Updated: Oct. 12, 2023
It was just after 8 a.m. when my 9-year-old daughter, Lily, decided to heat up three slices of leftover pizza in the microwave. Clad in her favorite unicorn pajamas, her little belly peeked out as she reached for the timer.
“Hold on, Lily!” I exclaimed. “Pizza isn’t a breakfast food.”
She quickly began pressing buttons, perhaps hoping that if she started the microwave, I’d let it slide. But I had to pry the pizza away from her. A month ago, I might have let her indulge and explained afterward why it wasn’t the best choice—while she enjoyed it nonetheless. But my partner, Sarah, and I recently committed to promoting healthier eating habits in our household, aware that our kids had been eating poorly. The truth is, Sarah and I have been guilty of unhealthy eating ourselves.
To be candid, Sarah has a weakness for sweets, while I am addicted to soda. My diet primarily consists of sugary breakfast cereals—definitely not the wholesome kind. I have to give Sarah credit; she diligently incorporates fruits and vegetables into her meals each day. As for me, I consume them only when I feel pressured by the kids to set a good example.
My own eating habits are rather mundane, stemming from my pickiness as a child—a trait I never quite outgrew. While I’ve expanded my palate since then, I still avoid bold flavors and spices. For years, I accepted my fussiness as a personal flaw, but now, in my mid-30s, I’m witnessing my children mirror my unhealthy habits, particularly Lily.
As I placed the pizza back in the fridge, she shot me a look that screamed hypocrisy. At nearly 10 years old, she was becoming more discerning, and I realized I had become a walking contradiction. While I advocated for better eating, I held an energy drink in my hand. Sure, it was marketed as a breakfast beverage and had 5% juice, but she wasn’t buying it. “Can I have a soda for breakfast?” she asked.
Frustrated, I sighed. Not long ago, she wouldn’t have made that connection; she would have simply accepted my authority. But as she’s grown, she’s become more astute, and I couldn’t deny my hypocrisy. Yet, that’s what parenting often entails—striving to guide your children toward better choices while grappling with your own shortcomings.
I responded firmly, “No, you can’t.”
Lily’s eyes sparkled mischievously, and she tilted her head as if to challenge me. “Then why do you get one?” she asked, echoing a phrase I often used with my own parents. I reflected on all the times I had snuck snacks after the kids went to bed, indulging in ice cream while pretending to promote healthy habits. It dawned on me that I had to step up my game if I wanted my children to adopt better eating practices.
Reluctantly, I agreed, “Alright! I’ll save the pizza for later.” But Lily quickly countered, “Do I get one later?” She knew the rules: she was allowed one soda per week, while my consumption far exceeded that. With another sigh, I did something I didn’t want to do—I poured my energy drink down the drain.
Surprisingly, Lily didn’t look at me with admiration but rather with a slight fear, realizing I was serious about this. Together, we settled for a bowl of whole grain cereal. Neither of us was thrilled about it, but we both recognized it was a step in the right direction.
This, after all, is the crux of parenting—if you want your child to improve, you must also improve yourself. Sometimes that means making changes that aren’t exactly enjoyable. For more insights on self-care and parenting, check out our post on the at-home insemination kit for additional guidance. Additionally, you might find valuable information on mobile phone usage during pregnancy as well as resources at Mount Sinai’s infertility page to support your journey.
In summary, the challenge of encouraging healthy eating in children often reveals our own shortcomings as parents. To effectively guide our kids, we must first confront our habits and strive to be better ourselves.