Natural family living
How To Get Kids To Eat Well
12/Jul/08 12:53 Filed in: News | Maintaining
Connection
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
as happy as a kid in a cabbage patch?
I have been thinking of writing a post on kids and eating and then changed my mind as it seemed like a tangent away from my focus. But guess what? A recently released research study proved that it is right on topic.
They found the indicator for having kids who eat well was modeling the behavior. That's right--It's not a free-for-all permissiveness, where kids eat whatever they want when they want nor is it authoritarian control, which they describe as "banning certain foods, for instance, or using pressure to get them to eat fruits and vegetables."
The most effective way for parents to have kids who learn how to eat healthful diets is to set some limits and eat that way themselves.
This is somewhat intuitive if you know about how children learn everything in life and how they develop and bond to their caregivers. But some of us, who weren't raised that way, sometimes need to reprogram ourselves, especially with media and many of the people around us unaware of these dynamics.
Let me tell you--I did not learn how to eat healthy from my family or culture. But I decided to reprogram myself and then give my child the advantage of growing up that way, because I knew how challenging it was to overcome eating habits learned in childhood.
Some ideas I use from my child's babyhood on:
as happy as a kid in a cabbage patch?
I have been thinking of writing a post on kids and eating and then changed my mind as it seemed like a tangent away from my focus. But guess what? A recently released research study proved that it is right on topic.
They found the indicator for having kids who eat well was modeling the behavior. That's right--It's not a free-for-all permissiveness, where kids eat whatever they want when they want nor is it authoritarian control, which they describe as "banning certain foods, for instance, or using pressure to get them to eat fruits and vegetables."
The most effective way for parents to have kids who learn how to eat healthful diets is to set some limits and eat that way themselves.
This is somewhat intuitive if you know about how children learn everything in life and how they develop and bond to their caregivers. But some of us, who weren't raised that way, sometimes need to reprogram ourselves, especially with media and many of the people around us unaware of these dynamics.
Let me tell you--I did not learn how to eat healthy from my family or culture. But I decided to reprogram myself and then give my child the advantage of growing up that way, because I knew how challenging it was to overcome eating habits learned in childhood.
Some ideas I use from my child's babyhood on:
- Believe It is possible for kid's to learn to eat well and enjoy it.
- Connect with child while providing food. To create pleasant eating experiences feed children while touching, making eye contact, smiling and a slight "yes" nod of the head. Humans are social and the sharing and giving of food is a nurturing behavior and a basic way to create a bond with a child.
- Make sure you offer hugs or other forms of nurturing to a child who is upset instead of always offering food.
- Use very little processed foods. For us, this included commercial baby foods and many of the prepared snacks that are common to give babies, toddlers and kids. And no, I didn't elaborately prepare my own baby food. While I hold that as a lovely idea, it just wasn't high on my priority list as a single mom with the resources available to me. What I did was get a bit creative using the foods that I ate myself, which could be prepared baby and toddler. And I trusted my baby to explore food and eat as her body told her to without me forcing or cajoling.
- Use food with very little additives. Become a label reader to avoid chemicals and especially high fructose corn syrup.
- Use food that is as close to natural state as possible as snacks. Broccoli florets, carrot sticks, edamame, hard-boiled eggs, corn on the cob (cooked or raw), cherry tomatoes, skinless and boneless sardines, watermelon, etc...
- Take those snacks outside. Often kids will eat foods outside that they won't consider at the table.
- Use very little processed sugar. I'm always looking for alternatives. There are a lot out there. (Look for my next post for some great summer ideas)
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Drums Along the Hudson (Native American Festival in Inwood) and Happy Birthday to Me
14/May/08 14:03 Filed in: Living
Authentically
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
I've told you how I adore celebrations in my Easter/Spring Post. Well, this is how I celebrated my birthday last Saturday, May 3. This is a truly down-to-earth, authentic, kid-loving festival that happens every year in Inwood.
Send more pics, if you have 'em
drumming by inwood's own harambee african dance troupe
harambee's rhythms inspire breaking through the barricade
dancing, dancing, dancing a shoe off. a little help from my friends
"yeah, i'm next." (then she jumps on the stage with the dancers)
remember, i said kid-lovin'? these dancers welcomed her
warwick gombey troupe from bermuda wow'd us with dance, music and dress
mesmerized by the gombey
laughing at my choice
of only three candles
I've told you how I adore celebrations in my Easter/Spring Post. Well, this is how I celebrated my birthday last Saturday, May 3. This is a truly down-to-earth, authentic, kid-loving festival that happens every year in Inwood.
Send more pics, if you have 'em
drumming by inwood's own harambee african dance troupe
harambee's rhythms inspire breaking through the barricade
dancing, dancing, dancing a shoe off. a little help from my friends
"yeah, i'm next." (then she jumps on the stage with the dancers)
remember, i said kid-lovin'? these dancers welcomed her
warwick gombey troupe from bermuda wow'd us with dance, music and dress
mesmerized by the gombey
laughing at my choice
of only three candles
The Joy of Celebration
23/Mar/08 21:04 Filed in: Living
Authentically
by Rosie Blitchington
Centeno
early afternoon easter sun. late afternoon shadows in bruce's gardern.
I absolutely adore celebrations. Not only do they provide an opportunity to put my creativity to work on more focused level, now that I am a parent, they also allow me to give to my daughter in a more profound way than I do in the everyday.
