Hey, have you ever asked yourself: "Am I being a good role model for my child and setting a good example?" OR do you say: "Do as I say, not as I do?"; Good questions. Now I want to relate these sayings to fitness and lifestyle...particularly mine.
I don't know exactly where my love of fitness came from...no one else in my family has the passion for it like I do. Perhaps it came from my friends or perhaps it came from the feelings I got when I excelled in sports in school; whatever the case may be, fitness has always been important to me and leading a healthy lifestyle just went along with it.
When I became a mother, I naturally wanted the best for my child...just as everyone does. To me, it was important that I nourish him with healthy foods that would allow him to grow into a strong, healthy boy. I always made my own baby foods by pureeing fresh fruits and vegetables for his meals, I never gave him sugary snacks until he was three and a half years old (and he rarely gets them now unless they come from other people), and I had no plans to ever take him to McDonald's and was appalled when one of my babysitters took him when he was only 2 years old! Meh, he goes there every once in a while with me or his dad now because kids seem to get hooked on McDonald's like grown ups get hooked on Timmy's!
Anyways, as Nathaniel gets older, I continue to try to give him the knowledge behind my decisions (just as I've done since he was born). For example: When he asks to go to McDonald's to eat, I explain to him how too many fried foods like french fries can clog his arteries which makes it harder for his heart to work efficiently, and when we are at the grocery store I explain to him that choosing the 100% Tropical Juice instead of the Five Alive Juice is healthier for him because it has no added sugar. And I would explain this to him even at only 2 years old! (which many people would raz me about).
Well I stuck to my guns, deciding that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, even for children...and guess what? It sunk in! I remember last year in kindergarten Nathaniel made comments to me about the how the juices that some other kids were drinking were full of sugar (and I explained that not everyone decides to drink 100% pure fruit juice and that we shouldn't judge people for what they choose to eat or drink). He has made comments like this about foods and drinks since daycare.
Now, at six and a half years old, when we go to McDonald's Nathaniel orders apple slices instead of fries (totally on his own!), and today we were celebrating my sister's birthday so I bought one of those tiny round pound cakes with a little Happy Birthday sign on it. The cake was cut into thirds because I was going to spin class and didn't want a piece, so there was a piece for Nathaniel, my sister, and my mother. When Nathaniel got his piece, he ate a bit of it and then stopped. When my mother asked him why he wasn't finishing his piece, he turned to us and said, "Duh, I'm trying to cut down on my sugars!" We all looked at each other and burst out laughing!
It's quite funny, especially the way he says it, but certainly not the first time I've heard him say something like this (and I'm sure it won't be the last). I look at that and see that my example and teachings about nutrition and exercise have had a dramatic impact on his life already.
I truly believe that we can create healthy children if we set a good example for them. What are we teaching them if we eat crap, don't exercise, are overweight, and have no energy for them? If we start taking care of ourselves, our children will benefit from it just as much as we will! :)
So take care, be healthy, and be happy! Our children will learn and grown from our examples!
Healthy Food for Thought!
