I'm a huge fan of Ovaltine. I mean regardless of how you feel about it you have to admit it is a heck of a lot better than Swiss Miss or whatever that stuff is. The earlier you introduce Ovaltine the better. I luckily stumbled across it early so as far as my kids are concerned, it tastes great because they don't know otherwise. If they want chocolate milk for a snack, great! As they get older, they will probably look back and realize Mom was always a quick "yes" when chocolate milk was requested. I don't mind Ovaltine and if you take a minute to look at it's label, you'll see why.
http://www.ovaltineusa.com/HealthAndNutrition.aspx
As far as my seasonal suggestion goes, forget hot chocolate the traditional way. Do Ovaltine instead. That way, at least they are getting milk AND the vitamin/nutrient-rich/low-sugar/80-calorie chocolate powder instead of just water and fake chocolate and sugar with zero benefit. Ovaltine has directions for a "hot drink" as well as cold. Follow the hot directions and then throw some Reddi Whip and some chocolate sprinkles on top. You as the Mom will feel good about your child's hot chocolate this winter! Ahhhh...a guilt-free holiday season!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Juicing 101 (including some breakfast tips)
I have recently become a huge fan of juicing. My one regret in life? Not having a juicer during all three of my pregnancies. But it's never too late!
Several months ago, I went over to a girlfriend's house. This particular girlfriend was in the hellish midst of trying to get some post-baby weight off. I'm in that reality as we speak- BOO. Anyway, after telling her how great she looked, she told me she only had 10 more pounds to go to meet her goal. Pounds? I wasn't talking about weight! I was talking about her hair! Her skin! Her nails! She looked fabulous. "What are you doing?" I demanded. Juicing. Juicing everyday. I think I had a juicer in my possession within 48 hours...
First off, and I get asked this all the time, I do not endorse one particular juicer. I have mine, a Jack LaLanne, and I do love it. How does it stack-up to other juicers? I have no idea. Would one of the big-daddy stainless steel ones look so much more posh on my kitchen cabinet? Sure. But I spent $80 (with a coupon) at Bed Bath and Beyond and I was happy! I am still happy!
Secondly, get over the mess. What you are "creating" is so worth the stickiness that NO MATTER what will accumulate on your cabinets if not your floor as well. It is what it is.
This is a GREAT thing to do with your children. My oldest LOVES helping me dump all the fruit in the "tube" and then put the presser-thing down in it to mash the fruit into the machine. She loves making juice. I love the fact that when this kid goes off to college, one of the first things she'll want for a graduation gift will be a juicer. This is a HUGE part of my kids' lives now. And you know what? My kids won't drink the nasty bottled stuff anymore. Neither will I. It's almost a joke to me and you feel dishonest drinking it! Like it really isn't "feeding" your body.
Controversial comment: Your kids don't need juice. They don't need apple juice. They don't need orange juice. You know what the first question a pediatrician will ask if you take your overweight kid into the office? How much juice are they drinking? You know why? BECAUSE THAT EXTRA SUGAR PUTS ON THE POUNDS- NOT FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids today are digesting far too much sugar. This is why the obesity rate in children is frightening. And parents think they're doing such a good thing by allowing their children endless amounts of juice. Gross. STOP NOW! If you're not making it, they don't need it. And don't even sit there and ask, "Well what about the vitamin C?" Please. There are 100 better ways to get vitamin c than juice. And if you're sitting here thinking, "Crap. I've gotta wean my kid off juice," start by diluting the heck out of it with water. And then cut it out completely. It has zero value. Almost as little value as milk....more on that one later.
Back to the juicer...every time I make juice I make Popsicles as well. You might as well. Because the juice needs to be consumed within 15 minutes of making it to preserve all the anti-oxidants and vitamins. Think of the juice as "live." But if you freeze it, you're still preserving it's nutrient content. And my kids think my Popsicles are the greatest thing ever. They think of it as a treat. I think of it as a fruit serving after a meal.
