I struggle to fit healthy meals in between soccer, and karate, and homework, and
You saw what my dudes tend to think of my meal offerings, and you should see them when they get green leafy raw stuff shoved at them.
Not. Pretty.
Personally, I've been a chubby chick for a while now (thanks for that #1, you made me a mommy and a fatty in one fell swoop). I've done more get fit quick programs than I care to admit. Some of them worked (temporarily at least), but most of them sucked (or, I guess I sucked at them).
I've come to the realization that the only real way to battle the bulge is to change your entire lifestyle (so not fun).
I can't say that I'm going to say goodbye to brownies, and fried chicken, and ice cream, and chocolate covered almonds, and guacamole (wait that's sorta healthy, isn't it?), and I can go on, but I think you get it. But, I do want to make an effort to teach my dudes how to make healthy food choices and like it (I vow to only consume entire cakes or pies while they are sleeping).
I can't give them much (sometimes this dumb mom thing is a serious obstacle), but I can give them an appreciation for healthy eating (maybe?).
It's just so challenging.
Not just for me, but for tons of other parents too.
Did you know that "almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese – that’s more than half a million 4-year-olds"?
One in five?! Ca-Razy!
That means that at least 2 kids in #2's preschool class are possibly going to wind up feeling all self conscious and icky.
They are going to spend countless hours trying to fit into the
They will struggle to participate in gym class and feel unfit, unwanted, and unpretty (unfortunately some of these will grow into plump teenagers with the worst possible fashion sense which will lead them to don mini skirts and belly shirts despite the fact that such items are not becoming or even remotely attractive).
It's sad really.
I don't want that for my dudes.
They are as skinny as 3 little wickets now, but they have my genes so that could easily change (and in a hurry if they find themselves pregnant and 60lbs bigger than when they got knocked up, oh wait, that can't happen to them 'cause they're dudes. Yes!).
Still.
I don't want them to be saddled with Homer Simpson bellies in middle school (we live by a lake so they'll be spending tons of time in their trunks).
I don't want them to spend one moment wishing they were thinner (or taller, or smarter, or more muscular, but we can't really control these things), or struggling to participate in the sports they love, or worrying themselves about various weight related health issues ('cause there are TONS).
Luckily, since I've recently been selected as a member of WB's Word of Mouth Marketing Team (go ahead, silly, you can clap!), I now have the opportunity to be a member of the Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ and Safeway’s Eating Right Kids initiative featuring Looney Tunes characters to help
Obviously I'm eager to share all of my new fangled eating healthy knowledge with my blog buds (that would be you guys, duh!), but I'm also excited to try to make some changes in my own family.
Gotta do something to stave off the Homer-Simpson-Jabba-the-Hut-feed-me-Seymour-chubby-chunky genes that are running rampant in my dudes, waiting for just the right combo of chicken and waffles needed to turn them into...me.
Help us out by sharing your tips to revamp our snackage! From cookies to _________? And, chips instead of _______________?
And, to sweeten the deal (as if you even need to be bribed to come see me!), I'll be giving away an awesome gift basket filled with tons of fun (and healthy) stuff for your little healthy eaters!
Stay Tuned!
16 comments:
One of the ways that I cheat is when I am craving something sweet I make a yogurt parfait (I think that's how you spell it). I cut up banana and some strawberries and put vanilla yogurt on top. Fyi if watching calories go for low fat not fat free because when they remove the fat the add calories. They also make chocolate rice cakes.. I know your saying rice cakes yuck...but the newer ones aren't bad. My girls love the apple cinnamon ones. I hope this helps some. I also know that eating breakfast every morning has helped me loose some of the baby weight about 10lbs to be exact. Good Luck!!
That is such a worthy platform. It makes me so sad to see overweight kids. I do well here by just always having good fruit out where they can grab it - and they do!
You're right, it's difficult to fit healthy eating when the family is always on the go. I found that planning the meals ahead of time helps me so much. If I cook dinner in the morning, I know they have a decent meal to come home to in the evenings - if they don't eat it for lunch (lol).
I'm working on this myself. I've been fat (not chunky, not chubby, but FAT) for about 10 years now and officially overweight for longer than that. I realize now that my bad eating habits are affecting my kids. I do my best to help them every other way and I need to do this too. One trick that I like (that I stole from a friend) is that I've started calling healthy sweets (like prunes, raisens, dried fruit, fresh fruit) "nature's candy." It has an impact because now when my daughter asks for candy I can tell her that she can have some nature's candy and hand her a banana. Sometimes she'll even ask for fruit by saying that she want's some nature's candy. Not a big thing, but I think is all about the little steps in the right direction.
Hey! I"m reading a great book called Nurture Shock... I 'll ahve it up for giveaway when I"m done.. but one of the interesting facts I learned is that.. obesity .. can be attributed to LACK OF proper SLEEP as well as all of that good stuff you mentioned. (food) lack of sleep creates chemicals in your body.. that hold onto fat etc.
okay.. that' s my personaly pathetic scientific breakdown.. but really it was VERY interesting. very.. i know you'd enjoy it.
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And it was a parenting book...
ugh, this is something I worry about too. I've already introduced sugar and chips to my kids and I never would have thought I would so early. But trying to be imaginative and still end up with full bellies before bedtime? Makes me desperate. Two fat parents here, so they're doomed if I don't show them the way. So much responsibility...
trail mix is always a fairly healthy choice. mix m&ms w/ chex mix, pretzels, raisins, peanuts, and/or popcorn. bananas with peanut butter and a couple chocolate chips is a fun snack, too. i also like apples with peanut butter.
I think it's incredibly sad to see obese children-and I don't mean babies with baby chunk, I mean actually obese-I just can't imagine how a parent could do that to their child...but obviously they are, since kids don't pick their own food.
In my mind it is one thing to make bad food choices for one's self, but it is entirely another to allow kids to eat in an unhealthy fashion.
I try to avoid anything packaged or in a box. I'm not against treats but I'd like to keep them as treats, not as everyday foods. I avoid those Healthy Eating bunnies by making my own food -- homemade fruit salad, homemade chicken, homemade whatever. And maybe I'm naive but I just keep putting the leafy greens on their plates and scraping them off the walls in the hope that one day they'll look at a plate without and say -- where's the green stuff? I need it!
What a great program!
I serve baked chips instead of regular chips. They aren't as good and you don't feel inspired to eat as many of them :)
My kids love these things in the cracker aisle...they are basically "pretzel chips"--It's like the took fat pretzels and shaved them down. They aren't fried and are a good vehicle for dip/hummus instead of chips.
I applaud you! You know how much I struggle with MY kids.
like I'm a wealth of knowledge but one change we've made is to baked chips (even picky DH likes them) & pretzles & freeze dried fruit. Those r awesome! crunchy like chips but 100 perc fruit ONLY DELISH! & a fruit serving 2
great move.
i've been trying to do that to my son and to myself :P
btw, did i tell u i love your blog pix! your kids hv beautiful eyes!
I currently work as a nutrition counselor and we are currently promoting eating more fruits and veggies. Check out this web-site http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/
They have great recipes, ideas about eating healthy on a budget, interactive stuff for kids and lots more. Just keep in mind that changing your lifestyle can be really overwhelming so just take one little baby step at a time. Good luck!
good for you!! baby steps....we transitioned over to a way healthier lifestyle but we did it in stages... my kids love fruit kabobs because they're 'fun'....and try baked chips and crackers instead of chips! but this is awesome...your kids will thank you one day!!
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