Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Attempting to Raise a Healthy Child

Today's Workout:  BodyPump (1 hour)
1.5 mile run after class (first mile was 9:20...yay!)

I'm not sure if this post is going to offend anyone or not.  I'll tell you now...it is not my intention to do so.
I am NOT judging the way you raise your children or the food choices you give them.  This is my view and what I try to do with MY child, and just maybe it will inspire another family to live a healthier lifestyle.  Or maybe it won't! :) People constantly judge me and make fun of me for not giving my daughter a free for all with sweets and grease, but I do my best not to do the same in return.   I know we are doing what we think is best for her, and that's all we can do as parents.

So.....

My husband and I have a 3 year old.  We do our best to teach her about living a healthy lifestyle (I'm also still trying to teach the hubs...HA).  She knows I exercise at the gym.  She sees me go for runs and likes to stretch with me when I get home (it's adorable).

When it comes to food, I try to create a healthy balance.  She may have pancakes for breakfast, but for balance, we use sugar free or low sugar syrup and lots of fruit and yogurt.  She may eat super processed Cheerios but we balance with adding bananas and blueberries, and as always, as side of yogurt.  I'm not super restrictive.  I'd actually LIKE for her to eat healthier, but I'm still working on broadening her love for various foods (i.e. those strange things called eggs)!

Contrary to popular belief, my child DOES have sugar...probably on a daily basis.  It's not my preference, but I do not totally eliminate sweets.  I will, however, purchase low-sugar fruit snacks or sugar-free popsicles.  She can have one Hershey kiss as her dessert but not five.  We limit milk (foreign concept to most, I know) and we never ever drink juice.  It's milk & water only at our house, and she is totally ok with it. I don't feel like I'm depriving her (as it's nothing she needs) and better yet, she doesn't feel deprived.  I see no reason to introduce bad habits at such a young age.

She eats all-natural peanut butter and almond butter.  She would rather come home and eat an almond butter sandwich than a Happy Meal (the girl doesn't even like chicken nuggets...crazy).She enjoys her green smoothies in the mornings.  At a restaurant last weekend, she CHOSE grilled chicken over chicken strips, water over milk or juice and apples over french fries.  It was a true proud mom moment!

 It's about healthier choices and moderation....the same as it should be for us adults.

We discuss healthy food choices.  I do tell her if something has "too much sugar" or "is bad for her" and also try to teach her about the healthy things she eats.  Obviously I'm not going to tell her that certain foods will make her fat....it's not all about that....it's about being healthy (although I do hope by learning to eat right, she will be able to avoid any future weight issues).  I get so tired of hearing "Poor baby. Just let her have it...she's a kid!".  I'm not going to feel guilty for telling my daughter that she can't have donuts or pop tarts or chocolate bars every day. 

I am going to teach her to be healthy...hope that she will live a long, healthy life...and in return, teach her children to do the same.

After all, isn't that really what we all want for our children?  To live happy, healthy lives?  It starts at home...and it starts young.  We have to teach them the way to live.  Children need guidance (whether they think they do or not).  And let's face it...there is a childhood obesity problem in our country.  Fast foods, processed foods, TV and lack of exercise all contribute to that. 

I hope one day Olivia will thank me for raising her on healthier foods rather than on chicken nuggests or hot dogs for every meal.  And if not, then I can at least say I did my best and I tried!  

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6
Surely it applys to our health as well, right?! :)
 

3 comments:

  1. E won't eat eggs either. Does not matter how I fix them she won't touch them. Both my kiddos love their fruit and veggies but they also like fries and chicken nuggets....like you said it is all about balance!

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    1. Have you boiled them? Olivia will sometimes eat the whites boiled....and then, sometimes she won't! ha.

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    2. Yes, she just will not eat them.

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