The other great thing about a juicer? It will save all the pulp in a container as it juices your fruits and vegetables. This is a great opportunity to freeze the pulp for muffin, cookie and pancake mixes! Every weekend almost I get out a bag of my frozen left-over pulp and plop the entire thing into the Fiber One muffin mixes. Then I add wheat germ and flax seed and tons of different nuts. And oats. Totally healthy, healthy breakfast (with some yogurt and a couple of poached eggs). You can put this pulp in your Popsicles too. Or make sorbet out of it as well (see recipe below).
For those of you with infants that your starting on the Baby Food Introduction chart, juicing can actually make life a little easier for you as well! I save some of the pulp to mix in with different baby food blends. Then your infant gets a whole assortment of goodness in one little cubey. I also put some of the juice in my little Snappies (breast milk storage containers- see below) for the freezer and I have frozen all kinds of juice blends for Walker when he's a little older. The Snappies hold only about 2 oz. each which is perfect since I will dilute with water for him when he's ready. He won't need anymore than 2 oz. of juice a day given his hearty solids program of fruits and veggies.
Also, just a side-note about juice and cereal for breakfast. Vitamin C aids iron absorption. Milk blocks iron absorption. Drinking a small glass of juice (even if it's the bottled junk) will help the intestines absorb the iron that is in (or ON I should say) fortified cereals. It doesn't even have to be juice, per say, but any high vitamin C fruit. Vitamin C and iron are friends. Remember that. Milk and iron are not. Very, very important since many young American children today have iron deficiencies because they drink too much milk and they drink milk with meals (which is a no no). OK. I'm going off on my milk tangent. I'll save that for a completely different article.
Here is a typical breakfast schedule for my kiddos:
Several months ago, I went over to a girlfriend's house. This particular girlfriend was in the hellish midst of trying to get some post-baby weight off. I'm in that reality as we speak- BOO. Anyway, after telling her how great she looked, she told me she only had 10 more pounds to go to meet her goal. Pounds? I wasn't talking about weight! I was talking about her hair! Her skin! Her nails! She looked fabulous. "What are you doing?" I demanded. Juicing. Juicing everyday. I think I had a juicer in my possession within 48 hours...
First off, and I get asked this all the time, I do not endorse one particular juicer. I have mine, a Jack LaLanne, and I do love it. How does it stack-up to other juicers? I have no idea. Would one of the big-daddy stainless steel ones look so much more posh on my kitchen cabinet? Sure. But I spent $80 (with a coupon) at Bed Bath and Beyond and I was happy! I am still happy!
Secondly, get over the mess. What you are "creating" is so worth the stickiness that NO MATTER what will accumulate on your cabinets if not your floor as well. It is what it is.
This is a GREAT thing to do with your children. My oldest LOVES helping me dump all the fruit in the "tube" and then put the presser-thing down in it to mash the fruit into the machine. She loves making juice. I love the fact that when this kid goes off to college, one of the first things she'll want for a graduation gift will be a juicer. This is a HUGE part of my kids' lives now. And you know what? My kids won't drink the nasty bottled stuff anymore. Neither will I. It's almost a joke to me and you feel dishonest drinking it! Like it really isn't "feeding" your body.
Controversial comment: Your kids don't need juice. They don't need apple juice. They don't need orange juice. You know what the first question a pediatrician will ask if you take your overweight kid into the office? How much juice are they drinking? You know why? BECAUSE THAT EXTRA SUGAR PUTS ON THE POUNDS- NOT FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kids today are digesting far too much sugar. This is why the obesity rate in children is frightening. And parents think they're doing such a good thing by allowing their children endless amounts of juice. Gross. STOP NOW! If you're not making it, they don't need it. And don't even sit there and ask, "Well what about the vitamin C?" Please. There are 100 better ways to get vitamin c than juice. And if you're sitting here thinking, "Crap. I've gotta wean my kid off juice," start by diluting the heck out of it with water. And then cut it out completely. It has zero value. Almost as little value as milk....more on that one later.
Back to the juicer...every time I make juice I make Popsicles as well. You might as well. Because the juice needs to be consumed within 15 minutes of making it to preserve all the anti-oxidants and vitamins. Think of the juice as "live." But if you freeze it, you're still preserving it's nutrient content. And my kids think my Popsicles are the greatest thing ever. They think of it as a treat. I think of it as a fruit serving after a meal.
