My desire to begin this blog was born the night I attended an evening gathering at my son’s elementary school. Billed as a holiday social, we were told to expect music and refreshments and lots of fun for the whole family. The DJ was excellent, the music (mostly) age-appropriate, the opportunity for kids and parents to interact welcomed.
After spinning in circles and doing the twist, my children and I headed over to the refreshments table. As we approached, we noted sweaty, red-faced children rushing back and forth to grab “sustenance” before returning to the dance floor. No wonder! Arrayed there were bowls of chocolate candy, plates of heavily frosted sugar cookies, and clusters of two-liter soda bottles. No fruit or vegetables, not even chips or pretzels or juice. High fructose corn syrup, food dyes, caffeine, phosphoric acid, and not much else.
Okay, I thought, worst I’ve seen in awhile, but we can partake of a bit of chocolate, with some water to hydrate. No need to make a scene, as this is was supposed to be a fun time for all. I proceeded to ask for water. A simple request? Not so. Water was eventually found, but only after a three-person search party from the parent-teacher organization leapt into action. One lonely water jug was located, hiding under a table in a box. Though I was grateful that we were able to procure water — as if it were a forbidden, illicit substance — I couldn’t help but notice the surprise in the parent’s face when I had made this “unusual” request. I think it was the first time anyone had asked for anything other than soda!
When this sort of intake is considered commonplace and usual, clearly we have a problem. As the expression goes, children do learn what they live, particularly when it comes to the food they consume. If we present sugar to them, they will eat it. If we only present sweets, they will think that is appropriate party food. If we offer no healthy options, they won’t even have the opportunity to consider making another food choice.
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If you are internally wagging your finger at me, chiding me that kids are meant to have fun, then yes, I agree with you. Kids SHOULD enjoy an evening such as this…but does fellowship and music and dancing and joy have to be submerged in a bath of metabolism-altering substances? Faced with hungry, thirsty children having a blast with their friends, wouldn’t this be a great opportunity to sate their cravings with something substantive?
Kudos to my eldest for commenting, unprompted, that “they sure had too many sweets, Mom!” Coming from a kid who strains every drop of melted ice cream into a spoon, so as to leave the bowl fully clean…even he sees it.
Mindfulness in eating. Purpose in cooking. Sanity in life. Too much to ask?