I am stricter with what food I bring into my house, the snacks I feed my kids and the dinners that I make. My kids are snackers! Just like their dad, they love to eat snacks. I have cut all snacks but fruits and veggies. No crackers or cookies. It took a while for them to get used to it, but if it is not in the house they can't eat it. So here is a daily meal plan for me and the kids.....
Breakfast - oatmeal with skim milk and a little brown sugar. A cup of orange juice and banana. I make them eat it all so that they won't be hungry after 2 minutes which cereal does every time.
Morning snack - applesauce or apple, almonds or granola. That is it until lunch time. I am very strict on this.
Lunch - sandwich with fruit and veggie and milk. Right now I take the kids to a free lunch at the park and this is what they give them and this is what we eat at home.
Afternoon snack - popcorn, veggies and cheese stick. This one is hard, for me too. My Will power is always wayning around this time and I want to eat and eat. So being strict here is a lot of work and i hear a lot of whining from my kids.
Dinner - meat and veggies and a carb. That is it. Somedays it is a salad with chicken and bread, another night it might be grilled fish and veggies with brown rice. Nothing fancy, just simple and healthy. Dinner time is usually a fight but I make them eat all their food, all of it! Even my 2 year old eats all his veggies, I do have to help him though but knowing that they ate all their food makes me feel better about my day.
Treat - this is usually a little cup of cold cereal that I let them have before bed. Nothing big or filling. I am trying the get my kids to understand that snacks are not to fill you up and after a meal you should never feel too full just satisfied.
Now I do allow my family 2 treats a week. Friday is family pizza night and I make homemade pizza and either cinnamon bites or Carmel popcorn.
Saturday is hamburger night with ice cream. I want them to look forward to things and family time. I don't want to reward them with food but I also don't want to deprive them so allowing them to eat unhealthy foods a couple nights a week helps them see that watching what they eat is important.
I am not perfect, I feel I am getting better with understanding foods but I also get cravings for those unhealthy foods that I let control my life. Like pastas and lots of cheese!!!!!