The other great thing about a juicer? It will save all the pulp in a container as it juices your fruits and vegetables. This is a great opportunity to freeze the pulp for muffin, cookie and pancake mixes! Every weekend almost I get out a bag of my frozen left-over pulp and plop the entire thing into the Fiber One muffin mixes. Then I add wheat germ and flax seed and tons of different nuts. And oats. Totally healthy, healthy breakfast (with some yogurt and a couple of poached eggs). You can put this pulp in your Popsicles too. Or make sorbet out of it as well (see recipe below).
For those of you with infants that your starting on the Baby Food Introduction chart, juicing can actually make life a little easier for you as well! I save some of the pulp to mix in with different baby food blends. Then your infant gets a whole assortment of goodness in one little cubey. I also put some of the juice in my little Snappies (breast milk storage containers- see below) for the freezer and I have frozen all kinds of juice blends for Walker when he's a little older. The Snappies hold only about 2 oz. each which is perfect since I will dilute with water for him when he's ready. He won't need anymore than 2 oz. of juice a day given his hearty solids program of fruits and veggies.
Also, just a side-note about juice and cereal for breakfast. Vitamin C aids iron absorption. Milk blocks iron absorption. Drinking a small glass of juice (even if it's the bottled junk) will help the intestines absorb the iron that is in (or ON I should say) fortified cereals. It doesn't even have to be juice, per say, but any high vitamin C fruit. Vitamin C and iron are friends. Remember that. Milk and iron are not. Very, very important since many young American children today have iron deficiencies because they drink too much milk and they drink milk with meals (which is a no no). OK. I'm going off on my milk tangent. I'll save that for a completely different article.
Here is a typical breakfast schedule for my kiddos:
Fresh juice and an organic mixture of different cereals (all low sugar, all multi-grain) with organic 2% milk
Organic oatmeal with wheat germ, ground flax seed and dried blueberries served with Yo Baby yogurt with a probiotic capsule (the powder) "snuck" into it
Some sort of muffin or pancake mix with the wheat germ, ground flax seed and left-over fruit/veggie puree from my juicing served with some poached eggs and a dairy item
A quick, on-the-road breakfast always makes it's way into our week at least one morning. This is usually a Vitatop Muffin with a "snack trap" of fruit for the road.
And then on weekends, I do like to bust-out with a yummy breakfast casserole that will make plenty for leftovers for say......throwing on a tortilla with cheese and salsa! I just got the most fantastic breakfast cookbook yesterday. I'll be sharing some recipes from it very, very soon!
Get crazy on weekends! Breakfast should be fun and something your kids can help you do. Make that part of your meal planning for the week- at least one weekend breakfast that is guest-worthy! And speaking of guests, there is nothing quite like some girlfriends over for mimosas with freshly-squeezed orange juice! Who cares about the mess? Trust me, a couple of these bad boys and they won't care!Monday, November 9, 2009
Soapbox 2- Parents Today Not Teaching Character
I have seen this trend since becoming a parent myself. Parents are not teaching character in the home anymore. They confuse manners with character qualities. "Please" and "thank you" does not constitute character-building. So many parents are worried about the academic nature of their children so early. Do they know their ABCs? Do they know their shapes? Their colors? Their numbers? A few words in Spanish? But it never crosses their mind to teach empathy, honesty, kindness, helpfulness, compassion, charity, selflessness, teamwork, respect, love, sincerity, trust, keeping your word, diligence, work ethic. Then, of course, parents are putting their children in as many activities as they can flooding their family schedules with "gotta be here this night" and "gotta be here this morning." Family time is out the window. Family dinner time is definitely out the window. And when you have these young children? Ludicrous. This time goes so fast. This lack of genuine family time, a substantial time to actually connect is hurting the very foundation that is going to make these little people GREAT people some day. And when they are older and involved in so many extra-curricular activities through school, have their own friends and social calendar and then start driving? Where is family time going to go then?