Celebrations serve to pass on culture and values to children. Since I am committed to living consciously, I want to make sure that I am making choices in my family, as well as in all areas of my life, that are in-line with my values and beliefs, to make sure that I am living authentically. This is a premise of Life Coaching and one reason that I was drawn to it. I enjoy supporting others in identifying their goals and values and designing their lives according to them. It is all too common to get caught up in everyday pressures, as well as pressures others impose on us, and before we are aware of it, we aren't living authentically. Nor are we parenting authentically.
While I value these more serious elements of celebrations, which include connecting with our own parenting beliefs, connecting with each other and with the transitions of the life, I also believe they are a time to have fun and enjoy each other. That just feels good! And bear with me a moment while I circle back to the previous point, we all learn best when we are having fun. (That's why I make sure my NYC Parenting and Family Workshops are fun, while I'm presenting material that is serious in nature.)
With this commitment to authenticity in mind, I prepared a Easter and Welcoming Spring Celebration with my toddler.
To honor my desire to keep our food as healthful and chemical-free as possible, we went the natural route described on Slashfood when dyeing our Easter Eggs. We used frozen blueberries, one of Ariella's favorite foods. Along with two tsp. of white vinegar, we put them in a pot with just enough water to cover the uncooked eggs.
This dyeing technique was a toddler's dream--sticking her hands in a pot full of purple water and squeezing each of the berries until the juice popped. Below is a photo of the eggs, which will give you an idea as to the actual colors they took on, after boiling for fifteen minutes and then sitting in the water for about two hours. Keep in mind I used brown eggs from the farmer's market, each with its own "imperfection."
the beauty of natural imperfection
Originally, we planned to draw on the eggs with our Stockmar beeswax crayons, but the eggs were so striking that we held off.
While Ariella slept, I placed them on the table with all of the other Spring Bounty: a wooden bowl full of Clementines, a plant that Ariella picked out for herself called pocketbook flower, and a basket full of some of her other favorites, including grapes, plastic eggs with balls inside, bubbles and almond cupcakes with Cacao Bliss icing. And a stuffed bunny acting as a sentinel to keep Kitty away.
The next morning, I was behind the scenes, as we parents often are, quietly experiencing a heart filled with the joy of giving and watching with wonder at my child's discoveries.
Later we took the baskets out for our picnic and the Easter bunny made off with the eggs, hiding them at the base of a copse of trees. After we found them, we went looking for that mischievous bunny, who left his ears behind.
i heard he went that-a-way, around the corner!
I'd love to hear how all of you celebrate. I invite you to share in the comments section below:
early afternoon easter sun. late afternoon shadows in bruce's gardern.
I absolutely adore celebrations. Not only do they provide an opportunity to put my creativity to work on more focused level, now that I am a parent, they also allow me to give to my daughter in a more profound way than I do in the everyday.
Celebrations serve to pass on culture and values to children. Since I am committed to living consciously, I want to make sure that I am making choices in my family, as well as in all areas of my life, that are in-line with my values and beliefs, to make sure that I am living authentically. This is a premise of Life Coaching and one reason that I was drawn to it. I enjoy supporting others in identifying their goals and values and designing their lives according to them. It is all too common to get caught up in everyday pressures, as well as pressures others impose on us, and before we are aware of it, we aren't living authentically. Nor are we parenting authentically.
While I value these more serious elements of celebrations, which include connecting with our own parenting beliefs, connecting with each other and with the transitions of the life, I also believe they are a time to have fun and enjoy each other. That just feels good! And bear with me a moment while I circle back to the previous point, we all learn best when we are having fun. (That's why I make sure my NYC Parenting and Family Workshops are fun, while I'm presenting material that is serious in nature.)
With this commitment to authenticity in mind, I prepared a Easter and Welcoming Spring Celebration with my toddler.
To honor my desire to keep our food as healthful and chemical-free as possible, we went the natural route described on Slashfood when dyeing our Easter Eggs. We used frozen blueberries, one of Ariella's favorite foods. Along with two tsp. of white vinegar, we put them in a pot with just enough water to cover the uncooked eggs.
This dyeing technique was a toddler's dream--sticking her hands in a pot full of purple water and squeezing each of the berries until the juice popped. Below is a photo of the eggs, which will give you an idea as to the actual colors they took on, after boiling for fifteen minutes and then sitting in the water for about two hours. Keep in mind I used brown eggs from the farmer's market, each with its own "imperfection."
the beauty of natural imperfection
Originally, we planned to draw on the eggs with our Stockmar beeswax crayons, but the eggs were so striking that we held off.
While Ariella slept, I placed them on the table with all of the other Spring Bounty: a wooden bowl full of Clementines, a plant that Ariella picked out for herself called pocketbook flower, and a basket full of some of her other favorites, including grapes, plastic eggs with balls inside, bubbles and almond cupcakes with Cacao Bliss icing. And a stuffed bunny acting as a sentinel to keep Kitty away.
The next morning, I was behind the scenes, as we parents often are, quietly experiencing a heart filled with the joy of giving and watching with wonder at my child's discoveries.
Later we took the baskets out for our picnic and the Easter bunny made off with the eggs, hiding them at the base of a copse of trees. After we found them, we went looking for that mischievous bunny, who left his ears behind.
i heard he went that-a-way, around the corner!
I'd love to hear how all of you celebrate. I invite you to share in the comments section below: