Are we consuming more than we need? Marketing ploys that make cereal look WOW, turns out to be the same-old, same-old it’s always been since you were a child when you pour it from that misleading box – that gets chucked anyway!
But what really saddens me is that
cheap food that’s affordable for many families, is mostly empty calories that
fills empty bellies but doesn’t feed hungry brains! Sugar-loaded sodas are
cheaper than milk! Affluent children are living on chips, cookies and chocolate
– after turning their noses up to a plate of proper food. Is it easier to
‘give-in’ to the demands of children, the lure of the supermarkets, and the
limit of our patience (and budget)? How do we go back to good old-fashioned ‘eating
to live’ and not ‘living to eat’ (rubbish)?
I find it a daily challenge!
Too much sugar:
• Fills
children up with empty calories
• Makes
them hyperactive
• Is
addictive
• Damages
their teeth
• Leads
to obesity
• Deprives
them of essential minerals that help to boost immunity.
What can you do?
• Teach
your child to drink water
• Don’t use
sweet-treats as a reward – use hugs, reading, outings to the park, pencils,
crayons and paper instead
• Give your
children healthy snacks between meals – fruit, fruit-juice lollies, toast and
peanut-butter fingers
• Use
less sugar in recipe’s and never add sugar to vegetables, sauces or protein
dishes
• Sweeten
with honey or molasses
• Eat
regular unhurried family meals
• Plan
these a week in advance
• Make
sure they include fresh fruit and vegetables every day
• Don’t
shop when you’re hungry
• Stick
to what’s on the shopping list
• Don’t
take grouchy children with you – especially if you’re doing a monthly shop!
• Avoid fast-foods and takeaway’s
• Spend more
time in the garden or the park. Have fun. Exercise!
PS. This takes time and effort, practice,
patience and persistence. But remember –
you and your family are worth it!
