The other morning I sleepy-eyed open the freezer like I do on most mornings. I pulled the cardboard tab to open yet another box of “toaster sticks”, as we call them.
My messy-haired self stuck two of them in the toaster and another directly on a plastic IKEA plate. Someone I know likes them frozen. It says on the box to toast them first and not to consume frozen but we like to break the rules around here.
I got spoons for their yogurts and asked the oldest which cereal he wanted, while I packed his lunch with a turkey sandwich, an apple, a water (every other day it’s water or a juice box) and some gold fish. He also likes dark chocolate so I threw a square in there for “dessert”.
I made my coffee and my eggs with cheese and when the coffee pot beeped out that it was finished I filled my mug with it’s caffeinated goodness and added a little creamer.
After the 2nd-grader and his Dad left for school and work the almost-5-year old asked for “second breakfast” (you all have hobbits in your house too, right?) and he settled on a TLC cereal bar. His “third” breakfast was basically the same thing, a piece of whole wheat toast with strawberry preserves. Sometimes he even asks for a “jam samich”.
Some mornings they have a little glass of lower sugar o.j. Some mornings (usually a Saturday) they have canned cinnamon rolls (reduced fat… sure…). Some mornings they have pancakes with real maple syrup. We go between wheat and regular, blueberries or not.
The rest of their diet consists of the usual things kids like such as chicken nuggets (homemade or frozen or fast…), PB sandwiches, french fries (but I try to limit this!) mac n’ cheese, pasta, pizza, various fresh fruits and veggies, granola bars for snacks, nuts, cheese (although oldest doesn’t like it unless it’s on the pizza), hamburgers (homemade or fast… ugh…), and various “treats”. Oh and Mexican or Asian food that we eat out, like Thai or Chinese. Plus a decent amount of birthday cake at other kids’ parties!
I’m telling you this because I feel like there is constant information out there about how to feed or NOT feed our kids. And I really do try to make sure they have a good, balanced diet but there are still things we/they eat that are probably not always the “best” choice. But with our busy lives and the day-to-day constant of having to EAT! I feel like I am doing the best I can. No, I do not spend all day in the kitchen making things from scratch. That is just not my thing. The littles sometimes have oatmeal or eggs for breakfast too. I whip up a batch of homemade granola bars on occasion and they all love nuts and nut butters. We usually just have a meat or fish, veggies and a fruit for dinner.
Do they eat too much birthday cake and treats, probably so. Do I feel guilty? Some days yes, other days I just cannot.
I feel like I have friends that are doing a lot better than me but then we go to my Mom’s she thinks we eat a little “crazy” because I buy certain things for my kids that have less sugar or more whole grain and I’m always reading the labels of the old things in her pantry and fridge. (love you Mom)
And then there’s the fact that I read things about “pink slime” (how horrible!!!) and that there are chemicals in the cans used for canned goods and that we shouldn’t cook with teflon and GMO’s everywhere! And the microwave I use A LOT is evil too…
This is hard stuff, y’all. I just want good food to feed my kids (and myself for that matter). Why does it have to be so hard?
Do you think about this as much as I do? How do you feel about the way you feed your kids?
p.s. one of my VERY favorite snacks is Annie’s Kettle Corn. Get you some. It’s awesome!!! (not paid to say that, btw…)
I totally understand. I think about it constantly. I am paranoid every time I use the microwave, non-organic cheese, as I’m washing any non-organic produce. Every time I fill a plastic cup. I KNOW my mom thinks I am a little crazy, but I also feel like I am STILL falling way way way short of what I should be doing. It’s so hard. And you are NOT alone.
I worried about it all the time when my kids were little (they are almost 23 and 19 now). I worried that they didn’t get enough ‘good’ food to eat and that it would stunt their growth. They turned out great. I think it all sort of evens out in the end.
My autistic son will NOT eat fruits or veggies. So you have a leg up on me. That’s for sure!
