Food for kids

Why do parents tell their kids what to eat? I mean, I get why babies need the right nutrients.

But parents, really, why would you force your child to be vegetarian or vegan or organic or whatever the craze is now?

Here’s a better idea: BE that person yourself, SHOW your child that side of you, ENCOURAGE them to join in, EDUCATE them in your reasons and into the morals behind your choices, and finally ALLOW them to make choices for themselves. TEACH children how to think for themselves and then the proof will be in the pudding when your child follows your lead as an adult. If you force them, all you’re proving is that if you keep someone locked up long enough, eventually Stockholm syndrome will persist.

I agree that you shouldn’t indulge. If you don’t want to cook meat, don’t cook meat. If your children are in your house they eat what’s there, as long as when you do talk about other foods you’re explaining and showing them. Even if that as simple as showing a picture of them or pointing them out in the supermarket. But if you don’t? No bother, they will learn about foods in other avenues. Just dont PREVENT them from learning about food you don’t like.

If they bring home food and decide to cook it themselves, let them. If they buy it as a snack outside, let them. Its their choice. If they make choices you dont agree with, or think are wrong, educate them. Don’t just prevent them from making that choice. It’s not like grounding a child for having a smoke, that shit is illegal, punishment is necessary.

I don’t agree that children are then restricted at other people’s houses. Or not allowed to go to McDonald’s or choose what they want for school lunch. Yes janes mum may only be able to cook chicken nuggets and chips, mcdonalds never fills you up and school lunches are horrific. But your child won’t remember your morals and teaching, they will just remember the fuss and not being allowed to do something other kids could.

Believe it or not, the things my mum taught me that stuck are the things she taught fairly and explained. The things I don’t remember are the lessons she tried to teach me through the ‘because I said so’ method.

We know so much about how kids learn now, why are we still forcing them to do what someone says without question?