1/11/2024
Happy almost Friday! We are 11 days into 2024 and I hope it has been a good 11 for you so far!
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I am considering throwing kids lunches back in the mix. The value in teaching, modeling, and guiding the upcoming generation is immeasurable.
Think back to your upbringing…
Who and what influenced your relationship with food now? How did your caregivers model habits and what have you learned since? Is it in line with how you live your life now? What kind of food-related behaviors do you want to share with your children (or nieces, nephews, grandchildren!).
I dream of a different future for people and food. A future where people connect more directly with farmers instead of Peapod. I want children in schools to have access to affordable (or free!) healthy meals that are full of colorful fruits and vegetables. I hope that not only will most people be able to identify most vegetables, but they know how to prepare and cook them. A time when families make time to sit and eat together more often. Where garlic is used to fight infections regularly and elderberry syrup replaces Robitussin. Where washing your hands and spending time in nature and eating real food replaces current Flu prevention recommendations. Where we understand what food is and what food is not.
I know. I know. I’m dreaming…
But…what if we could make some of this dream come true?! What if we could teach our children now so they would influence generations to come? Here are a few ideas to kickstart this dream of a future.
Buy real food! -I've said it before and I will say it again. It’s simple and it starts with you. Buy real food. Apples, bananas (super cheap!)carrots (also cheap!) frozen berries (cheaper than fresh and fun to eat!), cucumbers, lettuce, celery, peanut butter, oranges, lentils, black beans, white beans. You get it. Basic fruits and vegetables can be extremely affordable and they provide tons of nourishment (which will also cut down on visits to the doctor). Avoid pre-packaged processed foods. Even though they provide convenience, most do not provide nourishment which actually makes them a complete waste of money! Remember if it’s not in your house, no one will eat it!
Let your kids pack their lunches! Depends on the kid, but if you teach them from a young age they will be able to do this from a young age! Give them guidelines (you can write them down) like 2 fruits, 2 veggies, 1 protein (yes, teach them what foods provide what!), some nuts, and maybe a small treat (perhaps a baked good they made and froze with you the month before!). So many valuable lessons in this one chore!
Screens Help! I hate screens, but I love that there are endless Youtube videos with kids teaching kids how to cook! My (very picky) son came home one day and asked to cook Indian Butter Chicken because he saw it on YouTube. And? He ate it. (It was disgusting, way too much turmeric). He loved it because he made it.
Family Meals. Sit down for at least one meal together per week. If you can do more, great. If you can prioritize your schedule to be on time to your doctor’s appointment or meeting, why can’t you prioritize one meal per week? Did you know that children that eat together with their family 2-3 times per week consumed 2-3 more servings of vegetables than children who did not?
Exposure. Expose your kids to foods they may not have ever seen. Try to put a food they hate in their lunch every now and again. Regular exposure to fruits and vegetables will help children to eat more fruits and vegetables! And remind your children that it can take multiple times trying a food before they might actually like it.
Pro tip: try preparing food your child does not prefer different ways and experimenting with tasting it. Ex, even as simple as raw vs. cooked carrots can be a deal maker or breaker for a sensitive eater!
Sometimes things can feel overwhelming but I hope this sparks a little inspiration for you and your loved ones to start making small food changes each day. We are what we eat, after all. So let’s make this year the best possible version. For ourselves. And for our kids.