Comments on: Yes, They Are Having Candy for Dinner- So What Of It?

By: Hayden

Hayden — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:30:22 +0000

My mother was pretty lax about food choices as I was growing up. Of course there wasn’t much education about nutrition and the role it plays in healthy living back then. We had dessert after every meal. Snacks were usually sugary in nature. As a kid I didn’t have any problems with that. When our bodies are young they are quite resilient. However, as an adult I kept the food lessons that my mother taught me. I didn’t learn my own limits on my own. That isn’t how it works. I eventually ended up having a heart attack at the age of 36 because I simply didn’t know how to eat well.

I wish my Mom had taught me well. I wish my Mom hadn’t just let me figure it out on my own. I think she was looking for love and that overrode her mandate as a parent to provide discipline, and to teach me how to set boundaries and limits. These are the things that parents are supposed to do. I wish she had sought her approval more from her friends and less from her kids.

By: Jeni Lowry

Jeni Lowry — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:15:47 +0000

I totally love this post, I’m a new reader, but this reminds me of me so much that it’s scary. I am the kind of mom who lets her kid (last year she was 2 at halloween) keep her bag of trick or treat candy and eat it whenever she wants. I figure that if I let her learn her own limits and don’t make candy and sweets such a big deal she’ll learn moderation on her own. I am an awful example of what to eat and not to eat because I pretty much eat whatever I want whenever I want it. I don’t scrutinize anything that I eat. If I want chocolate cake for breakfast I eat it, if Jezi wants chicken nuggets for breakfast and cherios for luch dinner and snacks, then I say go for it kid. I usually fix a big home cooked meal several times a week, and the rest of the time I just feed her whatever she wants. She knows what we’ve got and I’ll tell you that she is a healthy and happy kid who doesn’t act crazy or bounce off the walls when she gets cake and ice cream and a ton of candy at a party. She knows her limits and she has NEVER had a stomach ache from eating junk, because she knows when to stop eating it. I find this to be awesome, and if no one else agrees, well I don’t really care.

By: Nicole Ibarrondo

Nicole Ibarrondo — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:55:47 +0000

This is great! I am in the same exact boat as you. My daughter will eat just about anything, healthy and not-so-much. Matter of fact, she had tuna salad for breakfast yesterday (it was requested) and a waffle with ice cream for dinner. I agree with you that when you don’t make food an issue, kids enjoy it more. Same idea as Adam & Eve, right? So when she wants a lollipop, instead of turning it into a forbidden food, I let her have a go at it. My husband hates it, but I’m the mom, and I know best, lol. I know that the lollipop is going to be forgotten about and stuck to my coffee table after about 5 licks anyway, so what’s the point in fighting?

By: Hollee Temple

Hollee Temple — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:07:24 +0000

I take my kids to the local bakery for a snack almost every day — mostly because I like to nibble on the leftovers! Don’t tell my husband. He insists that I pack a lunch for my eldest every day because the school lunches aren’t nutritious enough. Compromise, compromise.

By: highlyirritable

highlyirritable — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:30:10 +0000

My 5yo son had a chocolate supcake and chocolate milk for breakfast today. But his choice for snack at 1/2 day kindergarten today? Cherry tomatoes and button mushroom marinated in garlic olive oil. His dinner? Arugula and Basil pesto pizza on whole wheat crust, and a fruit smoothie.

I don’t think I even remembered to give him lunch.

By: Lynn Craig

Lynn Craig — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:10:10 +0000

I agree 100%. My kids help cook & I give them the freedom to be “expressive” (okay odd) with their food.

Back in the “olden days” my great-grandmother got in trouble with the local school because she let my grandmother’s brother eat a hamburger for breakfast. (He told his teacher, who told the principal, who told ? I don’t know the breakfast boss people). She defended herself by saying, “If it’s nutritious enough for supper, it’s nutritious enough for breakfast…I fed my son a hot meal before he walked to school.”

And THEY BACKED DOWN.

I so HEART my great-grandma!!

By: Kristi

Kristi — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:33:51 +0000

Erin – this is fabulous! I am a total “in moderation” person. My sister in law makes me insane because she is anti-sugar, anti-dairy, anti-wheat, anti-many whole food groups (apparently I consider sugar a food group!). They don’t have kids yet, but I am so stressed for their future kids to not ever eat sugar and to grow up hearng it is totally, always bad for you. I do not like zealotry in any form.

My son has several food allergies which is making food an issue in our house. But we just tested chocolate cake and he passed! So…looks like we can at least have some fun now too. Seriously, thanks for the reminder. While we can’t be as laidback because of allergies, we will definitely do crazy food days, eat gluten free pancakes for dinner, and chocolate cake for all three meals if we want!

Great post! Too bad about the upcoming tofu this weekend though!

By: the kaiser

the kaiser — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:12:47 +0000

Aw Christ. Totally buying tofu this weekend.

By: Kathy Jacobs

Kathy Jacobs — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:33:33 +0000

“Dad is great – he makes us chocolate cake!”

That skit from Bill Cosby influenced how we raised our son. Yes, we had chocolate cake for breakfast at times. Yes, we had breakfast for supper (many times). But, on the other hand, he also would order broccoli in a restaurant. He grew up healthy of body. And he knows that dad makes a wicked chocolate cake.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:09:06 +0000

I’m totally with you on this. 3yo (my sister’s kid, I’ve been keeping while her husband is in hospital) got chocolate cake b4 bed last night. My 8mo eats off my plate all the time. Oh, let me just tell you how my sis in law gets onto me for that. And yes, I’ve played a story-weave game or two whilst sitting for kids. Does this mean I am a slacker?