Comments on: Kids and Obesity http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2007/04/19/kids-and-obesity/ Respect Your Food. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:00:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Scott Kustes http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2007/04/19/kids-and-obesity/#comment-36 Scott Kustes Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:06:00 +0000 http://www.modernforager.com/blog/?p=102#comment-36 Hi Anna,<br/>Great work on trying to keep your son on the right track! It's very hard in our current food environment...cheap sugary processed foods are everywhere and produce is expensive in relation. I don't have any kids yet, but I figure when it comes to teenagers, the best we can do is show them the way for the first 12-14 years and hope they stay on the path once they reach independence. Kids are going to eat fast food, but if they make healthful choices most of the time, they'll be doing far better than any other kids. <br/><br/>Maybe when you do tell him about your glucose issues, it'll be enough to push him towards the right path. Keep up the great work!<br/><br/>Take care<br/>Scott Hi Anna,
Great work on trying to keep your son on the right track! It’s very hard in our current food environment…cheap sugary processed foods are everywhere and produce is expensive in relation. I don’t have any kids yet, but I figure when it comes to teenagers, the best we can do is show them the way for the first 12-14 years and hope they stay on the path once they reach independence. Kids are going to eat fast food, but if they make healthful choices most of the time, they’ll be doing far better than any other kids.

Maybe when you do tell him about your glucose issues, it’ll be enough to push him towards the right path. Keep up the great work!

Take care
Scott

]]> By: Anna in San Diego, CA http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2007/04/19/kids-and-obesity/#comment-35 Anna in San Diego, CA Fri, 20 Apr 2007 03:03:00 +0000 http://www.modernforager.com/blog/?p=102#comment-35 Hi Scott,<br/>I couldn't agree more! At the beginning of the school year my second grader's teacher asked the parents to refrain from sending lots of sugary things for birthdays and other celebrations. I thought that was great, until I realized that she meant muffins instead of cupcakes or donuts! I should have known. And you know the "muffins" that most people send in, the cheap-o grocery store version that is basically a cupcake in disguise. <br/><br/>And throughout the year, the teacher gives cheap candy treats at the end of days when the kids have been especially good. <br/><br/>After school, the PTA or the older grades frequently sell novelty ice cream, candy bars, or holds bake sales (store-bought sugary baked donations are as plentiful as home-baked from a mix, and baked from scratch is truly rare). I purposely never walk to school with money so I can deflect the appeals from my son. <br/><br/>I know my views on food are quite a bit different from the norm in our middle class, generic suburban community, and I do the best I can to not make my kid feel deprived ( at home I try to make such great food that he doesn't realize he isn't getting processed junk). And it's a bit of a tricky balance to keep it positive & focussed on good nutrition more than on what I don't want him to have (he has no weight issues). My husband doesn't want me to talk to him yet about the glucose metabolism issues that I have, but I worry that he might someday develop the same. So it's a struggle going with the flow, yet sticking to my principles, sometimes in opposition of the other parents and school. And before long, my son will be eating away from the family more often. I shudder when I read statistics on soda drinking quantities by teenage boys, especially.<br/><br/>Sometimes I can see why people home school. It has crossed my mind more than once, especially because of the "education" he gets about food at school.<br/><br/>Cheers,<br/>Anna Hi Scott,
I couldn’t agree more! At the beginning of the school year my second grader’s teacher asked the parents to refrain from sending lots of sugary things for birthdays and other celebrations. I thought that was great, until I realized that she meant muffins instead of cupcakes or donuts! I should have known. And you know the “muffins” that most people send in, the cheap-o grocery store version that is basically a cupcake in disguise.

And throughout the year, the teacher gives cheap candy treats at the end of days when the kids have been especially good.

After school, the PTA or the older grades frequently sell novelty ice cream, candy bars, or holds bake sales (store-bought sugary baked donations are as plentiful as home-baked from a mix, and baked from scratch is truly rare). I purposely never walk to school with money so I can deflect the appeals from my son.

I know my views on food are quite a bit different from the norm in our middle class, generic suburban community, and I do the best I can to not make my kid feel deprived ( at home I try to make such great food that he doesn’t realize he isn’t getting processed junk). And it’s a bit of a tricky balance to keep it positive & focussed on good nutrition more than on what I don’t want him to have (he has no weight issues). My husband doesn’t want me to talk to him yet about the glucose metabolism issues that I have, but I worry that he might someday develop the same. So it’s a struggle going with the flow, yet sticking to my principles, sometimes in opposition of the other parents and school. And before long, my son will be eating away from the family more often. I shudder when I read statistics on soda drinking quantities by teenage boys, especially.

Sometimes I can see why people home school. It has crossed my mind more than once, especially because of the “education” he gets about food at school.

Cheers,
Anna

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