This New York Times article was sent to me by a friend. I too am shocked and slightly judgmental when I hear parents say, "I have to add strawberry syrup to his milk or he won't drink it" Or "eating M&M's is better than not eating." Like these chefs surveyed, I thought I would always get my kids to eat what we ate at dinner. Often my three year old went to bed hungry since she didn't like the dinner option, and would wake up in the middle of the night crying since she had an empty stomach, or would eat so much at breakfast that I couldn't help but feel guilty. I (with the influence of my fussy palleted husband) started to give in with the peanut butter sandwich option at dinner. After reading the article, I'm starting to think maybe I shouldn't have been such a softy. Not too many kids starve to death just because they are fussy, right?
Click here for the link to the article, and a Pad Thai recipe that I'm looking forward to trying
2 comments:
That article is SO New York Times. I'll be interested to hear how you like the pad thai, though (looks a little complicated!)
Wow! I loved this article. I must confess, I have some food shames...peanut butter and jelly on WHITE BREAD. I just finished the loaf a few days ago, and have been using our homemade bread for the luncheon favorite. Maybe I'll try and wean the kids of this staple in our house.
I really liked the first 3 points - have the kids eat at the table with you, have them eat what you eat, and cut out with the crappy snacks. We've been doing the first 2 already, but in just the past month, I've totally cut out snacking (except for apples around 3PM), and have moved supper to an earlier hour (food must be on the table by 6). The kids are hungry as can be by suppertime, and are much more apt to eat eat eat.
Last night we had ziti with a gorgonzolla sauce, with broccoli and pinenuts, and darned if all 3 didn't chow down. Amazing. The hike we took definately seasoned their appetites, too, I'm sure.
But the "buy kids expensive chocolate" part - well, I don't agree. Don't buy Ho-hos, those are crap. But come on, can the average household afford Scharffen Berger? Do you really want to set your kids up with the elitist ideals, that only the best chocolate will do? Or will the more plebian Herseys suffice? Then they will grow up with the idea that they must earn a certain income level to support their fancy food habits. Okay, maybe that's taking it a bit too far. Anyway...
I went to the Portland Public Market the other day, to buy "fancy" nice cheese. I tried a sample of some different ones, and had my son and daughter try them as well. The clerk said, "oh no, you're not going to get them hooked on the good stuff yet, are you?" Well, I do let them eat the expensive cheeses, why not? We don't snub the lesser cheeses, we diversify - we eat cheddar, too!
So, everything in moderation, right? But great article. Thanks, StuntMom.
-StuntBec
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