Frozen blueberries sure are messy! |
What is our plan? We will let him make the first move. Until he seems aware and actually asks us about it, he will eat as we do 100% of the time. Why in the world would we give our child candy over raisins if he knows no different? Just because it tastes good? So do raisins. There is absolutely no argument that anyone can give that would convince us that it is necessary to give him anything but clean, whole foods at this point in his little life. Once he becomes aware, we will take each situation as it comes. We will talk openly about our choices, will lead by example and then let him make a few choices of his own all while helping him listen to his body along the way. Our hope is that we can help him learn to identify the effects of how foods make him feel, physically and mentally.
Overall, we are realistic. We realize we are raising a child in a country where the taste and social aspects of food far outweigh the toll that fake ingredients and sugar addiction have on our bodies. There will be no escaping the classroom cupcakes and birthday pizza parties. Lucky for us, we have a few years before we have to deal with it and once the time comes, we will do our best to give him the tools necessary to make the choices that he feels are the best for him.
Call us crazy for having the lifestyle that we do but now that we have lived on both sides of the track, we are not going back. If the way I eat alone is what keeps me leaner than I was when I was in high school and dancing every night of the week then I am convinced it is what is right for me. Some day Ayden will be all grown up and will be making his own food choices and all we can do in the meantime is fuel his little developing body with the best and hope he learns a lot along the way. Isn't that all we can ever hope about anything for our children?
Napping while we work on packing up the house. |
~Sarah
You make such good points and in such a considerate manner! I respect what you and David are doing for yourselves and most importantly for Ayden!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see some recipes you have.
ReplyDeleteWe, well actually I eat and my son eat pretty much the same... we stick to the outside of the grocery store, mostly simple foods like veggies, fruit, 100% whole wheat bread, chicken, salmon, cashews and we drink a lot of milk. Try to eat organic too when we can find it (the closest Whole Foods is an hour away). I always keep fruits on the kitchen counter too... those are the only options for snacks. What are fruit snacks? Sometimes he asks about juice and cheezy poofs that he eats at his cousin's house. Ha! But if you catch him at any birthday party he's the kid who ignores the cake. He'll take two bites and be done with it. I think he'd rather have an apple!
Now if only we could get my husband onboard!
Do you stick to pretty simple meals or do you "cook" a lot?