Food Wars

I think I need help.

A little background: Dearest had parents that forced him to eat his food. I’ve heard stories of him sitting at the table for 4+ hours sobbing, not allowed to move until he ate every bite of slimey cooked spinach on his plate. You can imagine how that influenced him towards food. Once on his own he rebelled against anything “good for you” and lived on a diet of Pepsi and junk food. A diet he still mostly lives on today. (a side note, now his parents feed the grandkids poptarts and pepsi and call that a meal)

I, however, grew up with a garden in the backyard. I dined on fresh fruits and veggies any time I wanted so food was never a fight. Well, except for being told to get out of the garden and stop eating all the peas out of their pods. I love food, love fresh fruits and veggies. There isn’t much that I won’t eat.

So since E was old enough to eat solids food has been a war between Dearest and I. I beg for week for him to buy fruit and he buys a can of diced fruit in thick corn syrup, then acts offended when I say that doesn’t count. He only buys cans of green beans and cans of corn and rolls his eyes when I ask for real veggies to feed the kids. To him if he gives them a plate of greesy french fries with ketchup then it’s ok.

I get why he is this way, and I get why he hates feeding the kids real food. And he is making small steps. I can get some fresh fruits now once a week, oranges or bananas or apples. And he’s finally moved past canned veggies to frozen ones, even if they are still only corn and green beans.

But E seems to have already got into his father’s food habits. I slice him a yummy orange for breakfast and he turns up his nose, wanting chocolate coated sugar puffs instead. And Derest seems to take this as proof that I’m abusing the kids with food. How do I get E to eat the healthy foods I serve without forcing him, without it being a war? How do I get Michael to see that E isn’t asking for the junk food because I’m mean but because junk food is addictive? Do I only serve the healthy foods and just let E miss a meal or two until he eats what is given? Do I give in and give him the junk because then at least he’s eating something? Do I club Dearest and steal his checkbook every payday?

I wish I could grow a garden here. Every year, no matter what I try, nothing grows. Oh to have a garden over flowing like I had as a kid for the boys to play in and nibble in.

parenting, food

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Published by: Summer on August 31st, 2007 | Filed under Uncategorized

6 Responses to “Food Wars”

Leann I Am Says:
August 31st, 2007 at 6:50 pm
My goal I have for feeding my family has adjusted over the years. I’ve seen many extremes when it comes to food and I wouldn’t worry too much about how your kids will turn out. There’s no point since they will take what they want to from their own childhoods. They will make their own choices as adults. It’s good that your kids get to see both sides of the spectrum firsthand.

My biggest hope for my own kids is that they don’t have too many food issues-period. What you eat for lunch is not who you are. I don’t want them to be too concerned about their weight either way or to eat when they’re stressed or sad. Just keep them informed and make it all available. I’m sure they’ll be just fine if there’s no real pressure in either direction.
Awesome Mom Says:
August 31st, 2007 at 7:44 pm
That is a toughie!! I do all the grocery shopping so I am better able to control what the kids eat. My thoughts would be to stop getting the junk and eventually their tastes will adjust. Make the food fun by cooking with them. E will not starve to death and will eventually get on the bandwagon if both you and your husband get on the same page food wise.

I am no health nut but I do prefer to keep the junk food to a minimum. For breakfast this morning they had whole wheat toast with apple butter (made by yours truly) to dip it in and some cheese. My kids actually prefer fruit to candy so it can be done.
Summer Says:
August 31st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Leann, I guess I’m probably on the extreme end when it comes to food. I don’t want them to have food issues either, but I don’t want them eating boxed mac&cheese and thinking it’s ok.

I wish I were the shopper here. Unfortunately Dearest’s food issues means he doesn’t let me buy the groceries. the last time I bought healthy food and he nearly had a heart attack. Since then my role in shopping is to follow him nagging until he rolls his eyes and lets me have a couple things.
LifeHasAFunnyWay Says:
September 1st, 2007 at 8:44 am
I guess this is one spot where I feel glad to be the one raising the kids. Whenever Sage comes home from Gma and Gpas, she wants the *treats* for about a day afterwards. I simply tell her those aren’t things she’s allowed to have, and offer her something healthy.
It’s worked wonders, and she now prefers healthy things over treats usually. Like she asks for water whenever she is thirsty now, after weaning her off juice. (she never got straight juice with me, it was always at least 50/50)
Hm, I’d say clubbing him and stealing the checkbook would be efficient
kitten Says:
September 2nd, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I was raised a lot like you, but always was a ticky eater till I got in the real world and saw that sometimes I may have to eat things I don’t like. I mostly ate veggies amd fresh fruit. Have you tired or talked to your hubby about letting you atleast trying a food tasting thingy. Ask him to let you do this for schooling purpose. Then tell your little one if he eats this then he can eat that over there. I know it may not sound like the best answer, but it would give you a chance to try and your little a chance to try something new and maybe find out he really likes it.
Good luck sweetie.
Anonymous Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
awww the age old problem^_^, i don’t know about wat others whold do but me myself am really freaked about how they eat heehee u know there dady and his family well.best answer i have found that works with 2 out of 3 kids anyway is to don’t go completly healthy like sessoned/baked chicken legs with some yummy chessesy mash taters, and some of there fav vegie.just a exp. and just rotate it so that there is a least one thing for supper side or main that they like and when they yell iam done.and haven’t eaten that which they think they don’t like ask them to at least take one tiny bite so they can have dessert and have like st.yogurt with some fresh/frozen strawberrys.prep and ready for the day they say ok ^_^now zach is a bit more stuborn way to much like his daddy so i have to be a bit more lenate like hes very picky for brefeast he be happy with just cearle well i was grown up there was much more to breafest but i let him have his days but very few in between i tell him that his brothers love eggs and toast and fruit for brefeast so if he as toast today he can have cearle tomoro. even pat is eating alot more healthy now hehe he was a true junk food adicate still worken on pop issue and i ruvise to let the boys have pop execpt fri when we get take out even then they get sprit. needles to say the junk food pat does buy i make him keep in are room and is not aloud to let the boys see it if possible. and the most i have in the kitchen is chips and those are for very busy days.when hotdogs are for lunch. as for family they learned very fast where i stand and they’ve learned only on special occasions and rarety well i let the rules bend.. now the school system is hole differnt story of its own..