Day 4: Their Piece of the Pie

We're warped with food. There's recalled beef from cows too sick to walk. There's talk of FDA approved cloned meat on the horizon. There's big, genetically modified apples that are only chalky reminders of their juicy, ancestral cousins. And that's just on the processing end. Add to that all of the psychological complexities of eating that contribute to eating disorders, obesity and misery, and I wonder how best to make Fresh Mouth and all of our future eating as a family healthy and happy. For me, feeding a family is tough business today. Is this a universal maternal misgiving?

In terms of logistics, Fresh Mouth is on track as a first step for ingredients and the menu, but I came across a practical, really positive resource for the act of feeding kids. There's an author and "internationally recognized authority on eating and feeding" named Ellyn Satter who's mission is to "help children and adults be joyful and competent with eating."

How? She sums it up like this, "Feeding demands a division of responsibility. Parents are responsible for the what, when and where of feeding; Children are responsible for the how much and whether of eating..." It seems so simple, but even practicing the method at dinner tonight was so helpful. I offered pizza - a known quantity and sure thing- but I added a salad and let them pick what to put in it salad-bar style. They never eat salad, but tonight they actually put some in their bowls. Aidan added a few shredded carrots (yes, the exotic carrot) and Patrick topped his with cheese. Each one only ate about one bite of plain lettuce, but this is a small miracle. It made them feel positive and in control. I felt good because it was healthy. What a simple win-win. Fresh Mouth in the house. Yes.

Check out Satter's site and books. There are good tips and common pitfalls to avoid like short-order cooking to appease all palates - something I struggle with.

And in a small act of synchronicity, Patrick's class is studying "Healthy Habits" this week. In lieu of a snack, each one of the nine kids was to bring in a component of a salad to make as a class today. He provided lettuce. He was a bit bothered to learn that salad would be his snack today. Still some requests for dessert, but overall this was a good day.

Menu
Breakfast: Yogurt with homemade granola and OJ with fish oil. (Still a lot of sugar, here, I know. I am being more conscious though!)

Lunch: Patrick and I ate his salad, grilled cheese sandwiches on homemade bread and strawberries. Aidan's lunches are tougher because they have to hold up. I bought him a Bento box for kindergarten, and he stopped using it. I think we need to use it again. Check out Laptop Lunches. He ate homemade bread and jam, applesauce, dried cranberries and more pretzels. Any ideas for snacks?

Dinner: Homemade cheese pizza with some of the baby's pureed carrots in the sauce, salad, apple slices with sprinkled cinnamon and organic milk. Dirk is out to eat for work. He may just be the one to fall off the wagon first as predicted. We don't eat out (maybe five times a year) so this could be a downfall.

Nugget o' the Day: "Is everyone doing Fresh Mouth?" - Patrick after learning that his class was making a salad for today's snack as a part of their "Healthy Habits" week. I think he thinks it's a global conspiracy.