Re: Any tips on how to change kids eating habits?

Hello Downlouise, I empathize with you on this. My husband grew up on white bread and processed cereal loaded with sugar. Were it not for my husband, my kids would not even know what cheerios were. Of course he is not to fully blame. I should have stuck to my guns more, instead of sliding a little and a little more. We had been living with his mother for some time, and guess who taught HIM all those bad habits. You guessed it. It is going to take some work to get back on track, and there will be head butting I am sure. You need to remove all junk from your house. I have a cook book called nourishing traditions. It can be purchased at


http://www.westonaprice.org


It has changed my whole perspective of what is "healthy" and what it crap. I used to be a "fat free" kind of girl. Now, I try and eat foods that our ancestors would have eaten. I want to eat the kinds of foods that people eat and live to be 120 and perfectly healthy on. I want proven nourishment so to speak. What have tribes of people eaten for hundreds or thousands of years and thrived on. Lived without things like tooth decay, and alzheimer's, and kidney failure, and cancer, and "genetic diseases"? I worked in a nursing home for a year, and to see the pain people suffered from this disease really saddened me. And ticked me off. The hurt these people have endured for what? Little pieces of worthless paper with pictures of presidents of them. It stirred something within me. Angered me to the core. My family will not play victim. What is more, I don't just want to raise my family this way, but I want to teach others this same wisdom. I guess in way I am getting back at them (the government) by helping others. The work I do enables me to do this a little bit, though I have to be careful what I say because in the medical field, you can get sued for suggesting things to patients.

As far as getting the kids to eat healthy, it is all about who is more determined. You have to win the battle, it is that simple. I you will not win the battle, don't even bother going through it because your kids will only think that they have more authority than you do if you let them win. They are still young enough, but you are running out of time. you need to instill these healthy values SOON, especially for you 11 year old. Make sure that your husband has your back 100% even if he disagrees with it, your kids need to believe that he is backing you up. That is very important to. Too important not to repeat again - Make sure that your kids think that Dad agrees.

Lastly, we have already established that fasting is healthy for you. It was discussed in a thread awhile back. I had asked about my 13 year old step daughter fasting for her "Bi-polar" "genetic" disorder. I was told that an 8 month old had fasted, and that kids are the best at listening to their bodies, and knowing when they need to fast.


//www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1190830#i


There is my original post, with subsequent replies from Fonty, Chris, and others. If your child is trying to win this battle by not eating, that is fine, it will clear the junk from his body anyways. If fasting was not good for us we would not do it right? Make sure that there are plenty of healthy things for him to eat. Let him think that he has a choice ("Son, would you like an apple, or a plum, or perhaps a salad") It will take time for him to get it that you are not giving in to his little game especially since it worked before, but he will get it eventually. Go easy on him, but be firm. Get all the junk out of your house, if their is nothing bad in it for him to eat, he will have no choice but to make a healthy one. Offer him choices so he feels in control a little bit but ultimately you are in control of those choices. In this way, you are guiding HIM to make a good choice instead of taking all choice away and trying to force him to succumb to your will. (i.e. "You have to eat this chicken noodle soup, you cannot have anything else until you do") There will be an initial battle, but you have to stick to your decision, and after he realizes that you are not going to give in, it will get easier, and maybe then, you can include him in your learning experiance. Have him help you prepare healthy meals, tell him what they do for your body. They will begin to relate good food to quality time with mommy, this every child craves. Give him choices, but make sure you control what those choices are. Prepare yourself for the fight that will occur, and just be firm in your decision. He will get it, YOU just have to stay firm. Let him throw his fit. Let him play his game. Let him fight tooth and nail against you, and when he runs out of games to play, something strange is going to cross his mind. "Wow, mom is serious, she is so serious about this, that I am not getting a reaction from her no matter what I do." Kids do not like to be ignored, so maybe he will try to do what you asked of him, and he will see that not only are you paying attention to his efforts, but you are rewarding them as well. ("An apple was a good choice son, I think I will have an apple as well, and we can save the plum for later.")

I am giving you this advice, because it is what has worked for my family. My step daughters listen to me better than they listen to the their other 3 parental figures. This is not because of the girls, it is because of how the parents are. I am not going to yell at them, I am not going to get mad at them, I am not going to throw a fit when they don't listen. There are rules, if they CHOOSE to break those rules, they have consequences, and then we move on. I like to think of it as a no nonsence way of parenting. They know I am not just "suggesting" that they brush their teeth. Or eat healthier. I know longer have to tell them to do those things by the way. If they eat something unhealthy it is only because A. they were at their mom's, or B. I allowed it in my home. They are not perfect, but I see them (especially the older one) making better choices every day. She even tries to help her friends as school to make better choices by teaching them what we have learned together. I am so proud of her too. She LOVES junk food so very much, but here she is, trying to make better choices, and she is only 14. It is, and will be for years to come, a work in progress. Kids do not like change, and they will fight it, and alarmingly so. You just stick to your decision, and help them to make better decisions. I hope that this helps, and mostly that your husband backs you up - this is just as important as you sticking to your choice. Those are the 2 most important things. Again, this is what has worked, for me, even without my husband giving me 100% and I hope that it works for you. Blessed be. Motherweary. Tweet