If you buy it, they will eat it
A while back I received the book, The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood, by Dr. Sears. I am just barely reading it. Here is an excerpt I thought was particularly funny.
Parents often complain to me, “All my kid eats is crackers, chips, cookies, and soda.” My response to that is “So let me get this straight. Your child has a job, earns money, drives himself to the store, buys this food, and brings it home and eats it?” The parents response is always the same. “Well, no. I buy it. My husband likes it and I do, too.” For some reason, the familiar quote from the movie Field of Dreams always comes to mind at this point.: “If you build it, they will come.” Only here it’s “If you buy it, they will eat it.”
I love that quote! It’s completely true. I know TJ would not stop eating hot dogs if I didn’t stop buying them. And you know what? The only hot dogs he’s eaten in 2 years, is when someone else has offered him one. Before that, he would ONLY eat hot dogs.
Similarly, when I counsel people at the health department about their diets, I get this response, “Well, its just hard for me to eat well at home. I love pop tarts”
Me, “Why even buy pop tarts if you know you shouldn’t be eating them?”
Them, “Well, I have kids you know.. the pop tarts are for them.”
REALLY! REALLY? If your kids wanted cigarettes, would you buy those for them too? Really? Have you not heard that kids who eat junk food have behavior problems? Really, did you know I have a blog about KIDS eating Healthy FOOD!! Really? And why don’t you just buy them a machete if you think they’ll like it? huh? Kids love big knives! (That’s my edition of Really, with Amy Roskelley…SNL reference if you don’t get it)
Healthy eating is NOT just for certain people in your families. It’s not just for the child struggling with his/ her weight. It’s not just for the dad with high cholesterol. Healthy eating is a family affair! So, don’t be a pushover! Buy healthy food for everyone. Leave the hot dogs and pop tarts at the store.
Whew, I’ll step down from my soap box now.
Don’t forget to enter the ohnuts.com giveaway!!
Posted: December 2nd, 2009 under Ideas and Issues.
Comments
Comment from Sarah Kimmel
Time December 2, 2009 at 9:24 am
WOW! Amy goes ballistic. 
Just Kidding… LOVE the post!
Comment from Sara K
Time December 2, 2009 at 9:41 am
I loved your rant!
One of the things I really love about that Dr. Sears book is his quote (paraphrasing) that if you just make a few of the suggestions he outlines, your family will be eating better than 80% of America. My kids still love hot dogs, but only get them after eating fruit or vegetables. It’s a good compromise for us for now.
Comment from cathy
Time December 2, 2009 at 9:46 am
I agree – totally and completely. But you probably already know that!
As an aside, we still eat hot dogs, but we have switched to a nitrate-free brand that uses organic meat. They are SO much better than the overly-processed meat sticks that one usually associates with hot dogs – and you can actually understand the ingredient list without a PhD in chemical engineering! 
Comment from Blake
Time December 2, 2009 at 10:18 am
I have that book too and like that part. We only have a 9 month old baby girl and my wife and I are really trying to teach her good habits and let her see our good habits. : )
Comment from Teri
Time December 2, 2009 at 10:37 am
ha ha! Loved your post today! On an unrelated note, how many patties does your black bean burger recipe make?
Comment from Mindy R
Time December 2, 2009 at 10:39 am
Too funny! I just about wet my pants laughing. You should get on a soapbox more often! But your point is well taken. It’s much easier to offer my kids a variety of fruit as a snack when I don’t buy fruit snacks!
Comment from TXMommy2
Time December 2, 2009 at 10:51 am
Amen! We’ve gone so far as to feeding people who come to our house “healthier fare” as in what we have in our fridge, freezer and cabinets. We have the grandparents that need to eat better because of health issues, us eating better to lose weight… but overall we need to set that healthy example for everyone. It’s an “all or none” in my opinion!
Comment from Shannon
Time December 2, 2009 at 11:20 am
I love that book! I think I heard about it initially from you and it has changed the way I look at a lot of things. Duh, kids eat what you give them and how you eat. It starts with Mom and Dad. Like you’ve said before, it’s small steps a little at a time that make a big difference.
Comment from Meredith
Time December 2, 2009 at 11:27 am
loved your soapbox, so don’t ever get off it! i preach the same thing. i used to also do nutritional counseling at the health department so i know exactly where you’re coming from. so many parents are ENABLERS!
when friends come to our house for dinner, they’re always shocked when my kids eat everything they’re served (good healthful stuff of course) and their kids refuse to even try it! it starts at home!
Comment from Chelsea
Time December 2, 2009 at 11:41 am
I love you Amy. SNL added to a great post makes for good reading material! REALLY!
Comment from Kallyn
Time December 2, 2009 at 10:10 pm
AMEN!!! Awesome post!
Comment from Kimberly
Time December 3, 2009 at 6:48 am
Preach on! I’m amazed at the lack of knowledge that so many people display concerning how to make healthy food choices. I’ve come to the conclusion that they just honestly don’t know better. That’s why I’m so glad to see nutrition education in many of the public schools now. But it’s the example that’s set at home that provides the greatest influence on healthy living. So let’s all keep our chins up and continue to do our part to change the way that people all over the world view food that is lacking in nutrition. Although the short term gratification for that Poptart may feel good, the long term damage done by HFCS and unnatural food chemicals is lasting. Let’s get back to the basics!
Comment from Amy
Time December 3, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Chelsea: I do miss Amy Pohler on weekend update! Wasn’t she great!
Meredith. So true. Parents can be pushovers when it comes to food. They are too tired to set rules.
Teri:I don’t know! I’ll make some this weekend and tell you….
and I died laughing about you not knowing what a url is its the web address.. like http://www.ohnuts.com…..and whatever product is on that page.
TXmommy: Especially our sweet grandparents! I have read many places about the link with alzheimers and diet. I certainly want to keep my mind as long as possible!
Mindy:We don’t buy the fruit snacks either. They are much more likely to pick up an orange or an apple, because there isn’t any other convenient sweet snacks in the cupboard.
And thanks for laughing! I want to be funny all the time, but I usually don’t have anything funny to say !
Blake: You and your wife are doing a great job from what I can tell!
Sara:I love that Sara! It makes it not so overwhelming to just do a few things and know you are doing a good job.
Jamie, Sarah, Kallyn, Mindy: Glad you approve.
Well said Kimberly! Thanks for summing it up
Comment from Amy
Time December 3, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Cathy: I’m glad you choose to not buy them, even THOUGH you have a PhD in engineering!
Shannon, small steps is all I can handle sometimes.
Comment from Jamie
Time December 2, 2009 at 9:23 am
Amen Amy!!! My thoughts EXACTLY!