Food?

Disclaimer:  I LOVE goodies such as cookies, brownies and almost all things sugar.  I really like the occasional chip or bag of popcorn, but...

The girls and I ran to Walmart this morning to buy groceries.  While waiting in line to pay I was being nosey.  I looked around to see what groceries other people were purchasing.  You know what I saw....processed everything.  I didn't see a single fresh fruit or veggie.  I saw packaged cookies, bags of popcorn, piles of meat, and gallons upon gallons of fruit drinks (not juice).  I saw cases of soda and dozens of frozen waffles and pancakes.  And I saw sweet little children watching their mamas pay for it. 

Now I am not perfect nor will I pretend to be.  I eat dessert just about everyday.  But I can also say that our kitchen is stocked with apples, grapes, plums, dried fruits, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, corn and more.  I have tried really hard over the last 6 to 9 months to make a conscious change in our meals.  I try to include as many fruits and veggies as I can get my family to eat in one sitting.  I really want to help my girls understand what healthy is. 

With so many girls constantly worried about their weight, I want to give my girls every opportunity to understand that life isn't about what you weigh but how happy you are.  And happy living includes a healthy lifestyle of good eating, fun exercise and yes, dessert.

As my girls grow I want to set a good example.  I will never call myself or anyone else fat.  Nor will I ever ask my girls if I look fat in an outfit.  I am proud that Matt and I are runners and I hope our girls will look up to us for it.  Kate often asks Matt and me why we run.  Our response; we want to be big and strong.  And she loves that answer.  In fact, she will strap our Garmin (running watch) to her wrist, run a lap around the house and then say 'feel me...I'm big and strong!' 

Big, strong, healthy and beautiful!  Now go get yourself an apple!