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This is a discussion on Kids and Clean Eating within the Relationships and Family Life forums,----- Originally Posted by fit mom of 4
Like I said, and after reading all the other replies... don't make food ...
Like I said, and after reading all the other replies... don't make food an issue. For a kid to eat a hot dog or pizza once in a while is not horrible. If they'll eat chicken when they can "dip it"-- GREAT, let them. Make tacos, chili, spagetti and meatballs, meatball sandwiches, turkey sandwiches etc...Make your own chicken fingers (REAL EASY)...
Try and get them to understand healthy eating. Tell the younger one it makes them grow faster, tell the bigger one they'll be taller than you if they eat right... blah blah. We have to do the best we can but also like the above poster said, I NEVER ate tuna as a kid. Now it is a staple for me. Same thing with anything with kids...tell them to read... they don't. I hated reading as a kid...Saturday I finished a 350+page book in a few hours. So just roll with it. Don't stress over it. These kinds of things are not worth it. It is important that they get some good along with the bad. Doesn't always have to be all perfect. They are kids. They'll be ok. I promise.
Keep trying though. Never give up but be encouraging to them. I also do not believe in the "finish your plate rule". They should eat and when they feel they are no longer hungry they should stop. Otherwise we are training them to eat til they are stuffed or when they don't want anymore. Another thing you can try is give smaller portions. That worked with my 2nd son.
Ditto on that. I never make them eat just because its noon, or 6 PM. I do make them sit with the family and talk. If they don't finish their food because they are full that is fine but no 'junk' later. I thought of a few things my kids consider to be good things to eat....granola with milk, yogurt, cheese sticks, carrots, celery or baby spinach with Ranch, apples and oranges and no nitrate meats. I'm cool with them digging into that anytime.
I agree with these ladies. I think you can still make kids their favorite foods, but you can make ANYTHING into a healthier version, or all organic. I don't think it is so much WHAT kids are fed, but the INGREDIENTS that are put into foods. I think it's totally fine for kids to eat Oreos from time to time... but get them the Newman's Own instead of the actual Oreos... which have partially hydrogenated oils and HFCS in them. Both additives HORRIBLE for children! You can make kids "fries" at home, by baking them, or even pan fry them with some olive oil... rather than fries from McDonald's. And to them they are still eating fries! There are so many options, you really don't have to feel limited.
Another idea is the Whole Foods website. There are a billion recipes on there, and a lot of the times you can find the all-natural equivalent to your favorite recipes... including desserts!
hmmm...I dont have much of a problem with the junk food issue. My son is 2, and he LOVES fruit, veggies, and other healthy options (of course he doesnt know that he is eating "healthy"..lol..he just loves it). There are also some healthy things that he will eat, but he HAS to have some kind of dip..lol..The only issue that I have with him is chocolate, nutrigrain bars, and Kashi Bars. Im not too fond of the bars only because they are LOADED with sugars, but like I said, he is only 2. So every now and then I will give him some bars..lol.
I have been thinking alot lately about his eating habits in the future and I would like to be able to sit and prepare a menu for him. I will def. be reading that blog Perfectlycrazyfitness..thanks!!!
Sorry, it just really upsets me. WTF is wrong with him?! IT'S CHEESE for godsakes!
Aww, don't be upset! I HATED most cheese as a kid, and all the way until I was 16. I was ok with Kraft packaged American cheese sometimes, and feta was alright, sort of. My mother also says I ate cottage cheese as a baby, but I started to get grossed out by it when I was five and still am not the hugest fan. Anyway, cheese was pretty much the only food I didn't like. I loved brussels sprouts, lima beans, and broccoli, though! My mom always steamed them and then tossed them in some olive oil with salt and pepper. Mmmmmm!
In an ironic twist of events, by the time I decided I was ok with cheese, I discovered that I was lactose intolerant, and that dairy made me break out. Lame!
Wanted to share my .02$ - I have 3 kids - the older 2 are 15 and my youngest is 7. All 3 are pretty decent eaters but of course are attracted to the quick and convientent junk when it's available. I have been working on cleaning up their diet for the past year roughly. What I have noticed works the best is slowly I have completely stopped buying some of the items they relied on. And made sure to keep on hand a wider variety of fruits, crackers and cheese, yogurt (and not the sugary Trix or whatever marketed toward kids), taught them to make smooties or green shakes with frozen fruit, some OJ, a handfull of spinach - they love these. It is amazing how the things they would never pick up as first choice are now their go-to snacks and all because what I used to keep in the cupboard is no longer there. I had cousins growing up that weren't allowed any of it and, like others have mentioned, they completely binged on sugary junk when they came to our house. I want my kids to learn how to make the better choice even when the junk is present. And their taste buds do change just as ours do. Not only are there foods I never ate as a child that I love now but also since cutting out all processed foods and sugar from my diet I think things are sweet when a processed food junkie would think it wasn't near sweet enough. My boys now LOVE to sit down to a meal of meat, veggies, roasted potatoes. They take pride in figuring out what to "make" from the supplies in the fridge. A couple of favorites are Mini Pizzas made with whole wheat tortillas, pizza sauce and toppings of choice. Cook on greased cookie sheet at 450' until cheese is melted and slightly browning on edges. They LOVE these! And they're fun to make! Another one the older kids make are "Egg McMuffins" using whole wheat english muffin, cheese, egg - they sometimes will put meat on them too. I don't take whining - if my 7 year old wants some junk treat I will give him a choice of 2 or 3 other items that he needs to select something from first. Enough times of this and they get it. Now he will say "can I have _____ If I eat _____first?" At least then he is getting more full with the better choice first and will eat less of what ever it is that he really wants. Just the other night we were attending a hockey game for the older kids and the 7 year old wanted crap from the concession stand like everyother kids there.... his option was to first eat a pork chop on a stick (and these are good there, they are fresh pork chops grilled right outside on a real grill) and a bottle of water - only then could he have the candy item he wanted. Most parents there were loading their kids up on whatever crap they wanted. ACK! Took all my might to keep my mouth shut!
