Becoming a Family: A Challenge to Your Eating Habits
Submitted by Lisa Johnson on August 23, 2010 – 12:28 am6 Comments
Editors Note: Thanks to Amanda for contributing this post to True Food Movement. This fabulous woman has twins, a full-time job, a blog, and still manages to eat (mostly) healthy!~~~~~~~
Ten years ago the last thing on my mind was eating healthy. I was much more interested in partying,
enjoying all kinds of un-healthy pursuits (including but not limited to smoking), and eating takeout too
many nights a week. But out of nowhere I found myself settling down with Mr. Right and a couple
years later, pregnant with twins.
I cut out my vices before I got pregnant, but it wasn’t until I saw that first ultrasound that my view of
food changed drastically. Suddenly, it became less about enjoyment and more about building a better
life for myself and my children. That’s not to say we don’t love food, but the choices my family makes
aren’t just about what tastes good. Rather, we choose our foods based on what is going to build healthy
bodies, provide energy, and keep us well.
I am blessed to have a pair of seven-year-olds who love vegetables. But it didn’t happen by accident.
They’ve been given as much variety of fresh produce as any children could. From the time they were
old enough to eat solid food I’ve taken them to the salad bar. (To this day it’s their favorite place to
have lunch when we go out). Some of the things they tried they didn’t care for, but most of it they
did. They’ve developed a taste for veggies and make special requests. (“Mom, can you get broccoli next
time you go to the store?”) I also regularly take them grocery shopping, and let them help me prepare
meals—interactive fun that makes eating all the more enjoyable.
Maybe shopping and cooking isn’t “convenient” for a modern family. (I’ll be the first to admit that we
have a pizza night every week.) But the rest of the time the thought that keeps me motivated when I’m
tired or feeling lazy is that there’s never going to be a second chance to lay a foundation for my kids’
health. As I watch them grow every day, I feel a sense of joy and pride knowing that my efforts are
making a difference in their lives now and in the future.
Amanda “The Q” Quraishi is a freelance writer, blogger and activist living in Austin, Texas. She also
writes the award-winning Eco Fashion blog Fashion, Evolved.
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excellent
and if people would stop and think about the “convenience” factor…it takes the same amount of time to buy healthy foods at store/farmers market/wherever and prepare them at home as it would to drag the family out to eat, sit/wait for food to be served to them, drive home and it’s cheaper and healthier to eat home cooked meals…so not sure how “convenient” eating out really is if one thinks about the time factor…plus preparing foods at home enables the entire family to get ‘involved’, spend some family time preparing the meal together, enjoying each others company and better, more affordable food too
People just need to get out of the mentality they have…which is easier said than done
Q, you never cease to inspire me. Thank you for doing so yet again.
This is a real issue in our house, as my husband is as about persnickity as one can be when it comes to healthy food choices: he’d rather go for taste, which usually includes lots of sugar and processed foods. I work hard, on the other hand, to instill sound food choice advice in our nine year old daughter. Of course she loves the occasional treat, but I’m proud to say her favorite drink is water, and given the choice between an unhealthy snack and a healthy one, she’ll almost always opts for the latter, knowing it will help her body grow strong and healthy.
I’m always looking for ways to improve our eating habits, and with all the junk out there, it’s not always easy. I’m inspired to work at it even harder. Thank you for that!
Michele thanks for sharing your comments. I can appreciate the struggle too. It happens weekly at my house. Thanks for your thoughts and it’s great to hear we’ve inspired you. L–
Tara, once I realized it wasn’t faster, cheaper or tasted better I cut way back on eating out too. Now I’m as likely to say, “mine tastes better,” in a restaurant than to say, great meal. You can whip up a good dinner in 20 minutes flat and you can get super fancy in about 30 minutes. It’s really not that hard. Thanks for adding your comment.
Great post. Glad I ran across it. I will be back!
Definitely work at the healthy choices.. The kids the hubby don’t quite see it my way!! But I keep trying this and that and they do eat some and turn their noses up at some.. It is really quite funny sometimes when they say no way and then have a second helping! Although they may complain, I know that in the end it will pay off. They do make great choices and also give advice to friends. I sure have to back up what I say though!
Thanks Holly!