Every Friday my husband and I have a date at school with our boys. This date is so important to them that they wait all week for Friday. I also suspect that some other kids are waiting for us too…
As we enter the school the comments begin and continue all the way down to the lunchroom. Adults and kids alike find themselves being vocal about 1 thing. Our lunch.
Last week it was, ” Wow! That looks really good… You guys always have the best lunches.” And from a 1st grader, “Is that fruit salad? Yum, I love fruit salad.”
Here is last weeks fruit salad.
Some weeks before a kid asked us if we are vegetarians since we were eating “healthy”. Our lunch that week included a whole package of seaweed. (Yes, we ate seaweed at lunch and yes my boys were excited about it.)
This week we brought fresh strawberries, celery, string cheese, almond milk and mangos. Seeing our lunch, the boy next to me proudly declared, “I love peas!” He then asked what I was eating. ” Mango,’ I said. “Have you ever had mango?” He replied no, but another kid quickly chimed in, ” I have!”
Lunch is one big conversation. Kids LOVE to talk about healthy food. Get them started and they will run with it.
I asked the boys at our table if they would like me to come into the classroom and bring some new foods to try and they responded with a resounding, YES!
This week take your kids to the grocery store and try just 1 new food. I promise they will be excited. If they are not excited and think it is a drag, then you need to look at your own attitude towards food. Kids are neutral until adults chime in.
Here is a real life example, last fall a mom on the playground told me her kids don’t like vegetables and then proceeded to tell me (and gag) over the thought of vegetables herself. Case in point. As much as parents want to blame their kids actions on the moon or because it is Tuesday or some other nonsense, we have to admit to ourselves that we are a reflection of our environment. We all are. We Create our reality. So if you want your family to be healthy, it all starts with you.
What is your food conversation? I would love to hear what new food(s) you have tried and the response.
Cheers,
Summer Joy
2 Comments
Michelle DeRusha
April 16, 2012Hey Summer! I love your place here — you have so many great, easy tips for encouraging healthy living.
My boys are pretty adventurous when it comes to food — they love hummus, tofu (well, the oldest…not the youngest), raw vegetables, mango. My oldest also loves mushrooms (even raw), even though I admit, I have gaggged a bit at the mention of them (clearly that didn’t stop him from liking them though!).
When thing I am not proud of, though, is that my boys usually get hot lunch…and I don’t think they make the most stellar choices. You’ve inspired me to pack a healthier cold lunch for them at least once or twice a week.
See you at school!
Summer Brackhan
April 17, 2012Thanks Michelle for the kind comments. I have to laugh at the mushroom gagging as I do the same thing! It is one of the only foods that I don’t enjoy serving. 2 out of the 4 in our family like mushrooms so they do occasionally land on our plates. : )
So happy to inspire you to pack a cold lunch. I have been taking pictures of the boys lunches for many mornings in plans of including more quick, healthy lunch ideas into the blog posts. Feel free to share any pictures/ideas you have come up with as it is always fun to see the ideas of others for more inspiration.
I love the window into your life your blog provides and I’m looking forward to reading more!
Cheers,
Summer
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