This got to be long - sorry! I think you have to stick to your guns! You don't want to dwell on food but take a look at the general population of our youth! How high the obesity rate is! We, as parents, have to do something!!!
I made a stew last night. When I told the kids what was for dinner, I got a chorus of ewwws, yucks, and even fake retching. I heard about it the entire time the stew was cooking, and when I set it in front of them, the cacophony of discontent continued. I began to eat. They refused. I calmly told them that this was dinner, and they would not be served any other food. The eldest put a bite in his mouth, and I waited for the inevitable, "Oh my god! This is terrible!" But it never came. A few minutes later, my youngest said in amazement, "Mom, this stew is GOOD!" The eldest chimed in that he liked it as well. They ate it all, and asked for seconds.
I made a stew last night. When I told the kids what was for dinner, I got a chorus of ewwws, yucks, and even fake retching. I heard about it the entire time the stew was cooking, and when I set it in front of them, the cacophony of discontent continued. I began to eat. They refused. I calmly told them that this was dinner, and they would not be served any other food. The eldest put a bite in his mouth, and I waited for the inevitable, "Oh my god! This is terrible!" But it never came. A few minutes later, my youngest said in amazement, "Mom, this stew is GOOD!" The eldest chimed in that he liked it as well. They ate it all, and asked for seconds.
LOL! It's the antioxidant galore stew recipe on this site! I didn't use turnips or zucchini, and I used low sodium, fat free organic beef broth instead of the chicken and vegetable stock. I did use about a tablespoon of white flour to thicken it up, but I don't really count that as unclean as it is just a tiny amount per serving. I would like to find a "cleaner" thickening agent, though.
Hi gorgeous moms! You inspired me to write a new article which can be found on the home page. I, too, struggle with this same endless battle. Ah, if only we could lock their little hearts onto our healthy meal plans, rather than allow them to wander into the realm of bad influences.
Wanted to share my .02$ - I have 3 kids - the older 2 are 15 and my youngest is 7. All 3 are pretty decent eaters but of course are attracted to the quick and convientent junk when it's available. I have been working on cleaning up their diet for the past year roughly. What I have noticed works the best is slowly I have completely stopped buying some of the items they relied on. And made sure to keep on hand a wider variety of fruits, crackers and cheese, yogurt (and not the sugary Trix or whatever marketed toward kids), taught them to make smooties or green shakes with frozen fruit, some OJ, a handfull of spinach - they love these. It is amazing how the things they would never pick up as first choice are now their go-to snacks and all because what I used to keep in the cupboard is no longer there. I had cousins growing up that weren't allowed any of it and, like others have mentioned, they completely binged on sugary junk when they came to our house. I want my kids to learn how to make the better choice even when the junk is present. And their taste buds do change just as ours do. Not only are there foods I never ate as a child that I love now but also since cutting out all processed foods and sugar from my diet I think things are sweet when a processed food junkie would think it wasn't near sweet enough. My boys now LOVE to sit down to a meal of meat, veggies, roasted potatoes. They take pride in figuring out what to "make" from the supplies in the fridge. A couple of favorites are Mini Pizzas made with whole wheat tortillas, pizza sauce and toppings of choice. Cook on greased cookie sheet at 450' until cheese is melted and slightly browning on edges. They LOVE these! And they're fun to make! Another one the older kids make are "Egg McMuffins" using whole wheat english muffin, cheese, egg - they sometimes will put meat on them too. I don't take whining - if my 7 year old wants some junk treat I will give him a choice of 2 or 3 other items that he needs to select something from first. Enough times of this and they get it. Now he will say "can I have _____ If I eat _____first?" At least then he is getting more full with the better choice first and will eat less of what ever it is that he really wants. Just the other night we were attending a hockey game for the older kids and the 7 year old wanted crap from the concession stand like everyother kids there.... his option was to first eat a pork chop on a stick (and these are good there, they are fresh pork chops grilled right outside on a real grill) and a bottle of water - only then could he have the candy item he wanted. Most parents there were loading their kids up on whatever crap they wanted. ACK! Took all my might to keep my mouth shut!
This got to be long - sorry! I think you have to stick to your guns! You don't want to dwell on food but take a look at the general population of our youth! How high the obesity rate is! We, as parents, have to do something!!!
Wow, congrats! I fell into the trap of let them eat what they want because I am too tired to fight last year. We are working our way back out. It seems when they are little, you can feed them well and they love you for it. Once they go to school, or grandma introduces cookies, it is all down hill. My first child never had meat until she was 2.5. She never had sweets until her first bday and never had fast food until she was nearly four.
My second child... not so much. I think because his sister is three years older and already experiencing the darkside of food, he was exposed much younger.
I say, MOMMIES UNITE! Take a stand and don't let the pressures from the outside world influence your precious babies. Hugs! This is such a battle. Factor in mom dieting for contests or to lose weight, and they are even more confused. Ugh!
LOL! It's the antioxidant galore stew recipe on this site! I didn't use turnips or zucchini, and I used low sodium, fat free organic beef broth instead of the chicken and vegetable stock. I did use about a tablespoon of white flour to thicken it up, but I don't really count that as unclean as it is just a tiny amount per serving. I would like to find a "cleaner" thickening agent, though.
Hey - I just was thinking about this the other day and came across this article:
Personally, I love to puree some of my cooked vegetables and add them back in to soups. Pureed tomatoes are a yummy addition...If I've used beans or lentils, they puree well, too.
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