So, I am not the amazing mother that makes baby food at home by pureeing only the most pure, organic fruits and veggies.

I buy the pre-made stuff. I know all the virtues of making your own (nutrients, saving money, etc.), but I’m just exhausted as a mother, and the Gerber stuff wins out.

I do nurse my babies for about a year though, and both of my babies loved to nurse. Lurrrrrrved to nurse. Lurvy, lovey, lovey.

And I don’t give my kids a lot of junk food, and I don’t have a problem saying “No” when they ask for something that is junky, even if I’m eating it right in front of them. They are used to it, and so it usually isn’t too much of a problem.

An interesting thing happened the week before we started on this healthy eating plan. I made 2 sheets of Chocolate Ganache Mint Brownies!  Oh!  The memory!  It kills me almost.

Anyway, we nibbled on these for the full week before we knew we’d begin our 6 week healthy eating plan. About twice a day I would share a small nibble with Roo, usually after lunch or dinner. One day I gave her a small nibble.

A few moments later she came back to me and said, “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

Classic. Then, even more classic: “I want more chocolate brownie!”

My reply (totally predictable): “Well, honey, if you’re really hungry, why don’t we have a banana or some carrots? Maybe a glass of milk?” And of course, you can predict how successful that was.

But her final reply really reinforced my resolved for our upcoming new healthy eating change: “But Mommy! It’s just that I’m hungry, but I’m not hungry for that! You gave me chocolate and now my body is hungry for more chocolate!”

Uh-oh.

How is a 5 year old so articulate?

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Here is a journal entry from a week ago, and you’ll have to forgive me because it sounds TOTALLY preachy. Oh well, I was writing it for myself. I was pumping myself up for the huge change ahead, I was trying to figure out how I would incorporate this change for our whole family:

I will definitely not buy less nutritious food for my kids than what I’m willing to buy for myself. In fact, if anything it has been the opposite at our house. When Roo was born and began eating solids, I did not give her sweets or junky food (chocolate, Cheetos, etc.). One example: at about 9 months old I would buy her yogurt, but only the plain kind–not anything sweetened (even with sugar substitutes). You know what? She liked it. I’m not kidding. She didn’t know otherwise, and neither did her taste buds or cravings.

Occasionally my children will find me eating a treat and naturally they will want some. To this I say, “No honey, this is for mommy only. Would you like some…(banana? etc.)”  Take Roo for example: since she hadn’t ever tasted a brownie (until much older), I hadn’t established that precedent with her and she was (and still is) fine with the rule that sometimes what Mommy and Daddy eat is just for them, not for the kids. We don’t drink alcohol or coffee or smoke, but it would be the same with these addictive substances, so why not the same for addictive sweets and junk food? They’re just not suitable for kids.

Bottom line, I’m the parent, I’m responsible for my children’s nutrient intake, so I need to toughen up and do my job.

Sometimes that means saying “No.”  Sometimes it means you have to get in the kitchen (even though you’re exhausted and sleep deprived, and tired of picking up messes) and cut up some veggies and fruits, and give your child a good variety of food choices. Sometimes you have to insist that if they are truly hungry, they can eat these foods to feel healthy and strong and satisfied. Sometimes it is a battle. Being a parent is not for wimps.

I often give myself these kind of pep talks, whether it be about feeding my kids healthy food, or turning off the T.V. Reaching for the Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies crackers is slightly better than reaching for the Cheese-Its, but not much. It is easier than slicing up an apple, and it’s certainly better than offering a handful of Dorritos. But I want to offer the apple, some cucumber slices, carrots, beans, wholewheat pita with humus, grapes, blueberries, etc. You get the point. That’s what I’m shooting for.