Food Fight: The Relationship Between Our Kids and What They Eat
I love and loathe the pearl of wisdom “you are what you eat.” We parents have got a lot to answer for what our kids are eating. I am beginning to look at what my children are eating and analyze their relationship with food.
Foodie vs. Picky Eater
My daughter has a most open and welcome relationship with food whereas my son is much more guarded. He is on the “kids’ menu” diet (e.g. chicken fingers, fries, pancakes, pizza, etc.) whereas my daughter will opt for anything.
My fault? Oh, probably. I was definitely more cautious and nervous when my son was first experimenting with food and more relaxed with my daughter, which may be why he is much pickier than his sister.
Take it Personally
The relationship between eating and our bodies is very personal and oftentimes temperamental. We literally take in outside produce, which becomes part of our bodies, and we do it 3, 4 or more times a day.
Yet we stress at the thought of preparing this many purely nutritious and organic whole food meals and snacks. So we fall into a “got to get it done” automatic mode and patch up a meal between our chores and work.
Food Scale
More than ever our food relationship is being scrutinized, particularly as we grow more aware of the positive and negative health effects of food and the raging phenomenon of childhood obesity. The issue is even pushed towards criminal neglect and child abuse.
Death by chocolate doesn’t sound so bad to me but is really not a joke. When I was pregnant with my son I remember failing my glucose test by what I joked was a Twinkie. Yet, poor food choices can really be a killer. On the flip side, we are learning more how positive food choices can be a life-saver and a way to ward off diseases.
Family Meals
At one time or another, parents opt for convenience with food choices and just throw together the easiest pre-made lunches or grab fast food on the go. All is fine, yet moderation is key. In building healthy awareness of food in the home and on the go, mealtime with your family is a good place to start.
My mother was insistent upon our family having a home-cooked dinner together without any distractions (ie. no television). She preferred to prepare our food so she knew, and could control, what went in it. As a kid it was both great and a pain in the butt to have to “have dinner” with my family every night. In college, I truly came to appreciate her home cooking and that dinner time became valuable family time.
Following Tradition
I follow her tradition with family dinnertime and love our regular weekend pancake brunch. My kids love to help cook and I give them tasks like pour, mix, smell, taste. By now, my son knows the ingredients for his pancakes and that the chocolate chips go into his sister’s pancakes. He doesn’t like them because he thinks they are “dirty” (not sure where he came from).Although they don’t always eat what we serve, I believe in time they will grow very comfortable with cooking and trying all different food and, hopefully, they will develop a very healthy relationship with food.
They do after all come from a long line of foodies!
About the Author
Cynthia Litman is a working modern mom with a classic twist. She has two delicious children and is the spiritual and visionary guide of Mommas Pearls. Cynthia began Momma’s Pearls in 2009 when her grandparents passed away as an outlet to remember and pass down their wisdom and integrate it into the quickly passing moments with her young family. Mommas Pearls provides insight and support to other everyday busy parents. Mommas Pearls has since dovetailed into the Mommas Pearls blog, talk radio show and M’S Gems – a blog written by her BFF Melissa who brings the practical, give it to you straight side of Mommas Pearls. Cynthia is also an entertainment lawyer with a niche in spiritual entertainment. Her firm Cynthia R. Litman, Esq., PLLC caters to the spiritual entertainment market. She is a founding partner of The Spiritual Cinema Circle (www.spiritualcinemacircle.com), a DVD club for spiritual films, Executive Producer of the Independent films “Lost In Sunshine” and “Boost”, production attorney for “Conversations With God” (film based upon the books by Neale Donald Walsch) and distribution attorney for Debbie Ford’s documentary film “The Shadow Effect” and Nicole Clark’s documentary film “Cover Girl Culture”. Cynthia is a contributing writer for the online magazine Bella Life and a Lifestyle expert for Skimbaco Lifestyle.
