Summer 2012
Sisters!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Another small triumph in the healthy eating war!
5 and 6 yr. old accepted the organic PB on brown rice cakes...they even asked for seconds! Now if I can get the 10 yr. old off of the white mini bagels...
Monday, June 28, 2010
Clean-Eating Update
Making Progress (the good news)-
*Tried blue agave sweetener in my tea this morning...can't really notice the difference, that was an easy one!
*Bought ground flax seed at Joe's..sprinkled on my yogurt/berries/honey/granola this morning..noticed the taste a tiny bit but not a big deal.
*Kids and I made wraps for lunch today (with "mountain bread"). I put out lt. mayo, mustard, hummus, low sodium turkey, sharp cheddar, grated carrots, lettuce, cucumbers and avocados. They only rule was at least one veggie. It was great to see my ten year old daughter put ALL the veggies on hers and after tasting it, come back in to say "this needs some hummus!".
*Packed hubby a mini-cooler (Tosca recommends packing a cooler everyday for work). Jason got breakfast (same as me)plus some sliced bell pepper, an apple and a Laughing Cow light.
I am drinking about 2L of H2O a day...trying to slowly up that amount.
*Put ground flax seed on kids' oatmeal and in my eat clean banana-applesauce muffins (egg whites only). No one said anything (kids said a little bland) but they scarfed them up!
*For dinner last night tried the Caribbean chicken (easy) but grilled instead of simmering on stove, yams, whole grain braid, berries, and oven roasted brussels and beets on lettuce with goat cheese and homemade salad dressing (rice vinegar and olive oil). I didn't offer the salad to the kids, but my ten year old literally cavorted into the kitchen demanding "brussel sprouts, you didn't tell me you made brussel sprouts, where are they?!?". She ate a bunch up, much to my satisfaction!
Still Working on (the not so good news)-
*Tried Sunflower Seed butter (in place of PB) on the two who usually like PB (6 and 5 yr. olds). They wouldn't eat it. :( I guess we'll keep serving PB only when the nut-allergic 2 yr. old is sleeping or gone.
*Still can't find a bread my 10yr. old and I can agree on. She absolutely refuses to eat Dave's Killer Bread, which is what I usually buy. She just won't do seeds or nuts. And she wouldn't eat the whole grain loaf from dinner last night.
*Kids and hubby still buying ice-cream for the after dinner/late night treat. I am REALLY trying not to eat after 8 pm..managed it the last two nights! And damn was it hard to resist the hot-out-of-the-oven muffins at 9 pm!
* I am flavoring my water with a little crystal light ice tea or lemonade. Just a little bit when I need some flavor or caffeine.
*Still drinking my mochas....skim milk..but I know it's bad.
*Serving size...this is my major downfall. (See previous blog: Live to eat). I tend to eat fast (with 4 kids it's become a terrible habit)and then get seconds. I am trying to eat slower and not take seconds..hard one.
*Still buying: white mini bagels for kids, Noah's bagels for the freezer (black pepper potato is SO good), deli lunch meat, Quaker granola bars (low sugar at least) and oatmeal (high fiber one though).
*And I just can't get myself to eat plain egg whites scrambled..yuck!
Goals:
*Find a bread 10 yr. old will eat
*Try whole grain pasta
*Drink less wine/beer etc.
*No more super sizing portions
*Meet with a trainer about focus areas (getting over my plateau!)
*Get a smoothie maker
*Try making my own oatmeal
*Tried blue agave sweetener in my tea this morning...can't really notice the difference, that was an easy one!
*Bought ground flax seed at Joe's..sprinkled on my yogurt/berries/honey/granola this morning..noticed the taste a tiny bit but not a big deal.
*Kids and I made wraps for lunch today (with "mountain bread"). I put out lt. mayo, mustard, hummus, low sodium turkey, sharp cheddar, grated carrots, lettuce, cucumbers and avocados. They only rule was at least one veggie. It was great to see my ten year old daughter put ALL the veggies on hers and after tasting it, come back in to say "this needs some hummus!".
*Packed hubby a mini-cooler (Tosca recommends packing a cooler everyday for work). Jason got breakfast (same as me)plus some sliced bell pepper, an apple and a Laughing Cow light.
I am drinking about 2L of H2O a day...trying to slowly up that amount.
*Put ground flax seed on kids' oatmeal and in my eat clean banana-applesauce muffins (egg whites only). No one said anything (kids said a little bland) but they scarfed them up!
*For dinner last night tried the Caribbean chicken (easy) but grilled instead of simmering on stove, yams, whole grain braid, berries, and oven roasted brussels and beets on lettuce with goat cheese and homemade salad dressing (rice vinegar and olive oil). I didn't offer the salad to the kids, but my ten year old literally cavorted into the kitchen demanding "brussel sprouts, you didn't tell me you made brussel sprouts, where are they?!?". She ate a bunch up, much to my satisfaction!
