Don't eat read meat. Avoid dairy and soy. Try a gluten free diet for better health. Become a vegan. Stay away from GMOs. Eat only raw food. When did eating become such a chore? Has food changed so much in the last 20 years that we need all these complicated rules? Sometimes it is just overwhelming. Are we making the right choices for ourselves and our families? Did we condemn our children to a life of bad health because we indulged while we were pregnant?
I look at the foods available in the supermarket, and yes, there are a lot of new products. However, there are also many of the same products available today that were available when I was growing up as a child. Much like how my children play with the same toys I played with, they are eating the same kinds of foods I ate.
We had Swanson meat pies for dinner sometimes. We ate chips and hot dogs and drank pop at birthday parties. We drank...juice, gasp! We went trick or treating and came home with bagfuls of horrible candy and chocolate. Something has changed. I guess it is because these bad foods were "treats" when we were growing up, and now they are the norm.
I think back to how much exercise we got as kids. Where I grew up, everyone had to walk to school. We would often play with our friends on the way home. We watched TV too. It was the start of the gaming age, so we played video games. We also played with our other toys, like cars, Barbies and Lego. We did a lot of imaginative play. I remember a rock on my back yard that lead to the Batcave. We pretended we were characters from the Hercules cartoon. See, we were inspired by our TV watching.
I see my children doing the same thing. We generally limit their TV time, and they are involved in activities like gymnastic, swimming and soccer. Their imaginative play is based on TV, game and movie characters. In fact, I think we do much more engaging activities with our children than my parents did with us. Granted, we would go out and play with our friends down the road, but my children do not know the kids on our street. Their friends from school do not live nearby.
My hometown was small, and self contained. Kids went to one of two schools, so our friends from school were probably our neighbours too. There were no major through ways in our town, therefore, traffic was not an issue. Where we live right now is not much bigger in population, but there are four school boards, and even more schools. Friends might live a five to fifteen minute drive away. Plus, there is a highway nearby, and despite having three stop signs on our road, the people drive very quickly. I would not feel safe leaving my kids to fend for themselves outside.
Exercise aside, are families really incapable of feeding themselves with wholesome foods? I am able to make quick home cooked meals with meat/fish vegetables and a side, regularly. I do not have to resort to boxed food either. Is it really as complicated as all these experts are making it seem? Have we become a society that does not understand moderation? I see this as the root of the problem.
As long as you eat a balanced diet and do not over indulge in the junk food, you should be fine. Food is one of those things that brings enjoyment to life. Many happy memories are associated and centred around meals. We can still enjoy a healthy life and eat dessert. Just don't have two helpings of the dessert (or dinner, for that matter).
Unless you are celiac or lactose intolerant, you can eat wheat and dairy products. Yes, you should cut down on sugar, salt and fat, but that does not mean completely eliminating them from your diet. Go for quality, not quantity. Avoid boxed food. Learn to cook, and teach your children too. Buy fresh food. If possible, grow some of your own food in the summer. Buy food that is in season. Use your head, and still enjoy eating. Moderation and some exercise and we would all be in better shape.
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