Random Thoughts From Marybeth

Do the Food Police Make Kids Fatter?

An essay in The New York Times: Well-Intentioned Food Police May Create Havoc With Children's Diets discusses the attempts by schools to control their students' diets. I have tried to teach my kids about nutrition but what's the point of teaching it if you're going to remove choices?

I will never win any award for pushing nutrition at home. I've even joked that I feed my kids fast food to help them "build up an immunity" to it. The truth is that I have tried to teach them that there are no forbidden foods. When they were younger they took full advantage of that, sometimes they still do, but as they have gotten older they are making more nutritious food choices more often. This may not work for everyone but my children just don't see any reason to crave sweets or junk food. There's no urge to overindulge in something that is always available. It's too ordinary and who craves the mundane?

In case anyone is wondering, none of my kids are overweight and their annual physical exams have never shown any health problems. Maybe it has nothing to do with my philosophy on food, maybe they just lucked out in the genetic lottery. I can't say for sure but then neither can those who want to dictate what my children can or cannot eat.