When we were little the only stress we had around food was whether our sisters would beat us to the slice with the most pepperoni. Today, increased awareness of health, diet and "good" and "bad" foods is being drilled into kids by the media, school nutrition programs and, their parents. A fascinating and frightening article in the Times looked at the consequences of this especially for kids whose parents are obsessed with eating "right" and pass this fixation down the family chain.
Here are two excerpts we found compelling:
“We’re seeing a lot of anxiety in these kids,” said Cynthia Bulik, the director of the eating disorders program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “They go to birthday parties, and if it’s not a granola cake they feel like they can’t eat it. The culture has led both them and their parents to take the public health messages to an extreme.” “We’re driving our kids absolutely crazy,” said Katie Wilson, president of the School Nutrition Association. “All the stuff about preservatives and pesticides. All an 8-year-old kid should know is that he or she should eat a variety of colors, and don’t supersize anything but your water jug.”
Find the full article by Abby Ellin at the New York Times and also check out the Times' Motherlode blogger Lisa Belkin's take on it.
(Image by Margaret Riegel for The New York Times)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I agree. We live in such a nanny state that kids can't enjoy being kids.
view Gumdrop's profile
OK, I agree to an extent. But they're talking about such a small minority of kids. The vast majority are eating crap. Sugar. Processed foods. No fruits or veggies.
I was talking to a high school teacher the other day who told me he didn't have time for breakfast at home the other day. He went to the school's cafeteria and ordered scrambled eggs, the only nutritious option he could find. As he carried his tray to the cashier, the worker behind the counter said, "Wait! Don't you want syrup on top?"
view pennycarnival's profile
Yeah, once again parents that are being careful are maligned. Yes, there are helicopter moms. And when it comes to food, I do seem extreme. Why? My son has food allergies AND we are vegetarians. So excuse me for actually trying to improve my family's health, minimize our impact on the environment and keep my son safe.
view Loki Parker's profile
Parents are definitely too crazy these days. When I notice I'm doing it I even tell myself to lighten up.
view Elle78's profile
Kids are exposed to many more harmful additives and genetically modified foods than generations past. I make a conscious effort to avoid "food with numbers" as much as possible in our day to day life, and let my kids go for it only at birthday parties and special celebrations: blue lollies, green drinks, whatever is going. We don't exclude fat or sugar, lollies or treats in our day to day life: just the food with too many "numbers".
view Miss_Shwee's profile
What ever happened to everything in moderation? My mother was a food nazi, and I have issues. Always have. I can't go one day without stressing out about food and I will NOT do that to my children. My girls eat well-rounded meals with the occasional treat, and they are happy and healthy. Whatever-- by the time you realize the error of your ways, parents, your kids will already have issues. Great parenting skills.
view royaloaker's profile
I think having a healthy lifestyle is A-OK. It sounds like it's only an issue when you're so overboard that your kid starts freaking the heck out whenever a different option is presented. Raising a kid who's aware of healthy choices is a really good thing. Raising a kid who has bad/good food associations and is overly obsessed with what he/she puts into his mouth is asking for trouble.
view jensational's profile
New neighbors moved in recently. A rare warm-ish day brought six kids to my yard. After hours of hard Star Wars play, gracious son of mine invited all in for hot cocoa. New neighbor mom came by, in her yoga clothes, to make sure her two kids weren't intruding. I guiltily admitted to having fed them hot cocoa with real, huge marshmallows...and it was mere minutes from dinner time. Held my breath for new neighbor mom's reaction, which was: "No problem, we have no food restrictions." (!) I almost cried with joy. A special treat for my son turned into a special treat for the whole neighborhood and I was able to overlook my yoga-clothes-intimidation and became friends with new neighbor mom. Happy ending.
view avimom's profile