Welcome to Small Steps to Health where we do not take orders from a cookie!
My friend, Ally, recently came over fuming about snack time at school. After three days of her son bringing home the nutritious snacks that she carefully packs for him, she called the teacher. Instead of eating the nutritious snacks, her son eats the chips and cookies that the teacher provides for the students without a snack. What 8 year old wants string cheese or fruit pieces when there are Goldfish and Doritos? Especially when junk food banned from the home?
Do as I say, not as I do
They say that it takes a whole village to raise a child. Snack time at school is one prime example of how our village is not set up to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The teacher is doing the best that she can with her limited budget, often times using her own funds to subsidize the classroom. Can you blame her for wanting to provide the cheapest and most convenient snacks to those children whose families cannot provide their child with snacks? Short of health-minded parents subsiding or fundraising specifically for snack time, what can parent do to ensure their child eat the healthy snacks in their lunch bags?
Walk the walk
There is plenty a parent can do to instill healthy governing values in their child. To begin with, Ally does not take the time to eat healthy herself. She rarely eats fruits and vegetables. But she gives fruits and vegetables to her children all the time. Is it any wonder her children reject them for school snacks without her towering over them while they eat them at home?
Eat nutritious family meals at home
Eating together as a family is important. Teaching children about nutrition takes place during family meals. They get to see how the parents interact with food. What do you think Ally’s children feel when they are eating vegetables while their mother is not touching the stuff? Don’t all children learn by imitation in the early years? Make it a priority to let your children see you eat the healthy food that you are serving them. Here are some ideas on making family meals a regular occurrence in your household.
Who is the village idiot?
Our society is already set up to subconsciously make us all fat. Don’t be the village idiot and keep your eyes half shut when it comes to your child’s future health habits.
Until next time and thanks for stopping by Small Steps to Health.
Photo by: Starmama.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
The tough part IS to walk the walk and lead by example so your kid will end up picking up the same good habits you have.
.-= dental´s last blog ..Teeth Whitening with Go Smile:Go Smile or Dentist Whitening? =-.
You are right – it’s hard to be consistent at home when the schools are sending the opposite message. I try to offer healthy snacks, and lead by example. After losing 150 pounds 12 years ago, the last thing I want if for my children to struggle with obesity like I used to!
@dental – It is hard, but not impossible. Thanks for the comment.
@Diane fit to the finish – Sounds like you are providing a strong foundation at home already. Thanks for the comment.
Really good points. I absolutely agree about having family meals; they’re good for keeping everyone healthy and also strengthening bonds.
.-= Sagan´s last blog ..How does music affect your health? =-.
Kids are so impressionable and they spend so much time at school that it is easy for them to pick up habits both good and bad.
Here is an article I found about the foods they serve in school cafeterias including apples designed to taste like bubble gum. It’s sad that some people feel we must make real food taste like bubble gum for kids to eat it…
.-= RickyRae´s last blog ..Meatless Mondays =-.