Just an observation and I'm sure some of you will totally disagree with me but here it goes.
I hear and read a lot about moms making cookies, sweet breads, and other goodies for the "family" and then end up eating more of it themselves than the family does. Often they are doing "clean up" duty. This is simply when everyone else quit eating your homemade goodies and you eat it up at a weak moment in the name of it "needing to be eaten."
It sort of drives me crazy, actually.
Would it kill you to throw away a few servings that no one else WANTED?
Would it be so bad to just not make that stuff anymore unless it was a special occassion?
Honestly, so many of you tell me a host of excuses...
"My kids won't eat healthy."
"I gotta watch my kids or they are eating sweets instead of good snacks I have available."
"My family insists on having all these things I can't control myself around."
And so on.
Well, let me ask you this? Are you telling me that if YOU can't say no to the homemade baked goods, sugar cereals, cookies, and ice cream that your kids should be more enlightened that YOU??? Hmmm...I wonder where junior learned to mindlessly snack on junk?
And, I would bet that when you were grabbing a cookie or two here and there you, too, had fresh fruits and vegetables just begging to be eaten.
Oh, as far as demanding spouses and kids, have you ever just tried to FORGET to get a few of the things they "need" each week since you probably do the bulk of the shopping? Start with that crap you can't handle. Maybe if they only have some better options to choose from you can get them on board over time.
I totally believe in a time and place for goodies.
- We made cookies this year for Christmas (TWICE!). I never bake anything but healthy stuff we can all eat but there are a few times a year I do it. You know what? Because it's special I don't have a problem controlling myself. The process becomes fun instead of the eating being a part of frustration or habit.
- I keep a bowl of Halloween Candy put away for when Logan wants a piece (nice and small pieces and I only keep the stuff I don't like). At Valentine's Day and Easter I throw out the old and put in the new. Yep, out of sight out of mind for him and we never eat all of our candy!
- We have treats here but they are REALLY limited because I've taught Logan that he needs to enjoy his healthy foods! Just like Graham Crackers...for special oatmeal I make his regular plain oats with berries, a little plain Kefir, tbsp of Chia Seeds, and then crunch up one sheet of Graham Cracker as a cookie type treat. He thinks that is awesome and calls it cookie breakfast. Guess what? We don't even do that daily!
I have friends who keep a cookie bowl and such and I think moderation is fine. But, unless your kids are eating healthy and you all can practice self-control, then evaluate your motivations to have those things so readily available. If the cookies are for the kids then they should be for the kids. If momma is still digging in a cookie jar and bitching about her self-control - get real.
Like anything, it won't happen overnight but each week when you are re-loading the kitchen think about something that tripped you up last week and don't make it or buy it. When you girls are complaining about stuff you "ate" that was "bad" I'm more shocked that you were willing to put it in your kids body. Not everything but sometimes I'm worried you get upset about the wrong thing!
And, just to give myself a little promo spot...Shakeology is a great way to avoid junk and kids like it! I have several clients whose kids do not eat very healthy and this fills a nutritional hole for them while giving them something treaty to have while weaning off the junk. Check it out!
