How Kids Think

WE HAVE A WINNER  Did you enter the drawing for the beautiful romantic cupcake set I'm giving away? If so, the winner announcement follows this post, so read on!


How Kids Think

Any mom knows how tough it is to keep the whole family happy when it comes to food on the table, or even in the cupboards, for that matter. I try my darndest not to run out of the staples my husband cares most about, such as eggs, milk and cream for coffee.  But keeping the offspring happy can be tricky.

For instance, anyone following this blog knows how I've reformed my eating habits. I eat mostly organic, fresh foods, and have drastically decreased consumption of processed foods for the family. If anything, it raises the challenge of keeping happy campers because the kids need to re-learn healthy habits, too.

Kids are supposed to learn quickly, aren't they? Ha--witness the list I found on the fridge this morning: 

Older child put up the list. Youngest child added items 2 and 3: "Junk Food" and "Maccoronie"(sic)"


 The youngest knows it would be fruitless to say to me, "Mom, we need junk food!" but apparently putting it on a list is different. (I'm surprised she didn't add "Thou Shalt Buy," before her items.)

Just so you know, I sometimes DO buy food I consider "junk" because it's my fault I've raised junkies, and I don't want their transformation to healthy eating to cause withdrawal pains! (Some people consider sugar to be a drug, by the way. Sally Fallon includes information about this in Nourishing Traditions, a book I've spoken about before here on the blog. Dr. Mercola also warns about sugar as being drug-like; check out his post called "Is Sugar More Addictive than Cocaine?")

At the same time, I believe our penchant for preferring sweets is a God-given thing, so it's not all bad. Fortunately, I'm seeing my older daughter making more and  more healthy desserts, with no prodding on my part. (I'll share some of those recipes eventually.) She benefits in two ways: learning the ropes in the kitchen, (as she experiments with substituting healthy sweeteners for empty calories in white sugar) AND by discovering that eating healthy can be satisfying and yes--even sweet!

Are you trying to re-educate the youngsters in your life? How is that going for you? Maybe you're still trying to educate yourself--aren't we all! Share a comment and you'll be entered in my new drawing for the following:

  
Inspiring Women of the Faith--Stories about Sojourner Truth, Florence Nightingale, Corrie Ten Boom and many others. This is the sort of book I like my daughters to read; books that show women have always had gumption--courage--and used it for God. Recently I noticed in the Book of Chronicles, for instance, that there was a woman named Sheera who is credited with building three cities! A woman--in ancient Israel--BUILT three cities. (I'm not saying she was the actual brick-layer, but she WAS the mastermind, the architect, the visionary and director. I call THAT inspiring.)


Leave a comment and you're in the drawing for the book.

AND NOW: WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE JUNE GIVEAWAY:

   

 The winner of this lovely set (left) is MELODY, "Missionwife." 
Congratulations, Melody! Perhaps you'll find a healthy dessert recipe here or somewhere else (like Wellness Mama) so that you eat well while eating beautifully. :)
 

14 comments:

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Melody,
Please send me your mailing address so I can get your prize to you. Email me at Linore (at) LinoreBurkard (dot) com.
Thanks!


chappydebbie said...

Congrats to Melody!
We no longer have young children living with us, it's just Jack and I. I've been trying to cut down on the sweets that go into my body lately. You are a true inspiration, Linore, thanks for the great informational posts. Have a blessed week!

Debbie Lynne Costello said...

Hey Girlfriend! Will you come stay with me a month and teach me how to cook right? ;o) I LOVE sugar in my tea! I love Mexican food and Italian food. Am I hopeless, Linore? Great post and I'm so glad to here Kaitlyn is cooking healthy desserts! Bring her, too. heehee. Love you.

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Hey, Chappie--you do have grand kids, right? You can be a good example for them. Thanks for your kind words and faithful readership!

And Debbie Lynne--you know I am ITCHING to visit again! And I have had thoughts about giving some workshops on healthy eating, so maybe they'll start in your kitchen, lol. BTW, I love Mexican and Italian, too. I eat taco salad when the family wants tacos, and I cheat by eating pizza on occasion. However, I would love to see you start weaning yourself from sugar in tea--I did. (If I can do it, so can you.)
Love you too!

Anne Payne said...

It's always a challenge to keep healthy food in the house versus junk. I am so weak-willed when it comes to that. My husband was raised by a mom who made desserts daily. My mom only made them on weekends but of course when I got married I wanted to make hubby happy ( ;) )so I started making them daily. Bad habit that passed on to the kids. After doing this for 30 yrs, it is hard to change! But, I have been buying more fresh fruit since it is summer. Does that count?

Can't wait to see some healthy dessert recipes posted for this 'sweet treat' family.

chappydebbie said...

So true, I do have one grandchild that visits regularly and two grandbabies due this Fall. Thanks for the reminder! :)

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Anne, it isn't just you; desserts and junk food are highly affordable AND everywhere available--this makes for a formidable foe. It takes a little more thought and effort to have healthy alternatives available. Fruit definitely does count! With time, and by weaning our sweet tooths from a surfeit of sugar, it gets easier to provide those alternatives.
I'll post a few of our favorites soon.

And Chappie, you'll like the recipes, too, for the grand-kiddies. :)

Debbie Lynne and Kathy said...

I never noticed Sheera's story. Now I am going to have to look that up. One of my favorite stories about brave Bible women is about Jael defeating Cicero. She never had to leave her home to do it. :D
This book looks awesome. Would love to share stories like this with my daughter. Thanks for the chance!

Mary Preston said...

Congratulations Melody.

I tend to cook from scratch. This way I know what we are eating & it's certainly a lot healthier for us. It all has to be Gluten Free for my daughter, so this is safest too.

Grace4Now said...

I am excited about the Women of Faith book! I must find out more about Sheera in 2nd Chronicles .. So glad to have found your blog. Blessings in Christ

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Kathy, Jael's story is possibly greater in impact than Sheera's, since she was so BRAVE--or nervy--or both! Good reminder, thank you, of another woman of faith with gumption.

Mary, glad to hear you like to cook from scratch. It seems to be the only sure way to know what you're eating. And, fortunately, more and more food manufacturers are coming out with gluten-free foods. (We just can't forget that gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean "healthy," any more than sugar-free does.)

Grace--so glad you found WOF, too! Welcome to the blog, make yourself at home. :)

Glad you are all going to be in the drawing!

Lane Hill House said...

Inspiring Women of the Faith ~ add me for the drawing, please! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

You're in the drawing, Lane. Thanks for stopping by.

Shopgirl said...

I like reading inspiring and true stories. They're such an encouragement! shopgirl152nykiki(at)yahoo(dot)com