Then, not-to-mention the lack of spirituality in the home. Notice I did not say religion. Do families even pray together anymore? Pray for their country? Pray for their world they live in? Pray for the leaders of both? Pray for their teachers, their friends, their families? Isn't this a great way to teach your children to think outside of themselves? So many children today live in "child centered" homes where the marriage is on the back burner thus the ridiculous rise in divorce. These children are so used to the world revolving around them in every way that I only pity them as they get older. They will have no friends or no real relationships at least because they are too selfish. These are going to be hard-learned lessons for them. Lessons they will have to learn the hard way I suppose. But just a prayer a day with your children whether it be at dinner time or bedtime will allow them to think of other peoples' strife and tribulations in their lives instead of always looking into themselves.
If you want your children to have a profound place in the world they live in, a place where they feel it an obligation to give back to others and serve others, it has to start young and it has to start in the home.
And it has to start by having solid parental examples doing the same.
Then, not-to-mention the lack of spirituality in the home. Notice I did not say religion. Do families even pray together anymore? Pray for their country? Pray for their world they live in? Pray for the leaders of both? Pray for their teachers, their friends, their families? Isn't this a great way to teach your children to think outside of themselves? So many children today live in "child centered" homes where the marriage is on the back burner thus the ridiculous rise in divorce. These children are so used to the world revolving around them in every way that I only pity them as they get older. They will have no friends or no real relationships at least because they are too selfish. These are going to be hard-learned lessons for them. Lessons they will have to learn the hard way I suppose. But just a prayer a day with your children whether it be at dinner time or bedtime will allow them to think of other peoples' strife and tribulations in their lives instead of always looking into themselves.
If you want your children to have a profound place in the world they live in, a place where they feel it an obligation to give back to others and serve others, it has to start young and it has to start in the home.
And it has to start by having solid parental examples doing the same.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Mommy Find- My Tot Clock
Below you will find an email I just received from a good friend of mine. Check it out!
Ok ladies ... A MIRACLE has been sent to me from the HEAVENS. We have been having a HORRIBLE time with Sam and bedtime/naptime lately. Daylight savings made it worse. She has been so sleep deprived from her bedtime antics that she can’t even function. The more tired she gets, the worse it got. I went searching for something to help our bedtime routine and I bought something called My Tot Clock. http://www.mytotclock.com/home.php
IT IS AMAZING!!!! THIS THING IS FREAKING AMAZING. First, you can set bedtime and wake time (also has a feature for nap time) - the clock glows blue when you need to be sleeping and glows yellow when it is okay to be awake/leave your room. It also has an “alarm clock” function for those of you that need to wake your kiddos up in the morning at a specific time. It will wake them playing lullabies. At bedtime, it also has these cartridge things that include a bedtime story, 5 minutes of music and then white noise (optional). We introduced it to her tonight and she was OUT LIKE A LIGHT by 7:00 – no fighting, no struggles. She was soooo excited to turn off the lights, get into her bed and listen to the story. She wouldn’t even let me read our normal bedtime books. It also has buttons for “encouragement time” so you can use it for potty training, etc...This is the coolest little device EVER!!!! What makes it cooler is it was invented by a McKinney mom which I didn’t know until I found the website. She thought of EVERYTHING.Even if you don’t have bedtime issues, this clock is pretty cool and would make a great christmas gift. Wanted to pass it along. Please PRAY that it keeps working! My poor girl needs her sleep! xoxo- Amie
Ok ladies ... A MIRACLE has been sent to me from the HEAVENS. We have been having a HORRIBLE time with Sam and bedtime/naptime lately. Daylight savings made it worse. She has been so sleep deprived from her bedtime antics that she can’t even function. The more tired she gets, the worse it got. I went searching for something to help our bedtime routine and I bought something called My Tot Clock. http://www.mytotclock.com/home.php
IT IS AMAZING!!!! THIS THING IS FREAKING AMAZING. First, you can set bedtime and wake time (also has a feature for nap time) - the clock glows blue when you need to be sleeping and glows yellow when it is okay to be awake/leave your room. It also has an “alarm clock” function for those of you that need to wake your kiddos up in the morning at a specific time. It will wake them playing lullabies. At bedtime, it also has these cartridge things that include a bedtime story, 5 minutes of music and then white noise (optional). We introduced it to her tonight and she was OUT LIKE A LIGHT by 7:00 – no fighting, no struggles. She was soooo excited to turn off the lights, get into her bed and listen to the story. She wouldn’t even let me read our normal bedtime books. It also has buttons for “encouragement time” so you can use it for potty training, etc...This is the coolest little device EVER!!!! What makes it cooler is it was invented by a McKinney mom which I didn’t know until I found the website. She thought of EVERYTHING.Even if you don’t have bedtime issues, this clock is pretty cool and would make a great christmas gift. Wanted to pass it along. Please PRAY that it keeps working! My poor girl needs her sleep! xoxo- Amie
Friday, November 6, 2009
Food for Thought- "The Superintendent"
This is actually not food-related, per say, but worth noting quickly.
