It is important that they understand why I want them to eat the foods they do, and what it can do to help their body function better.

But then again, I also want them to be children and not to rebel when they get the chance, so we work in some acceptable treats.  It's all about balance, as is life. 

It is true that we are all the "Green-eyed Momster" at times........  but we wouldn't be doing our jobs if we weren't!  When my 3 yr. old son Baxter got upset about having to eat "healthy" food and was mad about me not allowing him to have certain kinds of "junk" food, I told him I wouldn't be doing my job if I let him fill his body with things that are bad for him.  I asked him what a fire fighter does, what a police officer does, what a doctor does and he described to me all of their jobs.  Then I asked him what a MOMMY does and he said "takes care of kids!"  We then went through all the ways in which parents take care of children..... feeding them, bathing them, reading to them, doing laundry, keeping the house clean, etc.  Then we decided that the most important job for a mommy was to keep her kids healthy and safe.  That's when I said "See...... I wouldn't be doing my job if I let you fill your body with junk food!  I want to be a good mommy and do my job very well so that you are the healthiest kid you can be."  He seemed to really get it at the time and now I just remind him when he gets upset with me by saying "I'm just doing my job son!"

I'm going to use that next time G tells me I'm too mean for not giving her what she wants.  I have said "It's my job" but it's brilliant to have them (and me) think about it in terms of other jobs.  Also, regarding white bread sandwiches, I had a terrible diet growing up.  Loads of white bread, hot dogs, fruit salad from a can.  When I was older I babysat for some hippie kids and was entranced by the mysterious wonders of whole foods in jars.  Sunflower seeds, nuts, odd chocolate-like (carob, I know now) coconut balls.  I used to sneak handfuls of stuff, even nibbling brown rice raw.  So now I still think it's the hight of riches to have full jars of nuts, dried fruits and brown rice in my pantry.  No carob though!