For years I've said to my husband (and myself) "I want to eat better. I want our whole family to eat better". And for years I did nothing about it. Not that we ate terribly, it was just that I knew we could do better. I did (and still do) the majority of the grocery shopping and cooking in our house. It's a job I love to do, and I take that responsibility very seriously. But...mixed in with wanting to provide my family with nutritious meals is the desire to make them all happy with foods that they'll love to eat. Oh, and did I mention I have 3 kids? Nutritious AND great tasting? If you're my 14 year old son, you'll argue that those two don't always mix - especially if you're talking about vegetables.
Can we do it? Yes we can. Will we do it 100% of the time? Probably not. And that's OK! I know, I know...we often hold ourselves to such high standards that anything less than perfect is unacceptable. You have to learn to let it go - the ideal of perfection. And, don't punish yourself or beat yourself up if (and when) you fall short. Life is a balancing act, and that holds true when it comes to eating.
Don't get hung on whether or not everyone likes what you make. That one might be difficult - especially of you're a people pleaser like me. Feeding a family and expecting everyone to like what you serve all of time is just not going to happen. It's not. When I shifted our meals into a much healthier and cleaner direction, my kids were less than thrilled. There were complaints, faces, and probably some tears too. But, they survived each time. It really didn't take long for my family to get used to a change in eating habit.
I think a big key is getting them involved. My kids love learning to cook...guess the apples didn't fall far from this tree. Letting your kids help plan a meal, and teaching them how to make is a great way to have them excited about what they're going to eat. Of course you want to be age appropriate, but even a young child can help mix ingredients. Educate them about the food you're feeding them.
Also work on that willpower when you buy groceries! Clean out your kitchen and eliminate the foods you don't want them to eat - or you to be tempted with. Having 'junk' food in your house for the kids is a killer when it comes to eating healthy. If it's in the house it could end up feeding your cravings and weaker moments. And if you have younger kids in the house, they aren't able to go to the store and get it for themselves. If you share the grocery shopping responsibility with others in your household, ask that they don't buy junk either. It's important to have healthy options available for everyone in the house.
Remember to be gentle with yourself. It is both a journey and a learning process. The more you can share it with those in your life, the more success you are likely to find. Next week we will have some family friendly nutritious and delicious food that your family can try!
~ Bonnie
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