Junk Food: What's a Concerned Mom to Do?

When I was walking with my four-year-old through the mall yesterday, I noticed a young mother struggling with her own child, trying to convince him that he really didn't need the cotton candy he was insisting on. But who could blame him? The clouds of blue and pink spun sugar were floating right there at kid-height, beckoning him. I felt for that other mom; we want our kids to eat well, but sometimes big companies make that a difficult goal.

I remembered what I had seen in The New York Times recently about a small study that suggested "hamburgers, French fries, chicken nuggets, and even milk and carrots all taste better to children if they think they came from McDonald's." It's difficult for a well-intentioned mom to stand up to a food Goliath. But it is more important now than ever that she try.

According to the American Obesity Association, "About a third of children are now overweight, and 15 percent are obese, the highest the prevalence rates have ever been." The AOA defines being overweight or obese as a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 85th or 95th percentile, respectively, for children of the same age and sex.

It's a challenge to walk kids along a nutritional path. It's a high-sugar, huge serving, "do-you-want-fries-with-that" world out there; teaching your children to make smart nutritional choices can seem like an impossible task. Hamburger-foisting clowns, singing chocolate chips and skateboarding cartoon toucans lie in wait, tempting, cajoling, encouraging your kids to "Have this!" and "Have more!" What's a concerned, non-animated mom to do?

When going fork-to-fork with seemingly undefeatable enemies in the fight for your child's nutritional well being, you can start early, understand the underlying attraction behind certain foods, be consistent and set a good example.

Start Early

You are a big influence as your little one is developing her taste preferences. Never ply her with super-sweet, sugary juice drinks, and when the time comes for her to choose for herself between the mega-apple juice box and the naturally flavored water, she will go with what has become more familiar -- and better -- for her: the water.

It's also never too early to start educating about serving sizes. We are a nation of bigger is better, as our oversized fast food selections prove. Do we really believe that 40-plus ounces of soda is a reasonable serving? Just because McDonald's does (Hello, 42 oz. Hugo), doesn't mean you have to or that you should teach your kid that an ocean of sugared soda is OK.

Understand the Real Attraction

That ubiquitous juice box is not only a playground staple; it can almost be a status symbol for the under five set -- another challenge to the well-meaning mom. Sometimes the "everybody else has one so I want one" desire drives the food choice. So look for healthier food and snack options that emulate the fun-to-hold, fun-to-use packaging of their sugar-laden cousins.

Be Consistent

It is easy to get caught up in a harried day, and let the screaming little one have the frosted toaster pastry she thinks she's just gotta have. It is these situations -- these little moments -- that make up the total of your nutritional teaching experience. When you are strong and consistent, your child learns what the rules are and that they are not changing.

Set a Good Example

You know that those little eyes see everything you do. Silently processing moves and reactions, kids know early if mom walks the walk (or just eats the donut). Making good nutritional choices for yourself -- a salad instead of the quadruple patty burger, water rather than sugary soda -- signals to your child that eating well is important for everyone. It also tells her that you believe in what you say enough to do it yourself.

Sometime you may feel like it's you against the burger-pushing, sugar-serving world, and to some extent, it is. Companies are in business to make money. Some of them make money by creating and marketing products that are almost unbearably appealing to kids. It's difficult to take on multi-million dollar advertising campaigns and enticing packaging

Knowing what the right food choices are, and instilling that knowledge into your children, is a difficult job. Do it early and do it regularly, and you'll be able to take that burger clown down.

Comments

[dannyS]

its not just food. Toys, clothes, movies, cars... the brainwashing is everywhere. There's money to be made. do we live to consume?

[mommadona]

Always have fresh fruit available in a bowl for quick 'treats'.

Always keep banana chips, raisins, and other dried fruits available on trips.

SHOW THEM where food comes from - visit a 'pick-your-own' farm and show them the options.

Lemonade vs soda

It's a nasty trek between 2 years old and 15 years old in 'Merica, but SOMEbody's gotta do it, and moms, love'em, are the front line.