One of the most common questions I get is, “Do your kids eat like you do?” The short answer is yes. When we’re at home, we have the same meals and the same snacks, and share the same pantry.
I’m not a fan of making separate meals for my kids, and I know when they genuinely dislike something versus when they’re just in the mood to complain. I don’t worry about what they eat when they’re at birthday parties or celebrating special occasions at school, because I know that most of what they’re eating comes from home and is healthy.
I’m acutely aware of raising two young girls in today’s image-driven society and am cautious about the dangers of demonizing any sort of food. I want to raise girls who know what it’s like to eat healthy food that fuels your body but also know that it’s okay to include some sweets and treats occasionally.
How you decide to present food choices to your children is your call, but I leave you with this thought: As parents, it’s our job to teach our children values. Put it this way—if your child said they didn’t want to finish their homework, would you let them turn it in incomplete day after day? Probably not, because their schoolwork is important. And so is their health.
The same way that you make sure your child completes their homework, you teach them the importance of taking care of and respecting their bodies. Trust me—I know firsthand that it’s not fun to listen to your toddler whine that they’d rather have cereal instead of eggs early in the morning, but I see it as my job as a parent to give my kids tools to make healthy choices for the years to come.