Do you think it doesn't matter how/what you eat? That your children are too little for their diets to affect their long term health? Well think again. Donald and I learned Friday at our PCP's office that our children (yours too) make new fat cells more readily in early childhood than at any other time. Then it tapers off during adolescence. That gives new meaning to that "baby fat" that we all thought was so harmless. Why is this so important? Because the only way to remove fat cells from the body is liposuction, which means unless you go under the knife you are stuck with them. I think if alot of parents understood this and the fact that your children pay more attention to the foods you choose for you then the foods you choose for them. Then childhood obesity would be pretty much abolished by now. I know that this was a major AHA! moment for Donald and I. Having a family history myself of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, HB and the list goes on, I knew that I needed to do better. That is the reason I had my gastric bypass and follow a low carb, lower fat diet and exercise regularly. But what hit me the hardest was that as an adoptive mom we do not know our children's complete medical history. We aren't sure if diabetes runs in their biological family. So what better way to protect them against an unseen enemy than to limit their sugar intake. Increase whole grains, veggies, fruits, etc? So along with Donald and I eating low carb, whole complex carbs, lean protein, fruits and veggies, so are our children.
Now I know what you are thinking. You are thinking but DeAnna my child will starve, and oh the fights that will ensue. And to that I say....buck up, you are the parent. God gave that child to you and we need to be good stewards of our greatest gifts. They won't starve. It took our kids about a week to quit asking for white bread, they didn't like the idea but once they realized that "brown bread" was the new norm, they quit complaining and got on board. Our Halloween candy has been enjoyed some, but it is put away out of sight until it is the right time for them to enjoy a treat (after playtime and their meal has been enjoyed first).
Do you remember the old saying "Children follow what you do, not what you say?" Well that is completely true. Our 7 year old came to me while in the middle of playing Barbies with her sister and told me very seriously "Mama, Ken's Daddy cannot have Chinese food anymore." I asked why. Her reply is "He has to eat low carb and no sugar like you and daddy so he can be healthy and do more stuff, and I am gonna do that too". Your children are watching and learning more from your actions than you can ever imagine. Let's do right by them, give them healthy parents as well as a healthy lifestyle that will serve them well the rest of their lives.