I recently had dinner with a Superintendent of Schools from a rather large school district. He told the story of how his daughter-in-law (whose sons attend school in the district) came to his house crying uncontrollably after a parent/teacher conference. The DIL went on to explain to her father-in-law, the Superintendent, that the teacher went on and on about how her son was way behind in reading skills, letter recognition, sounds and vowel recognition. After sobbing and a rather thorough vent-session, the father-in-law/superintendent replied, "Well hell, all those kids do is play video games and Nintendo DS. They never have a book in their hand. Do you ever even read to them? I mean really, what did you expect?"
He said his daughter-in-law didn't speak to him for weeks.
I, however, went home and instituted "earn your Nintendo time" with some hard-core reading time. Thought I'd share this little ***true*** story with you all....
Food for thought!
I recently had dinner with a Superintendent of Schools from a rather large school district. He told the story of how his daughter-in-law (whose sons attend school in the district) came to his house crying uncontrollably after a parent/teacher conference. The DIL went on to explain to her father-in-law, the Superintendent, that the teacher went on and on about how her son was way behind in reading skills, letter recognition, sounds and vowel recognition. After sobbing and a rather thorough vent-session, the father-in-law/superintendent replied, "Well hell, all those kids do is play video games and Nintendo DS. They never have a book in their hand. Do you ever even read to them? I mean really, what did you expect?"
He said his daughter-in-law didn't speak to him for weeks.
I, however, went home and instituted "earn your Nintendo time" with some hard-core reading time. Thought I'd share this little ***true*** story with you all....
Food for thought!
Monday, November 2, 2009
The AARP's Vitality Project- WANT TO LIVE TO BE 100?
A researcher spent months traveling all over the world studying centurions (people 100 years of age or more). He found four common elements amongst these centurions that transcended geographic location, ethnicity, gender and socio-economic status. The four factors are as follows:
1. Be more active (walking, biking as transit, not joining a gym).
2. Eat mostly plants. And eat less.
3. Socialize and volunteer with others.
4. Find your purpose in life.
Four simple lifestyle changes to start not only integrating into your adult life, but your children's as well.
1. All kids should be active every single day for AT LEAST 30 minutes. This can be as simple as putting on some music and letting them dance around the living room! Get creative! Set the timer and make them run around picking-up their toys.
2. Eating mostly plants is something to work towards. Portion control is key even when introducing solids. This habit starts early. And avoid the "clear your plate" rule. This just leads to obesity later....
3. Make sure your kids are well-socialized. They find self-worth and value when amongst friends. They also need to learn to navigate through complicated social avenues as well! There are so many age-appropriate ways to volunteer with your child, even as early as the age of two. Teach them compassion and empathy now and it will last a lifetime. You'll have the child that turns out to be the adult who thinks outside themselves and sees their role in the greater world around them.
4. While we shouldn't expect our children to find their purpose in life at this young age, teaching them to have faith in themselves and their talents now goes a long way. Be a daily confidence builder to them. Also, if you see things that your child shows an above average talent in, verbalize that to them constantly! If you want them to find their purpose in life, they need a solid support system that believes in them! Start now!
