Brooke Eats Healthier Than Me? I Sure Hope So!

We (Jeff and I) admitidly have poor eating habits. We want to eat better, but we think about it more than we act on it. A new baby in the family was a sign for us to start changing things, so we could have a happy, healthy family. We want Brooke to have a healthy relationship with food, to make wise choices, and to understand the value of all of the items on the food pyramid (not just the junk food pyramid). Unfortunately, while we have been good about providing Brooke a healthy and varied menu ... we have yet to make the changes ourselves. And we are not alone! According to a recent poll at parenting.com, 73% of parents admit their kids eat healthier foods than they do. Whoops!

So what is the big deal? Well, the good news is that, according to recent research, babies are being fed better than ever before. The bad news is that this trend does not continue as a baby grows in to a toddler ... parents do not seem to know or understand how to prevent toddlers from picking up poor eating habits. Most toddlers are not getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day. One of the biggest problems? FRENCH FRIES!

Here are some crazy stats I found surfing around:

• French fries are one of the three most common vegetables eaten by 9-11 month old babies
• French fries are the most common vegetable for babies 15+ months
• 26% of children in that recent study eat French fries at least once a day.
• The majority of babies and toddlers over 8 months old had at least one dessert or sweetened drink every day
• And a different survey indicates that by age 2, 1 in 5 toddlers is eating candy every day
• 60% of toddlers (2+ years) eat some kind of pastry every day

Right now its important to provide the nutrition that Brooke needs and give her a variety of foods. Research indicates that the avoidance of fruits and vegetables in older children (and even adults) most likely originates in life experiences before two years of age. And ... that early and repeated exposure to a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, has been shown to increase children’s liking for them.

So, what is my point? I guess we have made it our mission to avoid the bad foods (like fries and desserts) with Brooke. We are not planning on keeping her in a bubble ... but for now we hope to provide her with experiences that will help her become someone who embraces all food - veggies and fruits included ;) When she gets older we can teach her about moderation, at which point she can hopefully understand the role of "junk food" in her diet.

And what is she eating now? Last night she had brussel sprouts and corn for the first time. She wasnt a fan. BUT, it can take 8-15 times until a new food is "familiar" and thus accepted. So though she didnt like them, she will be getting them again :) She rejected strawberries initially, but now loves them. I just have to give her a chance and she is going to grow up to be a foodie. Now, what to do about myself ... I have no idea.






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