Still Working on (the not so good news)-
*Tried Sunflower Seed butter (in place of PB) on the two who usually like PB (6 and 5 yr. olds). They wouldn't eat it. :( I guess we'll keep serving PB only when the nut-allergic 2 yr. old is sleeping or gone.
*Still can't find a bread my 10yr. old and I can agree on. She absolutely refuses to eat Dave's Killer Bread, which is what I usually buy. She just won't do seeds or nuts. And she wouldn't eat the whole grain loaf from dinner last night.
*Kids and hubby still buying ice-cream for the after dinner/late night treat. I am REALLY trying not to eat after 8 pm..managed it the last two nights! And damn was it hard to resist the hot-out-of-the-oven muffins at 9 pm!
* I am flavoring my water with a little crystal light ice tea or lemonade. Just a little bit when I need some flavor or caffeine.
*Still drinking my mochas....skim milk..but I know it's bad.
*Serving size...this is my major downfall. (See previous blog: Live to eat). I tend to eat fast (with 4 kids it's become a terrible habit)and then get seconds. I am trying to eat slower and not take seconds..hard one.
*Still buying: white mini bagels for kids, Noah's bagels for the freezer (black pepper potato is SO good), deli lunch meat, Quaker granola bars (low sugar at least) and oatmeal (high fiber one though).
*And I just can't get myself to eat plain egg whites scrambled..yuck!
Goals:
*Find a bread 10 yr. old will eat
*Try whole grain pasta
*Drink less wine/beer etc.
*No more super sizing portions
*Meet with a trainer about focus areas (getting over my plateau!)
*Get a smoothie maker
*Try making my own oatmeal
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Death Grip
I signed up for a book talk through my toddler group and then never went. But I did read (am actually not quite finished to be honest) the book, A Nation of Wimps-The High Cost of Invasive Parenting by Hara Estroff Marano. The premise is that today's parents are not only hovering over their children and everything they do but actually have a 'death grip' on them that lasts through their college years. Yes, the new term 'death grip parent' is now replacing 'helicopter parent'. The book is based in psychology and lots of research studies and being a former psychology student myself I did enjoy all the references to study groups, conferences, universities and observations.
Parts of the book I wholeheartedly agree with are:
*Kids need to play more. Not structured activity time but imaginative play, where they make up the games, the rules, etc. and no adult is butting in to make sure things are fair, scrutinize the rules, etc.
*Kids need recess at school. Kids who have more recess time at school enjoy school more and WANT to go to school more.
*Kids need more play based pre-school programs. In a study done in the U.S. kids who came into school with an academic based pre-school background did perform better on reading tasks at first but were no better by the end of first grade than kids from a play based (more traditional) pre-school. However, the academic based kids were more depressed at the end of first grade (i.e. did not enjoy school, learning, etc.) and the play based kids happier.
**That is exactly why I have my kids enrolled in a pre-school program whose mission statement is "Children learn through play". And that's what the research proves. "The opposite of play is not work. It's depression."
*Giving kids unrealistic expectations is bad. E.g. If you don't go to Harvard you are a failure. Of course no one would ever say that explicitly to their child (we hope not!) but by always demanding perfection (100% on every spelling test, all A's (or in our case 3's and 4's) on report cards, making the goals at the games, etc. etc.) whether we're aware of it or not we are unknowingly setting up kids for depression and anxiety. I have to admit I am guilty of this sometimes. It's frustrating when my child doesn't study and gets a bunch of words wrong on her test. But am I harming her by asking her to get 100% because I know she is capable? That's where the waters gets murky. We just need to be careful that our kids don't equate "accomplishments to self worth". Basically, don't let your kid become your project!
*The Love and Logic Principle--if your school age child forgets their HW at home do you run it to school or let them feel the consequences of forgetting? L&L says you let them feel the consequences, so they LEARN for next time. Apparently that's not what parents are doing these days. Not only are they running their child's HW/permission slips/sports gear etc. to school but they are doing the HW for the kids, constantly meeting witht the teachers to demand better grades, sending letters to administrators, and getting kicked out of sports events. And this isn't just the grade schools. This is happening in COLLEGE! Colleges are now having to put together pamphlets for "Parental Standards of Behavior" at sporting events. Parents are now contacting their child's college professor to debate a grade or assignment. Okay, I would have DIED if my parents did this in college. But I guess if you grow up with a 'death grip' parent this is the norm.
