As the warm spring wind blows away winter’s cold, I’ve decided to make some changes around here.
Throughout our day we usually have two snack sessions: the first at about 10 a.m., and the second around 3 p.m. As you can imagine, we get our share of processed foods. For example, we usually have granola bars, pretzels, and any number of crackers plentiful in the cupboard. Though I have no problem with our eating of snacks, I do think we eat too many processed foods during these times.
My children do like fruit. But too often, in the rush of our busy days, crackers or pretzels are what they go for. And the lonely fruit sits and rots, forgotten in the deep dark fridge.
I’ve come up with a possible solution: I’ve decided to make our 10 a.m. morning snack be a fruit snack. I’m not talking about fruit juice or items that contain fruit ingredients, I’m talking about eating actual fruit – bananas, oranges, grapes, apples, etc. Just simple, refreshing real fruit.
How am I going to get my children to go along with it? Well, not in a extreme, pushy way.
In addition to suggesting a morning fruit snack, my plan is to set out freshly washed fruit around 9:45 a.m. With shiny fruit smiling at them in a bright, colorful bowl, what’s to stop them?
If that doesn’t work, then I’ll move on to plan B – which will be to tell them they have to eat a piece of fruit sometime before they go to bed. They may just take the fruit early, and get it over with.
For us, I think this is a change worth making. Imagine how much of a positive impact it could have on their growth and development if they add in another piece of fruit each day over time. My goal is to gently and welcomingly develop better eating habits in them. Morning snack time seems like a great time to make sure fruit is included in their day. If I’m lucky, they may even carry the habit into adulthood.
And do you know what I’ve noticed? They often watch me to see what I’m snacking on. Yes, I’ll be joining them in the morning fruit snack. No excuses for me, either. 😉
How do you encourage healthier eating habits in your family?
At Home in the Northwoods 