Tonight, it’s rainy and sleety and nasty out. We had grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner, with a nice side of mixed veggies. Mmmm, mmm.

Son swore he could eat a whole grilled cheese sandwich, so I made him one. Without thinking, I made myself a whole one, as well. I ate my dinner, while he dawdled and told me about his day. Finally, he said he was full, with a half a sandwich left on his plate.

I

a) forced him to eat the sandwich

b) threw the sandwich in the trash

c) ate it myself

I feel awful now. Stuffed, overweight and unhappy. Looking back on our eating patterns, I know that I eat far too much food because I eat what I serve myself, and then feel awful about wasting food when he doesn’t finish his dinner–so I eat his leftovers, too. I need to either stop eating his food or serve myself far less. I think it should be the former, not the latter. I don’t know where I got this habit, but consider it broken, tonight.

I also need re re-read French Women Don’t Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure. It’s a wonderful, witty, compassionate look at the philosophy of eating, and teaches us all to live a little, without gaining a lot. It’s one of those books that should replace all the diet books in your bookshelves.

Tags: advice, children, health, motherhood, mothering, French women don’t get fat, Mireille Guiliano

healthy diet

Kate over at Babylune has done it again. She has issued a challenge to us all to eat healthy by sampling our way through the alphabet’s fruits and vegetables.

She has some great ideas on how to turn this into an exciting learning opportunity for your kids, too. Veggie charts! Food pyramids! And perhaps a reduction in Blogger Butt. I’d like some of that, please?

*runs off to do a bellydance excersise DVD*

Child health, cooking, eating the alphabet, excersise, experimenting, health, healthy choices, healthy diet, healthy food, kids, Mothering, teaching children