For more information, visit the AARP's website: http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/vitality_national/
1. Be more active (walking, biking as transit, not joining a gym).
2. Eat mostly plants. And eat less.
3. Socialize and volunteer with others.
4. Find your purpose in life.
Four simple lifestyle changes to start not only integrating into your adult life, but your children's as well.
1. All kids should be active every single day for AT LEAST 30 minutes. This can be as simple as putting on some music and letting them dance around the living room! Get creative! Set the timer and make them run around picking-up their toys.
2. Eating mostly plants is something to work towards. Portion control is key even when introducing solids. This habit starts early. And avoid the "clear your plate" rule. This just leads to obesity later....
3. Make sure your kids are well-socialized. They find self-worth and value when amongst friends. They also need to learn to navigate through complicated social avenues as well! There are so many age-appropriate ways to volunteer with your child, even as early as the age of two. Teach them compassion and empathy now and it will last a lifetime. You'll have the child that turns out to be the adult who thinks outside themselves and sees their role in the greater world around them.
4. While we shouldn't expect our children to find their purpose in life at this young age, teaching them to have faith in themselves and their talents now goes a long way. Be a daily confidence builder to them. Also, if you see things that your child shows an above average talent in, verbalize that to them constantly! If you want them to find their purpose in life, they need a solid support system that believes in them! Start now!
For more information, visit the AARP's website: http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/vitality_national/
Soapbox I- "Get Over Yourself"
So here I go....
You know what has always boggled me? These moms that are so obsessed with their own diet. They count calories, cut out carbs, do all kinds of diet plans. They hire trainers and hit the gym or train for marathons, etc. etc. But you know what? They don't do squat when it comes to their kids' dietary/physical needs. I've seen it time and time again a mom eating carrot sticks and strawberries while she's feeding her kids Cheetos and Lunchables. I'm not gonna lie. I have looked down on these moms more times than I'd like to admit. Because for the life of me, I can't figure out how they can put so much time and effort into THEMSELVES but not do the same for the little, growing bodies they are responsible for. Now I previewed this post to a good friend of mine. "Don't you think you're being a little harsh?" No. No I don't. Why? Because it's been too pervasive around me since having kids that it must be said.
About a year a go, I had a mom come to me and say, "Leya, I don't know how to feed my kids and I was told to come to you." Flattering I thought. Even easier solution I thought. The exchange went as follows...
"Well, I happen to know how you eat. I know you're so concerned with staying a size 2 that you eat a certain way to do so am I right? I mean you eat all fruits and vegetables am I right?"
"Uh. Yeah. Getting my body back after having my second was really important to me. I eat good and work-out daily."
"Yes, I know this. Are your kids on a vitamin?"
"No."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Do your kids drink water or juice?"
"Both...but, uh....quite a bit of juice."
"Do you drink water or juice?"
"Water."
"When you go to a fast food drive-thru, you get your kids the chicken nuggets or fingers or cheeseburger every time?"
"Yeah. That's all they'll eat."
"You get the grilled chicken sandwich don't you?"
"Yes."
The conversation ended with this: "Friend of mine, you need to start putting as much thought into your kids' diets and health as you do your own. Not because you're worried about their weight, but because your worried about every aspect of their little, growing bodies. You may eat this way to stay a size 2. You need to be feeding them the same way so that they'll learn to eat that way for health, not just for their True Religion jeans. This is long-term imprintation."
I don't mean to sound high and pious. I really don't. But get over yourself, ladies (some of you).
And when you have daughters, let me tell you now, if you don't teach your girls to have a good relationship with food from about 18 months on, shame on you. Your girls need to know that eating good is NOT about weight alone but their hair, nails, skin, teeth, mood, intelligence, immunities, fertility, fertility, fertility. Yeah, that's right. The day they get their period they need to understand how healthy fat plays a huge role in their cycle and supports their reproductive system. They need to understand that the shiny healthy hair, glowing skin and bright eyes they "see" in magazines are theirs for the taking if they want it. This starts at home. And it starts now. Don't underestimate how early poor body image begins. Especially these days. And for those of you that have had struggles in the past with eating disorders or still struggle with it today, LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE BEHIND YOU. Having a baby girl is a chance to start over for you as well. Teach her the importance of feeding her body. The difference in just "eating" and then actually FEEDING your body. Happiness comes from feeling good. Feeling good comes from eating good. Simple.
