Eye Opening Q&A

[eema.gray]

This morning there was a popular question asking about our "nutritionally devoid" breakfast of choice.  Let's just say the couple pages of responses I read were . . . . . eye opening to say the least.  There were quite a few reasonably healthy meals listed, some that had pretty good elements (almonds, a steak in the case of a night shift worker), and all sorts of justifications for their ice cream, coffee, and/or doughnut "meals."

Now I read about four pages of responses.  There were some meals listed that, in theory, sounded pretty good.  I mean, every time I go to Wal Mart by myself, I get a doughnut.  So the doughnuts, the candy bars, and (especially) the pumpkin pie ice cream "sounded" really good.  I'm pregnant.  In the mornings, I crave carbs to get myself up and running.

But then I thought about the breakfast that ended up on our table this morning:  Scrambled eggs, homemade, multi grain rolls (the multi grain part was the previous day's leftover oatmeal, lol), homemade lemon marmalade.  Yeled had milk, Ranger Daddy tea, and I had hot milk with a splash of coffee.  It tasted good.  It satisfied the palate as well as the stomach.  It wasn't full of fat and sugar but it filled us up and left us feeling good.  This is a fairly typical breakfast for us.  We have oatmeal at least three days a week, grits usually once or twice, eggs once or twice, and often a special breakfast on Saturday morning that could be biscuits and gravy, pancakes/waffles, french toast, or something else different from the usual.  And I remember the way I used to eat, when both RD and I were working swing shift.  "Breakfast" was usually something fast before work, very often fast food, and within an hour or two, I'd be starving again.  

As yummy as some of those junk food breakfast's sounded, I know from first hand experience that they don't keep a person full or focused for very long at all, leading to the vending machine down the hall or running out to the nearest C store for yet more candy/soda/other salty or sweet snacks.  I'm trying very hard not to be self righteous because it took several years of knowing what I *should* eat before I started actually eating it and because, as mentioned, I am not above the occasional mid morning doughnut or night time Twix bar.  But I was never *proud* of the way I ate.  I knew better.  My mother would be ashamed if she knew the way I used to eat.  She taught us much better food habits than fast food and meals in a box.  It's only been since we started intentionally trying to get pregnant, in 2007, that my food habits, and our family's food habits, have improved significantly.

So far, the pay off has been impressive.  My thyroid functions normally now, my husband's weight and cholesterol are down, as is his blood sugar, and our son adores above all else vegetables and fruit.  Like any toddler, he likes bread and pasta but he turns up his nose at such kid friendly staples as boxed mac and cheese.  His snacks are usually dried fruit and a bit of cheese.  Sometimes he'll agree to dry cereal but even that doesn't have much appeal to him.  It's been worth the changes to see him eat well and our pocketbook appreciates the changes as well.

[brandoneaglemom]

Sep. 24, 2009 at 1:24 AM

Good. I think the most important thing in raising a family is that we must be the one in control of what they put in thier mouth. As we go shopping we have to make the best choices in whats best for our family. And as they get older they will only choose foods that they have been taught to eat. Happy parenting and i wish you the best!!