Food Natzi

Parents worry so much about every aspect of their childs upbringing, however they tend to overlook one of the most important; what goes into their childrens bodies. Every parent is guilty of this, including myself. However, as I look around, I don't really see parents forcing any nutritious food on kids anymore, as parents used to in the past.

Its astounding how many people feed their kids nothing but PB+J, pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. Even the school cafeteria is feeding this crap to our kids and somehow saying it fits in with the "nutritional requirements".

As a sub, I see what kinds of snacks and lunches kids come to school with. Parents seem to think that fruit roll ups and jelly qualify as a fruit, white bread qualifies as a grain, french fries are a veggie and hot dogs fulfill the protein requirement. The only requirement that last one fulfills is the hooves and eyeballs quota, but last I checked thats not anywhere on the food pyramid.

I don't claim to be anywhere near the perfect mom when it comes to nutrition. However, I do not cater to my kids either. 100% whole wheat is the only kind of bread product they will get. Ranch is not salad dressing; olive oil and vinegar only. Kraft singles are not considered a "real" food, and anything made from a box or can is a rarity in my house. Snacks are also kept at a minimum. There is no reason kids need snacks at all hours of the day. Other than a small nutritious snack after school, normal meals should suffice. Juice is also overrated. Its sugar water! Rather than drinking a cup of OJ, eat an orange and chug some water.

Yes, I am the food natzi.

Another rule is mine is using fresh ingredients as much as possible. Its a pain and time consuming but the benefits are immeasurable. Its not like I love to cook and have acquired the ability to cook through osmosis. It's hard work and takes effort to get good at. Its much easier to open a couple cans up, mix some liquid and noodles in and pop it in the oven, but thats taking the easy and less nutritious way out. Making meals from scratch is more difficult, and they are never as consistent in taste, but knowing exactly what is in your food is worth the extra effort.

My kids don't necessarily jump up and down with joy when I serve them their dinners. Its a constant battle, however, they have no choice. While I don't cater to my kids regarding what I am serving, I do cater to how I will serve it (to an extent). Megan will eat spinach in any way, shape or form, but Jacob and Lexi will only eat it raw. So I will leave out the spinach in their portions and give them it on the side. Sometimes I leave the bag out while I am cooking and encourage them to "sneak" handfuls before dinner.

I remember when the kids were young and we were in playgroups (ie. hell). It was expected that the hostess provide snacks for the kids. Its freakin 10am!!!! Either they just ate breakfast or they are about to eat lunch!! Why the need to fill their tummies with cookies and pretzels?

Then there is the snack patrol in youth sports programs, ensuring that each parent be responsible for bringing a snack for the team every practice/game. I run several miles a day and I have never fainted nor died if I didn't immediately get fed. Of course we have childhood obesity problems if parents feel the need to stuff their kids faces just because they exerted some energy at a t-ball game!!

I get made fun of by my friends because my kids act like savage beasts when they get junk food at friends houses or at functions. Its obvious that they don't fed get cookies, rice krispy treats, ice cream or other junk at our house. Nutrigrain bars (jelly filled sugar bars disguised as "healthy" snacks) are the worst thing they get fed. At times it can be frustrating though. It sucks to be the mom who doesn't give in to buying cookies and ice cream when we are out, while all the other kids we are with are have the coniving abilitiy to convince their parents. Not only do I feel sorry for my own kids, but I also feel like the other parents get annoyed that since I didn't buy my kids any, now mine are leeching off their childs snack.

I wonder if this genergation will grow up with all sorts of ailments due to the lack of good eating habits during childhood. Or maybe medical science will have developed enough by then to combat the problem. In any case, I hope my kids grow up to realize that even though mom didn't feed them all the cool stuff their friends got, they started out life with an advantage over other kids.