If you feel like I'm talking to you, maybe I am. But I hope instead of being offended, you'll do some self-evaluating into what you could be doing different for your children in addition to what you do to take care of yourself. The day you conceived, it isn't about you anymore. So put your jeans and bikini aside for just a moment and get your kids off to a good start. Then when you start cooking a certain way for yourself to drop those baby lbs, and your kids gobble it up as well, it's win-win for everyone! But they come first, you second. Them first, you second.
OK, I'm done. Thanks for your time.
You know what has always boggled me? These moms that are so obsessed with their own diet. They count calories, cut out carbs, do all kinds of diet plans. They hire trainers and hit the gym or train for marathons, etc. etc. But you know what? They don't do squat when it comes to their kids' dietary/physical needs. I've seen it time and time again a mom eating carrot sticks and strawberries while she's feeding her kids Cheetos and Lunchables. I'm not gonna lie. I have looked down on these moms more times than I'd like to admit. Because for the life of me, I can't figure out how they can put so much time and effort into THEMSELVES but not do the same for the little, growing bodies they are responsible for. Now I previewed this post to a good friend of mine. "Don't you think you're being a little harsh?" No. No I don't. Why? Because it's been too pervasive around me since having kids that it must be said.
About a year a go, I had a mom come to me and say, "Leya, I don't know how to feed my kids and I was told to come to you." Flattering I thought. Even easier solution I thought. The exchange went as follows...
"Well, I happen to know how you eat. I know you're so concerned with staying a size 2 that you eat a certain way to do so am I right? I mean you eat all fruits and vegetables am I right?"
"Uh. Yeah. Getting my body back after having my second was really important to me. I eat good and work-out daily."
"Yes, I know this. Are your kids on a vitamin?"
"No."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Do your kids drink water or juice?"
"Both...but, uh....quite a bit of juice."
"Do you drink water or juice?"
"Water."
"When you go to a fast food drive-thru, you get your kids the chicken nuggets or fingers or cheeseburger every time?"
"Yeah. That's all they'll eat."
"You get the grilled chicken sandwich don't you?"
"Yes."
The conversation ended with this: "Friend of mine, you need to start putting as much thought into your kids' diets and health as you do your own. Not because you're worried about their weight, but because your worried about every aspect of their little, growing bodies. You may eat this way to stay a size 2. You need to be feeding them the same way so that they'll learn to eat that way for health, not just for their True Religion jeans. This is long-term imprintation."
I don't mean to sound high and pious. I really don't. But get over yourself, ladies (some of you).
And when you have daughters, let me tell you now, if you don't teach your girls to have a good relationship with food from about 18 months on, shame on you. Your girls need to know that eating good is NOT about weight alone but their hair, nails, skin, teeth, mood, intelligence, immunities, fertility, fertility, fertility. Yeah, that's right. The day they get their period they need to understand how healthy fat plays a huge role in their cycle and supports their reproductive system. They need to understand that the shiny healthy hair, glowing skin and bright eyes they "see" in magazines are theirs for the taking if they want it. This starts at home. And it starts now. Don't underestimate how early poor body image begins. Especially these days. And for those of you that have had struggles in the past with eating disorders or still struggle with it today, LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE BEHIND YOU. Having a baby girl is a chance to start over for you as well. Teach her the importance of feeding her body. The difference in just "eating" and then actually FEEDING your body. Happiness comes from feeling good. Feeling good comes from eating good. Simple.
If you feel like I'm talking to you, maybe I am. But I hope instead of being offended, you'll do some self-evaluating into what you could be doing different for your children in addition to what you do to take care of yourself. The day you conceived, it isn't about you anymore. So put your jeans and bikini aside for just a moment and get your kids off to a good start. Then when you start cooking a certain way for yourself to drop those baby lbs, and your kids gobble it up as well, it's win-win for everyone! But they come first, you second. Them first, you second.
OK, I'm done. Thanks for your time.
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