I get bogged down by all of this , too. Thoughtful and smart post. I try to just stick to “everything in moderation.” we have a lot of junk around the house sometimes. they don’t get a lot of fast food, but we do have a lot of frozen Costco pizzas (which i’m sure are no better).
There are so many scary things out there—we can’t avoid all of it…well, maybe a lot of it, but that would be sooooo hard and it would take a lot of the joy out of life. Or at least that’s what I think. There’s plastic and teflon and all that jazz to think about. Organic stuff and the prices that go with it. Convenience vs. cost and health and tantrums. Oy.
And I’m sorry, but I feel like canned veggies are better than NO veggies. So yes, there are plenty of nights where my can opener is being used. Sue me.
KICK ASS POST, Elaine!
xoxoxo
I hear you…it’s almost impossible to eat healthy unless you’re going to do it all from scratch and there at home.
And who has time for that?
It’s like a game you just can’t win.
Oh I so get this, girl!
We, too, do the best we can but know that we could be doing better!
(I realized how much “bad stuff” we were eating when I starting changing my diet. No way could I keep up with them!)
I say it’s good to think about, make small changes as you see fit, but then not beat ourselves up over it. Agreed?
xo
My boys actually prefer veggies and fruit to candy or chocolate any day. {I know, what the heck is wrong with them?!}
But a McDonalds Happy Meal? They practically think its sent from God. So we spoil them once every two weeks and let them get it. Also? I rarely read labels about what Im buying at the grocery store. Shame on me, but I have more important things to worry about. I just think as long as they are getting a balance of everything, then its ok.
Also, if I restrict them from things, it just makes them that much more likely to want it and over indulge later on in life. Im sure we could be doing better than we are, but I grew up just fine on the food my parents fed us. 🙂
OK, love this post since we keep a shelf of orange food as my kids call it for visiting children. But beyond fried, so when you see someone sat on your blog for ten hrs – it was me … going to bed now – but have some ideas for you and don’t want to close the post and forget 🙂
I wrote the same post years ago when my kiddos were your kids ages. It’s a constant struggle. And as they grow older it’s even harder to find the time to make things from scratch. I try and make a bunch of meals on one day (when I have the most time) and freeze them.
But.
My one trick. Raw veggies are always the healthiest and so we have a lot of those next to grilled meats or soups or casseroles or whatever.
What I’m finding lately is that everything is ‘bad’ to give our kids. While I know Nutella is a replacement for a healthy meal I still give it to my kids sometimes because I consider Nutella in between two slices of 12 grain bread and a glass of milk with some fruit a good breakfast. You know? And there are law suits and the like against Nutella and McDonald’s… we know what’s good. It’s no secret, you know? Because I work full time I don’t get to feed my kids lunch or dinner during the week (well my first grader is in school all day, and I make his lunch, ham and cheese sandwich or cream cheese on a bagel, with snacks: crackers, cheese, cucumber, etc.) and lucky for me, my mom/inlaws/grandparents are the care givers and being Greek, my kids do eat a variety of healthy meals for dinner, and my little one, for lunch. Greek salad, chicken and potatoes, lentil soup, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, etc. Greek food is super healthy, and that makes me feel good because on the weekends I do rely on Mac N’ Cheese, or the occasional Happy Meal, and I am pretty relaxed about snacks and treats. They’re healthy, and I do my best. I always stock up on fruits and veggies, and that’s the first thing I offer them when they ask for a snack!
sounds like you’re doing a great job. i think we all have this struggle… i know i do.
I mostly worry because my oldest eats school lunches every day, which I’m pretty sure are loaded with preservatives and junk. Other than that. . . I’m pretty laid back. Charlie eats a LOT of carbs and Hubby hates that, but he’s by no means overweight, so I don’t worry too much. If I think of it, I sneak mixed veggies into his pasta–but I forget a lot too.
I will say that we don’t use a microwave–neither Hubby nor I care for the way they heat food, so we use the stove or oven. And I’m also worried about that darn pink slime. But other than that. . . I try to buy good stuff and not worry about it too much.
