Well, as a first time dad a few years back I know I was lost to the tips, tricks, and all around mind games that we as fathers deploy daily to try and get some form of upper hand. If any form of “upper hand” is possible with two young boys and a single dad…. Well, not knowing how this puzzle worked, I got into lazy habits of feeding myself quick and unhealthy foods or just snacking throughout the day. All while making kiddie meals for the boys with lazy dad snacks at their disposal throughout the day…Of course my kids are observing and essentially mimicking my every poor choice as this goes on. Me…being blessed with the skinny gene, have never really dieted or been a scheduled or healthy eater. Lets just say in the days before kids we weren’t burning thru the fruits and veggies.
Well long story short, I (like many others) created a meal time monster and picky eater. When I would really put together a delicious spread of foods, it would be turned away like a pile of slop. We would then commence the dinner table begging… Where I would offer him the contents of my wallet for him to just taste the food I spent the last two hour making. To no avail… Then he would go off to play while we try to eat…Only to want a snack an hour later.
So the hard solution was needed. I found I had to get rid of the filler snacks my kids were consuming throughout the day first and foremost. I had it all from mini muffins, crackers, yogurts etc. These unhealthy snacks the kids would eat on a dime and I’d get a moment of peace. But these between meal treats were destroying my actual mealtime, and at the same time creating unhealthy eating habits.
I am not telling you to not give them any snacks…By all means let them eat. But I found after a while of not having the mid day cheese crackers or pudding, they would gladly polish off an orange and some flavored veggie bites instead. Then lo and behold…When mealtime came, they hadn’t pumped their guts full of fatty junk and would actually try my cooking without any bribery or pleading.
With kids, you definitely get out what you put in. Put in healthy/healthier stuff. And you will find better results in their overall health. And it doesn’t hurt you as an adult to have a couple pieces of fruit or some veggies laying around. Anyone can make these changes, simply by switching a few things out at the store and not having them in-home. This is coming from a guy who before kids would be content with Frosted Flakes and chocolate milk to get me thru the week. And trust me, I am by NO means cutting out the junk or even treats completely. I am a sweet tooth dad and will always cherish polishing off a cookie and some milk with these boys, but the key is to moderate the frequency of the treats.
If you want healthy results from you and your kids. Don’t buy it…Don’t have it around…Replace it with piles of better options from them to choose from. I sure wouldn’t lose sleep if my child wanted to polish off a pile of fruit for mid day snack… Have at it kiddo.