About Food

There is something my kids should know about their mother, except I don't really want them to remember this, but they'll figure it out eventually so I may as well put it in the book.  Its about food.

Tonight, after the kids went to bed, I did what I usually do (after I make up ridiculous bedtime stories about grandmas and magic hairbows or fantastic girls with super gymnastic powers) I go scour the pantry for a treat (so that's where Lucas learned it).  At dinner a few hours earlier I had indulged in an extra helping of kabobs (marinated in carribian jerk and grilled to tender perfection) and possibly two helpings of spaghetti squash (sticking the word 'possibly' in there makes me feel like less of a pig). So, I wasn't really hungry.  But this is my chance!  The one time I can eat anything I want and not have to share it with my children or explain to them why its OK for mommy to spoil her dinner and not them, or try to sneak something that is DEFINITELY not healthy enough for any sane mother to feed her children and everyone knows my kids already get waaaaay too much candy.

So I wasn't hungry, but I found the chips and salsa.  Salsa is healthy right?  There are enough veggies in it to completely cancel out the calories in the chips and not make my guilt alarm go bonkers.  Plus, I can only eat so much salsa because it gets to spicy after a while.  Its a good bed time snack.  But then my husband wandered in and ruined everything.  He dove into the pantry and surfaced with a bag of popcorn (at least I don't buy the super buttery, plug your arteries with half a bag kind).  He popped it right in front of me.  Didn't he know I was already eating chips and salsa?  then he asked me if I wanted some.  With all the self control I could muster, I confidently blurted a resounding, "No!"

I finished reading what I was reading and then Lucas needed to go out so I took him.  When we returned I found that my sweet husband had left me a bowl of popcorn on the counter. Very nice, but didn't he hear the determination in my "No!"? Why does he insist that he knows me better than that? So I sat back down to the computer and dipped a chip out of pure rebellion. Popcorn smells sooo sooo good after it has just been popped.  Ok, fine, but just one little bite....

Of course then I lost all loyalty to the chips and ate the entire bowl of popcorn. Who can smell pop corn and not take a bite? Then I looked over and thought, I need something salty(er)!  Back to the chips?  What is wrong with me? Have I seriously mutated into an uncontrollable oinker? As soon as I realized what was happening I stood up and headed for the pantry to put the chips to bed.  I did and somehow got distracted and kind of mad at myself for resolving not to buy/eat any more chocolate (since it makes me sick and all). So I reached up, re-opened the bag of chips and snatched a few more - you know, for the road.

Then I came face to face with Lucas.  Here I am eating whatever I can find and he is stuck with something terribly unatural and unbelievably dry.  I immediately turned around and retrieved a doggy snack for him.  He really should love me more than he does.

In all reality I do make great attempts to feed my family healthy foods - and to be thankful for what we have been given in the way of nourishment.  I try not to eat too much (except right before bed I don't do all that well). Sometimes (a lot of times) I wish my children understood how lucky they are to be able to eat flavorful food.  Last week as John and I were contemplating how we are going to teach our children about their incredible good fortune in life I suggested feeding them rice and beans for dinner or pasta sprinkled in oil with a side of lettuce and tomatoes covered in more vegetable oil.  Thats what they eat in Uruguay and quite honestly its not that tasty or good for you. We are so blessed.  How do you teach that to children without making them sick?