While reading this book I thought of another I'd read in years past and decided to reread, "The Three Martini Playdate". Yes, some of it is a joke, but the basic idea is to let go and let your kid live their life, even at a young age. The 'Three Martini' chapter is a test for potential parents of playdates. When they come to pick up their child offer them a martini (duing cocktail hour of course). If they look at you in horror and trot their young one out of there as if your house were on fire, you know not to invite that child back. But if they gladly accept with open arms and tell you how much they desperately would LOVE one, you know you've found a friend indeed! Naturally I would not offer a cocktail to someone I've only met once or twice (nor do I make them on a regular basis in my home) but I think this can equate to a glass of wine. The book goes on to encourage parents to let their kids be kids....let them fall of their bike and scrape their knee, don't babyproof the ENTIRE house..kids need to learn not to run into coffee tables and hearths and not to play in the toilet, don't cook entirely different meals for the kids..you are not a waitress. Basically life skills. Not everything will be baby or child proof where they go to, not everyone is willing to make them a special meal (how else will they learn to love feta, babaghnoush, and sushi unless they try it?? sometimes by force if necessary). I remember someone telling me their pediatrician told them "Kids are like dogs, you need to run them". He encouraged her to send them out to regular outdoor time (without you outside with them). Strap on raincoats, snow coats or boots and send them out for 3o minutes unaccompanied. Let them explore and figure out what to do. Kids need to experience boredom..it leads to day dreams, fantasies, imaginary friends, creative writing, reading w/o being asked to, making forts, etc. And those experiences are exactly what lead to funtional, successful and creative thinking adults, who don't move back in with you when they graduate from college, and isn't that really the goal in parenting? I know it is for me!. :)
Parts of the book I wholeheartedly agree with are:
*Kids need to play more. Not structured activity time but imaginative play, where they make up the games, the rules, etc. and no adult is butting in to make sure things are fair, scrutinize the rules, etc.
*Kids need recess at school. Kids who have more recess time at school enjoy school more and WANT to go to school more.
*Kids need more play based pre-school programs. In a study done in the U.S. kids who came into school with an academic based pre-school background did perform better on reading tasks at first but were no better by the end of first grade than kids from a play based (more traditional) pre-school. However, the academic based kids were more depressed at the end of first grade (i.e. did not enjoy school, learning, etc.) and the play based kids happier.
**That is exactly why I have my kids enrolled in a pre-school program whose mission statement is "Children learn through play". And that's what the research proves. "The opposite of play is not work. It's depression."
*Giving kids unrealistic expectations is bad. E.g. If you don't go to Harvard you are a failure. Of course no one would ever say that explicitly to their child (we hope not!) but by always demanding perfection (100% on every spelling test, all A's (or in our case 3's and 4's) on report cards, making the goals at the games, etc. etc.) whether we're aware of it or not we are unknowingly setting up kids for depression and anxiety. I have to admit I am guilty of this sometimes. It's frustrating when my child doesn't study and gets a bunch of words wrong on her test. But am I harming her by asking her to get 100% because I know she is capable? That's where the waters gets murky. We just need to be careful that our kids don't equate "accomplishments to self worth". Basically, don't let your kid become your project!
*The Love and Logic Principle--if your school age child forgets their HW at home do you run it to school or let them feel the consequences of forgetting? L&L says you let them feel the consequences, so they LEARN for next time. Apparently that's not what parents are doing these days. Not only are they running their child's HW/permission slips/sports gear etc. to school but they are doing the HW for the kids, constantly meeting witht the teachers to demand better grades, sending letters to administrators, and getting kicked out of sports events. And this isn't just the grade schools. This is happening in COLLEGE! Colleges are now having to put together pamphlets for "Parental Standards of Behavior" at sporting events. Parents are now contacting their child's college professor to debate a grade or assignment. Okay, I would have DIED if my parents did this in college. But I guess if you grow up with a 'death grip' parent this is the norm.
While reading this book I thought of another I'd read in years past and decided to reread, "The Three Martini Playdate". Yes, some of it is a joke, but the basic idea is to let go and let your kid live their life, even at a young age. The 'Three Martini' chapter is a test for potential parents of playdates. When they come to pick up their child offer them a martini (duing cocktail hour of course). If they look at you in horror and trot their young one out of there as if your house were on fire, you know not to invite that child back. But if they gladly accept with open arms and tell you how much they desperately would LOVE one, you know you've found a friend indeed! Naturally I would not offer a cocktail to someone I've only met once or twice (nor do I make them on a regular basis in my home) but I think this can equate to a glass of wine. The book goes on to encourage parents to let their kids be kids....let them fall of their bike and scrape their knee, don't babyproof the ENTIRE house..kids need to learn not to run into coffee tables and hearths and not to play in the toilet, don't cook entirely different meals for the kids..you are not a waitress. Basically life skills. Not everything will be baby or child proof where they go to, not everyone is willing to make them a special meal (how else will they learn to love feta, babaghnoush, and sushi unless they try it?? sometimes by force if necessary). I remember someone telling me their pediatrician told them "Kids are like dogs, you need to run them". He encouraged her to send them out to regular outdoor time (without you outside with them). Strap on raincoats, snow coats or boots and send them out for 3o minutes unaccompanied. Let them explore and figure out what to do. Kids need to experience boredom..it leads to day dreams, fantasies, imaginary friends, creative writing, reading w/o being asked to, making forts, etc. And those experiences are exactly what lead to funtional, successful and creative thinking adults, who don't move back in with you when they graduate from college, and isn't that really the goal in parenting? I know it is for me!. :)
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