Junkfood Junkie
June 25th 2009 16:01
Before my daughter was born, I worried about eating properly to provide her with adequate nutrition. I hadn't eaten a healthy diet since I left my parents' home and moved into my own place. Fresh fruit and vegetables, lean broiled meats and plenty of milk became my mainstays. I tried, really tried, to limit my coffee intake, which for me meant stepping down from a pot or so a day to one cup in the morning. (I still drank tea of course. Tea has anti oxidants and is good for you!)
When she was born, I continued my healthy diet to ensure that she had enough nutrients to grow strong and develop a healthy body and mind. I offered solid foods one at a time, as the doctor directed. Giving her rice cereal, then carrots, slowly building up to green veggies and finally, meats. She was a rosy, well nourished picture of infant health.
Then one day someone slipped her a cookie. A small sugary wafer that melted in her mouth and brought a toothy grin to her face. I took it as a sign that the end was near.
I was right.
Cookies, it turns out, are a portal to the world of junk food. And junk food is the devil's tool. From cookies she progressed to ice cream, pizza and eventually, fast food burgers and fries. Meals became a nightmare of me trying to entice her to eat one bite of carrots while she asked for fries dripping with ketchup.
I confess, I am a weak woman. I gave into popular demand and started to serve hot dogs, chicken nuggets and tater tots. (For those who may not know, tater tots are bits of potato shaped into a nugget then deep fried.) Without meaning to, we sunk to the depths of junk food hell.I didn't know how bad it was until she refused a plate of pasta and homemade marinara sauce and asked for canned spaghetti.
In desperation, I turned to my pediatrician who offered the sage advice that I should give her "whatever turns her on to eat and drink. You can sort out the nutritional nightmares later." A scary thought but it did help me to relax a little.
Not that I have completely given up the battle. I still offer her vegetables and healthy snacks but I've developed a sort of stealth nutrition plan. I've developed a "cookie currency" that where servings of vegetables are exchanged for cookies. As developer of the plan I control the exchange rate. A serving of spinach yields a cookie. I know it amounts to extortion but as any experienced parent will tell you, you do what you have to.
When she was born, I continued my healthy diet to ensure that she had enough nutrients to grow strong and develop a healthy body and mind. I offered solid foods one at a time, as the doctor directed. Giving her rice cereal, then carrots, slowly building up to green veggies and finally, meats. She was a rosy, well nourished picture of infant health.
Then one day someone slipped her a cookie. A small sugary wafer that melted in her mouth and brought a toothy grin to her face. I took it as a sign that the end was near.
I was right.
Cookies, it turns out, are a portal to the world of junk food. And junk food is the devil's tool. From cookies she progressed to ice cream, pizza and eventually, fast food burgers and fries. Meals became a nightmare of me trying to entice her to eat one bite of carrots while she asked for fries dripping with ketchup.
I confess, I am a weak woman. I gave into popular demand and started to serve hot dogs, chicken nuggets and tater tots. (For those who may not know, tater tots are bits of potato shaped into a nugget then deep fried.) Without meaning to, we sunk to the depths of junk food hell.I didn't know how bad it was until she refused a plate of pasta and homemade marinara sauce and asked for canned spaghetti.
In desperation, I turned to my pediatrician who offered the sage advice that I should give her "whatever turns her on to eat and drink. You can sort out the nutritional nightmares later." A scary thought but it did help me to relax a little.
Not that I have completely given up the battle. I still offer her vegetables and healthy snacks but I've developed a sort of stealth nutrition plan. I've developed a "cookie currency" that where servings of vegetables are exchanged for cookies. As developer of the plan I control the exchange rate. A serving of spinach yields a cookie. I know it amounts to extortion but as any experienced parent will tell you, you do what you have to.
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