- The past few days have brought about some interesting, but not so surprising news stories. Friday on the front page of the News Journal (local rag) and USA Today (national rag) was a story regarding findings of a new study that reported the expectation that one in every three Americans will develop type 2 diabetes w/i the next 10 years. Today, the News Journal has another story on the evils of sugar, and for once, it's a good one, includes the issues of grains ("it's homemade, I used organic, brown sugar and honey!") dairy ("my kids eat yogurt more than they drink chocolate milk!") and drinks ("sure I let them have Gatorade, they need to hydrate after football practice") as well as candy.....("we always have something sweet in the house, don't want them to feel deprived!!)
I find it extraordinarily difficult to constantly fight this battle, but I do it, and have been for a long time. Because my two younger daughters seem to have inherited so many wonderful traits from their amazing dad, I have worked with the assumption that they have also inherited the not so amazing traits from him as well, specifically, the predisposition for type 2. Now, their dad is currently not a diabetic, but most of his immediate family was, and the only reason Gary is not is because of the years of regimented eating and exercising he has done. After years of tinkering with his diet and exercise regiment, we both have no doubt that if he stopped Crossfitting and stopped the paleo diet, his blood sugars would go through the roof. Genetic predisposition is certainly one reason to be vigilant, however, while there is no diabetes that I know of in my family, I know that type 2 does not discriminate among those of us who are lax with our carb intake, and have a sweet tooth, (check to both for me!) And so, I too, for this reason as well as the reasons outlined in previous postings which are related to crossfit performance, am paleo zone.
But what to do about the kids? I cannot begin to count the number of uncomfortable situations and outright battles I have dealt with and fought because I felt my kids were being put in impossibly unhealthy situations....at school, at friends homes, during holidays and parties. When I've tried to educate those parents/educators/friends who clearly were clueless, the push back was so great, I'm sure it was a pr for them! Then their were those who agreed, then proceeded to offer up "homemade, w/ ORGANIC sugar treats" to my kids! SEE ABOVE!!
It's been insinuated, and I've been outright told, that my kids will hate me for feeding them the way I do. Apparently, organic chicken or turkey, vegetables, fruits and nuts at most meals, in some form or other, is considered deprivation. Having cake twice a year, (once for each their birthdays) is a horror, NOT baking, at all, is NOT nurturing, and trading Halloween candy with them for books, headbands, nail polish and what ever other fun junk I can find at the dollar store makes me a real drag.
And so, every day I try and find teachable moments, situations where I can show my kids the difference between a good choice and a bad one, and why. My 9 and 11 year old know what carbs/fats/proteins are, what foods contain each, the difference between a good carb and a bad carb and what diabetes is, and what it does to your health. At school they have learned to decline the never ending barrage of birthday/holiday treats which are offered to them, because God forbid we should ever have a celebration of any kind in this country which doesn't include loads of sugar and processed foods. Is it easy for them to sit in a classroom where everyone, including the teacher, is eating a cupcake, absolutely not. But I tell them that their bodies are their temples, and to worship them is to feed and exercise them properly and often. I am trying to teach them so many important lessons, what is a healthy choice, and why it's important to make them. I also hope that they are learning how to swim upstream, away from the crowd when needed, which is never easy as a child/adolescent, but oh so valuable.
It's tough for them, but they are bright and seem to embrace what they see their dad and I doing every day. We keep ice cream in the house for them (Bryers!) as well as the occasional chocolate bar, which they share over the course of a few days. Am hoping as they grow and develop, these choices they have to think about and struggle with at times will become natural habits for them, which do not cause them too much distress. I've stopped trying to change the world around us, I put all my efforts in making sure my girls worship their temples, everyday.
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