Your kitchen in the morning? Substitute in more pancakes and waffles instead of French toast sticks… Same house. Xo
It’s interesting that you post this. I wish I ate “cleaner”, but in the scheme of things we don’t eat white bread (unless w/spaghetti for garlic bread), white rice, or white pasta anymore. I don’t buy many prepackaged snacks. We keep lots of fruit and veggies in the house for snacks instead. I don’t buy much that comes in a can other than veggies (corn and green beans) and tomatoes.
For the last five years, I’ve been buying 1/2 cow from friends in Idaho who raise 3-4 every year. This year I went with 1/4. I love knowing where my cow was raised.
Now? I’m eating fresh eggs and next week we are going in on a dozen chicks that will be raised for meat. And I couldn’t be happier knowing that even though it’s more expensive, I know exactly where they are going to be raised and what they will eat.
Then? This summer we are doing a huge garden where there will be an abundance of tomatoes. No more store-bought canned tomatoes for me! Hoping to grow enough to can so I have a stash of fresh from the garden tomatoes all winter long.
I’m so excited about all of this…but then again…pass the box of Thin Mints or the occasional Coke. 🙂
Ok up with coffee (and Sweet Italian Creamer lol)
As Moms we are bombarded by all sides on feeding our kids while marketing presents our kids with crap that we know screams b.a.d.
Our big indulgence here is McD’s ice cream, the frozen yoghurt spots where they can have half the bowl with one fruit, one nut and a half spoon of candy’ish stuff.
Try and make the french toast from scratch over here (challah bread is a hit) and then I make rice toasters – cook a bag of brown rice, add two raw eggs, thicken with oat flour. Now make them in to little cake size patties and fry them. You can make a bunch and then put them in the toaster another day.
Fried rice is your friend – you can chop anything and everything in there. Same with a blender for sauces. Get your kids into sweet potato fries instead and baked potatoes are great to fill.
Sushi, let them make their own – even if all they have is rice and carrots to start.
Raw veggies and dip, omg, how much dip we used to go thro when my youngest was little.
Pastry sheets, roll all kinds of things in them – everyone loves pastry .
OK – taken over your post – sorry.
And we always finish up the birthday cakes for breakfast food 😉
I’m really struggling with the eating thing with my toddler. He’s VERY picky and has a very limited menu, mostly good stuff, but I still worry about how balanced his nutrition is and how small his variety is. I’m hoping it’s a phase!
I think you’re doing a great job (they eat fruit, veggie, protein, carbs – what’s not good?)!
Thanks for this, Elaine. I know my kids eat and like sugar way too much. BUT aside from crackers and whatnot, almost everything we eat for meals is from scratch. I just can’t get ahold of things like boxed pizza and chicken nuggets – we have pizza night every Friday night, but it’s all from scratch. Being in Africa has helped me learn what things are totally doable (for me) to make from scratch and what we’ve just learned to do without.
That being said, there certainly are a variety of delicious candies available here and the “chips” {french fries} are always available at restaurants or take out places.
My boys {so far} love fruits and veggies – especially the incredible pineapple you can get here. So…yeah. Try to live within our means and not stress about it.
We do our best to be healthy, too, but it really is about balance. It sounds to me like you’re doing just fine, Momma.
You know what? You’re doing great. I think about it a lot, but I also know that realistically we will be a “pre-packaged” food family for life. I read labels when I can and chill when they get something that I wouldn’t normally buy because EVERYONE splurges, so why shouldn’t they? It’s just a matter of keeping the splurges to a minimum.
I think about this ALLLLLLLL the time. It can consume me. I try to make it easy on myself because if not I’ll go crazy. I put purees in pancakes. But three times a week we have frozen waffles. I don’t think any of them eat a single vegetable unless I hide it in mac’n’cheese. It drives me crazy but I don’t know why. They are growing, they are smart, they are happy. I need to buy a vitamin and get over it. But I don’t. Let’s just complain about it together, that may be more fun!!
