From: judy@locus.com (Judy Leedom Tyrer)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Not Limiting Sweets (was Re: Halloween Stories)
Date: 10 Nov 92 22:34:28 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Locus Computing Corporation, Los Angeles, California

In article <1992Nov9.183709.16685@alw.nih.gov> paula@helix.nih.gov (Paula Moore) writes:
>I have the same questions that Kathie did about letting kids choose 
>what to eat.  I've tried to do that too, letting her eat what/when
>she wants within reason.  Recently though, Mellie (2yrs+) has started asking
>for cookies for breakfast.  Right now Ritz crackers are included in
>cookies - she'd eat a whole box in one sitting if I let her.  I have 
>been giving her a cracker or two along with some cereal, but I'd really
>rather she'd eat some cereal first.  She used to eat grapes and bananas
>over ANYTHING, and pretty much only drinks milk.  She'll have days
>where she'll eat pretty well - for a two year old [ only broccoli for
>dinner, ok.  only 2 bananas for lunch, ok]   
>
>Judy and others who let the kids decide what to eat, would a request for
>a cookie for breakfast every day be honored?  Just curious since I've
>started on one response and it would be too difficult to change (and she'll
>probably get out of the phase on her own before too long, right :)
>

All these "exceptions" questions and rules seem to be missing the point.  If
you want to follow this regime, repeat after me.  "There are no good foods
and there are no bad foods.  Food is food."  If you don't believe this and
cannot break your habit of viewing sugar as inherantly evil and fructose as
somehow more noble you will not succeed.

So the answer is yes.  A cookie for breakfast would be honored every day that
that is what my child requested.  In fact Saturday Mitchell wanted an ice
cream sandwich.  They were new in the house and he'd enjoyed the one he'd
had the night before.  He ate an ice cream sandwich.  And Sunday he wanted
Cheerios.  Yesterday he wanted toast with strawberry jam.  Today he had toast
with cinnamon sugar.

The whole point is that by ending the food battles (eat what I tell you to eat)
and allowing the child the opportunity to pick and choose foods with no
value added to their choice, a child will naturally pick a balanced diet.
It may not be balanced on a daily basis, but will be balanced over a weekly 
view.

Note, if ALL you have around the house to eat is "junk" food, this will not work
because you are not providing a variety of foods.  And if ALL you have around
the house is "health" food, this will not work because you are not providing
a variety of foods.  

All these questions seem to me like "You don't really mean what you say"
questions.  Yes, I do.  I really mean we do not differentiate food into
good for you and bad for you or food that makes you grow and food that 
doesn't make you grow.  We hold no value judgement (other than perhaps taste,
but that's personal opinion) on the food.  It is all nutritious.  It will all
help you grow.  It all has value.

And the result at ages 4 and 2 are children who choose from the whole variety
of foods and who may one day prefer a cookie, but may just as likely the next
day request a salad.  And who will always scarf down vegetables, especially
broccoli.  And who have yet to binge on chocolate to the point of making 
themselves sick.  Nor do they feel, like I do, that they are deprived if an
entire day goes by and they don't get any chocolate.  They've been known to
let whole weeks go by without chocolate (I eat mine at work) without even
noticing.  


-- 
Judy Leedom Tyrer

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"	- William Blake
Newsgroups: misc.kids