SubscribeFeeding your children well
It certainly doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that the typical American diet is fat-infused, laced with chemicals and not conducive to developing strong minds and bodies. I’ve penned quite a few thoughts about my picky youngest child, who eats practically nothing and is so rail thin that I’m always afraid she’ll blow away.
The other day she learned a hard lesson about her foolish food choices, which often consist of snack foods at school because she hates the school lunches.
Her stomach hurt so badly that she was doubled over in pain. I called the doctor who was worried that it could be appendicitis. She didn’t have a fever, one tell-tale sign when combined with a severe stomachache. Eventually, her symptons subsided but it certainly was a wake-up call for her. She is now fully aware that she must fully participate in her own well-being.
A public school food worker had warned me about school lunches years ago, but unfortunately I really didn’t really heed her warning.
The Food Trust here in Philadelphia is trying to address the nutritional issue by getting healthy food into poor neighborhoods. The nonprofit also has a team that goes out to teach school children about the benefits of eating healthily.
These days, I’m focused on getting our children to eat healthy meals and snacks at home, and to pack their own lunches. Children who participate in meal preparation are more likely to enjoy them. So these days when I cook dinner, I get the kids to help plan our meals and shopping so that leftovers can be used for their next day’s lunch.
What I’ve discovered is that they like these lunches far more and their friends are envious. And sometimes we even pack enough for them to share.
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As the mother of five and a journalist, I've always encouraged people to empower themselves with information on healthy foods and lifestyles. Nurturing our children with healthy food is one of the most important jobs we have, yet as families have become busier or drifted apart, meal times have been sacrificed.
Great article. Raising a middle school son it’s impossible almost to get him to take lunch to school, so I have to compensate for it at home. I’m lucky to have a child who enjoys eating healthy and is open to experimenting with me and my crazy recipes sometimes. He enjoys and even requests so many things that so many young children wouldn’t come near (eg, Yogart, salads, broccoli, okra,cauliflower, baked fish and chicken and the lists goes on) Some things I don’t even it, lol