As the holidays approach, many people find themselves faced with the big question of "what do we get for the kids?". Childhood obesity and diabetes is on the rise all over the world but especially seems to stand out here in the United States. There appear to be a multitude of factors involved: sedentary lifestyle, high calorie processed foods, oversized portions, and poorly balanced nutrition, to name a few. Unfortunately we have allowed our culture to lose the importance of gathering for a family meal and appreciating the food that we take in while in each other's company. Family meals have been replaced by fast food, eating on the road, and preparing quick and easy meals at home to put in front of the children, many times leaving them to eat alone at the table. I just heard a report on the radio this morning about how high calorie fast food meals not only promote oversized portions (16 oz soft drinks, extra large fries), but many of these meals can be purchased for a cheap price, which makes it alluring to busy parents who "don't have time to cook". Now, let's get one thing straight. We, myself included, are all guilty of the occasional fast-food run. But one must keep control over these outings so as not to make their children think that this is a normal part of our diet and lifestyle. And besides, it's just not healthy. How many times have you had that double cheeseburger and fries with a soft drink and then felt absolutely sluggish and uncomfortable afterwards? These are the habits that our children are learning and it is killing their health and affecting their lives.
Children's bodies grow at a fast rate. Their brains are constantly growing, taking in new information, sensations, etc. Muscles and bones require the proper nutrients for optimum growth and strength. Children's blood sugar levels need to remain constant to optimize attention, focus, and work/play output. In this week's New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope cites a study done at Columbia University about children, nutrition, and food preparation in her article, Beyond Cupcakes: Children in the Kitchen . She also provides names and authors of the most recent family cookbooks and most importantly, reiterates that teaching a child basic cooking skills will help them to be less picky eaters and make better food choices as they grow into adulthood. In addition to what is mentioned in the NYTimes article, I have some book suggestions of my own which I have found to be helpful as a mom teaching her children to take part in their food preparation. I highly recommend the following books not only for cooking, but for learning more about preparing meals for your children that will fuel them nutritionally:
- The Family Nutrition Book: Everything You Need to Know About Feeding Your Children from Birth Through Adolescence by Dr. William Sears
- Superfoods for Children: How to Boost Your Child's Health and Brainpower from Preconception, Babies and Toddlers, Through to the Teenage Years by Barbara Griggs and Michael van Straten
So, all you adults out there--think about providing the children and parents in your lives with a cookbook or cooking lessons (many supermarkets now, such as ShopRite, offer adult/child cooking classes) as a holiday gift this year. They will gain invaluable skills that will last them a lifetime.
