For the most part, my husband appreciates my efforts to give my children a healthy, balanced diet. He thinks it's great that I cook a wide variety of foods for them and make sure that vegetables are a part of every meal. But we do differ in our thinking when it comes to fast food. I know that most fast food restaurants have healthier options available and that it's okay to eat at these restaurants now and then if you are pressed for time- or even if you just want to. Personally, I'm not a fan of fast food, which is why I don't give it to my children. I respect that other parents choose differently, so I hope that others can respect my point of view in return. My husband considers fast food to be a treat, and thinks every kid should get a Happy Meal now and then. I don't feel like my kids are missing out on anything by not eating this type of food, and don't really consider it to be a "treat". The only treat they might be missing out on is the free prize in the bottom of the bag, but I think they will be just fine without it. I know that someday they'll probably be stopping at drive-thrus with their friends like I did when I was young. But for the most part, they just won't be getting that kind of food from me. We have treats in our house, and I want my kids to enjoy the foods they eat. But I'd much rather see them get excited about the good food we find at this week's Farmer's Market, instead of jumping up and down every time we drive past the Golden Arches. A recent study, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, found that children's time spent at fast food restaurants was actually impacted more by their fathers than mothers. So if a father ate a lot of fast food meals, their children likely did as well. This is surprising, given that so many children spend more time with their mothers. This was part of a 15-month study which looked at parents' use of time and how that impacted meal choices. In general, the less time parents had, the more likely the family was to eat fast food, which can also have an impact on obesity levels and overall health. It reinforces the idea that no matter how much time you have available, it's important to offer healthy foods and set a good example for the rest of the family. Interested in more resources for healthy family eating? Check out The 10 Commandments of Healthy Eating for Parents, and A Parent's Guide to Nutrition for Kids. What do you think? |
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