Q: I am trying to raise my children to eat well. It is hard with all the pressures and advertising for unhealthy foods like pop, potato chips and other readily available snack foods. My children always bug me to buy what they want when I shop and make a fuss if I don’t. What can I do about it?
A: Your challenge is to be more assertive with your children. Make it clear that you are the family shopper, not them. Don’t worry if they act up in the store. Ignore them and continue on. They will eventually notice their tactic doesn’t work. Patience will be your greatest challenge.
Read Also
Communication key to bridging generation gap
Each generation is shaped by the predominant forces at play during their formative years. Acknowledging these influences can improve communication among the generations.
Guiding children into healthy eating habits is a major task. They are conditioned by the advertising media and friends to want foods that are highly processed and high in fats and sugars.
Parents, however, are the managers of the house. They make decisions about what foods are bought and have to resist temptations, like the junk food that is always close to checkouts or to buy foods already prepared because they are time-savers.
Shopping tips
Here are some suggestions that may help. I encourage readers to send me their ideas as well.
- If you need to have the children with you when you shop, have them bring something that will occupy them such as a small toy or a book.
- Have a grocery list prepared. If the children are old enough they can ask in advance to considerbuying something. If it is written down you can more easily control impulse shopping. The children may not like it at first, but will eventually get used to the rule that what is bought is decided before entering the store.
- Look for alternatives to theirrequests. If they want potato chips, indicate you are willing to buy pretzels that have less fat. If they want to buy pop, buy alternatives. Frozen fruit juices are economical andadding a bit of sparkling soda makes it a treat without adding too many calories.
Good eating habits only occur over time. One suggestion is to decide that the beverages served with meals will be only nutritious ones, such as milk or juices. Pop or its equivalent sugary powders are reserved for social occasions, not as part of a meal.
Grandparents often face this same problem when grandchildren come to visit. They have one advantage though. They can say, “You’re at Grandma’s house now and Grandma decides what food she has here.”
It’s nice to spoil our grandchildren, but giving in to their junk food demands is not good for them or for grandparents.
Peter Griffiths is a mental health counsellor based in Prince Albert, Sask. His columns are intended as general advice only. His website is wwwsasktelwebsite.net/petecope.