I do worry about it sometimes, but I have it pretty easy. My kids love fruit and veggies so that is a lot of our snacks around here. They like wheat bread, like plain cereals (aka healthy- Cheerios, Special K, Wheaties), love milk, eggs, chicken. I have good eaters. They eat a ton. I get 6 gallons of milk at the beginning of the week, two or three bunches of bananas and tons of other fruit, yet I am always going back to the grocery store at the end of the week for more milk, bananas, eggs, cereal, etc. I think we are doing pretty good.
We eat snacks. Cookies (homemade and store bought) and chips too and I think that is fine. I try to read labels and stay away from too many additives but I can’t drive myself crazy over it. If I let myself think about it too much I’ll have us moving out to the middle of no where, buying some cows, chickens, and goats and growing all my own food. There are so many chemicals and preservatives in our food (and in our air and water) that there is only so much you can do.
Oh my Gawd. I think I just gave myself nightmares.
I think about it often but I don’t often act on it. I often just feel about guilty about it. I try to incorporate a vegetable or fruit with every meal. That usually gets eaten. Usually. Its hard though because my husband is an awful eater, much much worse than the kids. So its challenging because essentially I have to cook two meals. One for him and one for us. And who wants to eat healthy if daddy is having mac n cheese or hot dogs and beans?
Oh food. Why is it always such a difficult thing with children? I am doing the best I can too, although I know I could do Much better. Trying to keep the guilt away, but not succeeding much.
I struggle with this too. My kids are such picky eaters and now our meals have often become battles. My oldest still has such a limited diet and that worries me. I’m doing the best I can, but I know that I still have to do better some times.
I worry about it A LOT. Most days Cady eats lunch at school, but if she wants me to pack a lunch then I will. It is usually a sandwich (ham or peanut butter), some type of chippy/crackery thing, milk (that she gets at school), and yogurt or fruit. I also send her to school with a snack, right now she is loving low fat fig newtons. She doesn’t really like to eat breakfast, but will sometimes grab a toaster waffle or microwave pancakes, and sometime she will eat breakfast at school. Bud eats ALL the time. He eats breakfast at home (corn dog, almost every single morning), and then again when he gets to daycare. My problem is dinner. We are always rushed. I try to do a meat, veggie, and beans or carb every night, but they don’t always eat it. Of course then they are “so hungry” after bath because they didn’t eat. Drives me crazy. I try not to keep too many sweets in the house because I will scarf them all down if I do. It’s a challenge. Plus with all of the different information out there about what is healthy/not healthy it is kind of hard to decide what is the best route to take.
I feel this way more days than not. While I really try to feed my son healthy food some days it doesn’t happen, like the donut he had for breakfast yesterday. But I think what really matters is that the healthy food is there and is offered and that the junk is there too. If you never give a kid a cookie they are only going to want them more.
I hear you! It’s hard and I do worry. My oldest is small and I worry that he doesn’t eat enough variety – his crazy picky. We try to balance the treats with the good foods and hope for the best.
🙂
I LOVE this post – some days I obsess over what they eat – other days I’m fine with a little drive thru, cheap plastic toys and all. (and if it helps any I have one who prefers his frozen waffles AND frozen nuggets STILL FROZEN as well)
I try really hard to feed my kids healthy food. They eat for dinner what we eat and have since they wereold enough to eat solids. The good thing is, I have great eaters. I have many battles with them, but that is not one of them. I don’t think every meal is ballanced, but over the course of a day it usually is. I pack both of my kids’ lunches and they don’t get sugary stuff. The closest thing to a “treat” they get is Nilla wafers or animal crackers. I try to feel them a fruit or veggie with every meal and even sneak some in to things like muffins or cookies. There are times when I feed them freezer meals, but even then I try to get the whole fish filets instead of fish sticks and the chicken nuggets without 1,000 ingredients. As long as they are healthy and happy, I think that’s all that matters. Just try to keep introducing foods that they don’t “like”. I have a 2 bite rule in my house. You don’t have tolike it or eat the whole thing, but you have to take 2 bites. Eventually they start liking the foods. Now my kids eat things like beets, asparagus and goat cheese. 🙂