Monday, May 3, 2010

What you feed your kid says a lot about you.

We all know how important it is to eat healthy, right?  I have been so disturbed recently to find out the way that children are being fed across this Country. I cannot imagine never feeding my kids vegetables, or sending potato chips in their lunch bags. Pop tarts for breakfast, and candy for snacks. It makes me sad, and actually a little bit angry.  Desserts are fun, and I love a good cupcake but they should really be reserved for special occasions, not served in place of a nutritious meal.
It really only takes minimal effort to provide your kids with healthy, enjoyable food.
Take it from a busy mom of 4:
It can be done!

Here's a typical breakfast for my 2 year old:
-Frozen peaches (we love these, it feels like dessert even though it's not)
-Heart-shaped whole wheat toast (no butter. why give your kids the extra fat?)
-Scrambled egg w/ salsa (Tomato is a "super-food" but ketchup is loaded with high fructose corn syrup)
-Low fat cottage cheese
-Water (kids need water. juice will rot their teeth)
The only thing on her plate I had to make was the egg and all I did was cook it in the microwave.
Of course, when I have more time, like on the weekends, I cook it the "correct" way.

On to my 7 yr old's lunch:
-Natural peanut butter & small bit of honey on whole wheat bread, cut in a circle (young kids LOVE things cut into shapes. Don't try this with your teen, haha)
-Cut apples
-Edamame & mozzarella cubes (I don't know any kid who doesn't like edamame once they try it)
-Carrot sticks (no salad dressing. kids need to know that veggies are good the way they are)


I cooked & shucked the edamame & cut the carrots the night before, which saves me time in the morning, and all I had to do was make his sandwich & cut the apple which took maybe 5 minutes at most.

I'd like to point out that the "lunchbox" my son uses was purchased for a mere $2 at our local Grocery Outlet store, and so was the majority of food, which makes eating healthy very affordable.

If you're confused & don't know where to start, there are a lot of great resources available for you.
You can contact your local W.I.C. office for nutrition advice and help with paying for groceries if you qualify.
There are also Food Banks in almost every community, you just have to be willing to take the time to look for them.
And if you're just looking for some great meal ides, check out some of these links:

Laptop Lunches
Easy Lunchboxes
Vegan Lunch Box

Please think about the food that feed your family.  Show them that you care about them enough to make the small effort it takes to provide them with healthy meals, not junk food. Nutrition=love.
Teaching kids to eat right is teaching them to respect their bodies, and how can that be bad?

18 comments:

  1. The queen of cupcakes thinks cupcakes are only for special occasions?. LOL! Just kidding! Great post and I agree...but I did pack a cupcake in Garrett's lunch today. I even bought a little cupcake tupperware holder for it! The rest of his lunch was healthy though. I thought he'd get a kick out of the surprise.
    -Michelle T.

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  2. I know, right? lol, but see, you sent that as a special surprise, and I know you don't feed your beautiful kids cupcakes at every meal, you're a great mom! :)

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  3. I wish my mommy made me a lunch like this for work. :)

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  4. Yes! Thank you! I feel so sorry for the kids who are forced (reduced/free lunches) who have to eat that prison junk. Here it is the same thing that the inmates complain about, nothing cooked, just heated under lamps on styrofoam trays. Eww! I pack lunches everyday for my kiddos. Thanks for the links, I am going to check them out and get some new ideas!

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  5. Bwahahaha, 'don't try this on your teen.'
    LOL!
    Anyhow, I like those meals. Very good of you.
    Healthy kids, huh? Wonderful!
    Oh, and I loooove eggs with salsa. Mmm:)

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  6. You're right Casey...we rarely ever have any cupcakes so it was definitely a treat. Your blog has inspired me to make them try edamame. I love it but have never thought to have the kids try it. I have a problem getting Garrett to eat veggies. He likes corn and carrots...that's about it. Otherwise he's a total meat eater. Mia on the otherhand is our vegetarian and does not like meat....Ohhh the joys of motherhood!
    -Michelle

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  7. My middle guy was getting reduced lunch until I found out what they were feeding the kids & that they don't make the kids eat their fruits & veggies. Some day I'll make a blog about how we survive on the teeny grocery budget we have & still manage to eat well.

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  8. I would LOVE to read the grocery blog on a tiny budget!!!!
    -michelle

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  9. excellent post casey... i love that you take the time to do the xtra stuff that makes the kids enjoy their good veggies! i used to make do with a minimal budget also and had to get 3 kids fed everyday... i applaude (standing clapping now!) any mom who does take the "extra" time and interest to make good nutrition fun and tasty! TRACI...

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  10. Thanks, Traci! In my community the majority of kids come from low income, 1 parent households and having been there myself, I know how hard it is & how you're strapped for not only cash but time as well. I really want to help the parents & the kids get healthy...

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  11. My son Jonah LOVES edamame! :) I make his lunch every day too. Yay for good healthy food.

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  12. Mmmm, we love edamame--when we buy them...usually on special from our whole foods co-op. It's been a while, but ugh do we love them. They're gone like *snaps fingers* that! Heh heh.

    Hey, glad someone listens to the music;)
    Galway Girl is such a good song--first heard it on P.S. I Love You. Same with you, or no?
    Ahh....love that movie:)

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  13. p.s. Cute new blog button on your sidebar;)
    Thank you!

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  14. Yes, North Cali, that's what I meant! I knew they were from Sac; I know where Iraq is located on a map but not the capital of California.

    I totally agree with you! What you feed your children matters and you must take time to do it right! A fucking Lunchable isn't going to cut it. I hate seeing parents feed their kids junk when it's not that hard to give them something healthy. We can't control what other people do but we can lead by example. Great post!

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  15. Hi Bobbi, Natutal Peanut Butter is PB that has no additives, no preservatives. Just peanuts, or sometimes you can get the kind with sugar if you prefer (we don't).

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  16. Great post, terrific ideas and pictures..only now I feel like the crappiest mother...gummy worms are considered a food group in this house.
    Great ideas though, I'll be back when my guilt subsides!

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  17. Aw Sandra, lol! Thanks for reading & commenting and don't feel bad, it's the 10% rule! You can eat your gummy worms 10% of the time and healthy stuff the other 90% :)

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