My kids and healthy (not) eating

[kallard]

I have been on Atkins since 4/04 with a fall off from this May-July. In that time, I have not imposed my eating habits on my children, except that some of the choices for dinner changed when I was first on this diet. They noticed we were having steak frequently.

I have debated a lot about how to start changing my children's eating habits. Since both my husband and I work, we rely on "quick-fix" eating strategies...fast food, Bagel Bites, taquitos, etc.

I have triplet daughters, age 9, a 4 year old daughter, and 2 year old son. One of the triplets has inherited my weight problems...though she is exhibiting it much earlier than I did. She eats basically the same as her sisters, but probably more in quantity at meal time....though she doesn't eat as much of the "junky" stuff as her sisters want to. One of the other triplets is thin; and th other is within her normal size, but I can see a little bit of pudge starting around her tummy.

I don't want to start a trend toward eating disorders, but I have finally broken down and got my overweight daughter to do Atkins. She and I both started induction this week.

Since there is very little discussion about children and what works for them and what is "healthy," I don't know exactly how to handle this. I know that she needs calcium, etc., so I think I will have her do the two week steps.

But part of the problem is the other children. They are worse than the overweight daughter about raiding the kitchen and complaining about there being nothing to eat (we are short on money lately, so haven't made a large grocery trip in a while anyway). One is ALWAYS begging me to go to 7-11 (candy), or to get ice cream, or fast food. Its easy to buy huge things of cookies (the lower-fat, animal cracker like cookies), crackers, etc., at CostCo. It is expensive to buy fruit and other acceptable items for 5....they go through the fruit I have been buying in 2 days.

Anyone know of any other sources I can look into to help my daughter? How do I handle it when she goes somewhere....she spends the night at her cousin's house a lot where they live on carbs.

[Kisseslikepearls]

Re: My kids and healthy (not) eating

How about setting set "snack time"s? I know I did the whole monkey-see, monkey do thing where if one of my siblings went and got a snack, my tummy was growling too. That way, you can stop all-hours raiding of the kitchen and go through 5 apples instead of 12 or 13.

I heard several years ago that most the time that you're 'hungry' you're actually thirsty. Maybe pass this on to your kids and encourage more water drinking. I'd also invest in either the big brita gallon size, a water filter that fits over your kitchen sink (the ones that twist on or off) or in the big 5 gallon water cooler. I know I drank way more water after my family got the cooler, mainly because it was cold and didn't smell like chlorine. The other thing is, you can buy it once and then put the 5 gallon part in the sink and refill it that way instead of subscribing to a service. I really think this or the sink filter would be the best choice since you wouldn't have kids opening the fridge every 20 minutes or so.

I'd also suggest that you encourage portion control. I obviously have never met your daughter so I have no idea what her eating habits are but maybe tell her to slow down when she eats if she's shoveling it in. Or encourage her to drink a glass of water right before dinner. I'd also stress that the food isn't bad, its just how its made and that carbs aren't to be completely avioded, just moderated.

What about getting her (and the rest of the family?) on a general multi-vitamin? That'd take care of your calcium concern.

And why not start the other two twins (I think your other son and daughter are a little too young for the concept) on the same path? And instead of promoting it as a 'weight loss' or 'weight management', tell them what the sugar and extra carbs does to their body and why its not healthy. I'd also suggest that you tell them you don't what them to have the same issues mommy has had. I wouldn't go into the self esteem part of it, but I would focus on the healthy side of it. That way you're not making them focus on what their weight might be, just pushing the concept to be healthy.

Maybe invest in a sugar sub for sweet tooth attacks. Make your own sorbet with fruit juice concentrate for the ice cream beggers. Get your kids involved in cooking too, that way they realize that it does take work and food doesn't magically appear.

And, duh tip: buy fruits in season or frozen

Oh, and make "fast food" a friday night, no one wants to cook thing. And make it family night, with the rule that that's the only night fast food will be bought. If you make it a rule, they might stop whining about wanting to go.

I am by no means a mother and I've never had to raise kids before, so I might be talking out of my hind end when I say some of this stuff, but I know these are things that my parents did for us. Friday nights were 'make it your own' where we fended for ourselves (usually left overs). And we RARELY went out for fast food or a resturant. I still have qualms about going into Olive Garden since that's where my parents took me for "the talk". If you put your foot down and don't give in to whining (oh and boy did we whine!) it'll eventually stop.

As for the cousins...if its your side, explain to them what you're trying to do. It their choice what to do in thier own house, but if they know and have seen your struggle with your weight, they might be a little more helpful...maybe adding salads to dinner or buying more fruit when they know she's going to be over. Being concerned over a child's health and future health is an easy bandwagon to hop on!

[Desertthorn]

Re: My kids and healthy (not) eating

You know just not having junk food in the house will make a world of difference. Snacks should be fruit and healthy cookies, and also get the family involved in exercise. I have the skinniest kids in the world. I wish I could have taught myself the same lesson.
LOL