I've been on the receiving end of much well-intentioned advice regarding food choices I make on behalf of my children. I've talked about it many times in various blog entries.
I've consistently found that most parents have no challenge with what I do "allow" my kids to eat... but they think I'm downright mean for what I won't allow! For example, for school, I don't pack any sugary snacks or nutrient-void processed foods. My daughter gets water to drink, that's it. No dessert with her lunch. No chips, crackers, 'lunch ables', etc.
Big 'ol meanie. That's me!
She gets "clean" meats, raw nuts, fresh veggies and fruit. Organic and raw dairy products. Homemade soups. Organic pizza on school pizza day.
Oh, I know - what a terrible mother I am!
Other parents have been telling me for years, "You know, if you don't let your kids have sweets and fast foods, they're just going to sneak them when you're not around!" I appreciate the concern.
Along that same line of thinking, should I let them start smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, doing drugs and having sex now too? Just so they don't sneak it later when I'm not around??? C'mon!
And really, what's my option? Feed them sugar and junk on a regular basis and somehow justify that this is better for them? Don't think so. I'll take my chances that they're going to go overboard on cake and cookies every few months rather than than give it to them regularly.
How about, "But they're just kids... lighten up!" It's hard to "lighten up" when you actually know what creates health... and what destroys it. Even harder once you know what's in those "foods".
Regardless of differences in parenting styles, we have to agree upon some basic physiological and health principles. Junk DOES NOT create health. Junk moves us AWAY from health. My job as a parent is to protect my kids, do my best to keep them healthy and teach them how to make great choices.
If you've read anything I've ever written, then you know that I never say "never". I say, "Fill up with Health FIRST"... then your body's better able to handle the toxic choices you may decide to make.
Actually, our little family does quite well with food choices when we're not subjected to overwhelming outside influences. For example, if my kids happen to catch even the tiniest bit of a "kids' show" on television, it isn't long before they're asking for some of the snacks or fast food they see advertised during the commercials. Guess that's why television is strictly limited in our family, too! (I know, I know... mean mother!)
Anyhow, I found it quite amusing that Dr. Mercola recently featured a video clip on this subject. In the video, notice that the "unhealthy" snack is RAISINS!!!! Heck, if that were our biggest junk food challenge, we'd have no problems!
Also, make sure you read the article and scroll down to read the readers' comments... they' shed a little more light, and accuracy, on the "study". They'll also give you some ideas to incorporate into your own family.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/03/does-forbidding-snacks-work.aspx?source=nl
Enjoy!
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