Not All Foods Are Created Equally

Nor are children.

I'll start out this little rant with the disclaimer that I clearly recognize that there are way, way, way too many kids in this country are overweight and eat crappy diets.  I get that.  I also get that your average 6 year old  isn't doing their own grocery shopping so the only way they are getting those crappy, pre-packaged foods are because their parents buy them for them.  I also understand that many parents, particularly over worked and under paid parents simply don't have the energy or the knowledge to feed their children better foods.  Unless you are over worked, under paid and have no access to a grocery store and a stove, then put your man-panties on and feed your kids a better diet. Or not.  Just leave my kid out of it.

If one more adult, who thinks they have cornered the market on healthy eating tells my child that her "milk" (which is a protein drink), her cheese and her peanut butter are not "healthy"  my head is going to burst into flames.  I have just spent one solid hour trying to convince Eliza that her "growing milk" is healthy and good for her.  For the curious among you, Orgain is certified organic and has more of what a kid needs in a day than your average 6 year gets from a freaking Happy Meal, or a "Lunchable"  (whatever the hell that is).  So if you're lazy and have a bucket of cash, buy a case of Orgain instead of pissing away money on a Happy Meal, your kid's body will thank you.

Why have I spent the last hour convincing Eliza that her growing milk is good for her? Why has Eliza been crying her eyes out for an hour?  

Because some people have been telling Eliza that dairy products are not "go" foods, that they are "slow" foods.  That dairy foods will make her fat and unhealthy.  Really?  Really? These people have seen Eliza.  Are they really worried that she'll become obese any time soon?

If you are going to tell a group of children what foods are good and what foods are bad and you know that one member of your little audience is a kid like Eliza, who struggles to eat every single day of every single week of every single month of every single year and who gets about half of the calories she needs in a day from something like Orgain, can't you use some common sense and add in a little disclaimer like "too much dairy isn't good for most people, but some people need more dairy, and that's OK for those folks!"  I seriously doubt there will be a line of kids clamoring to steal Eliza's Orgain if this disclaimer was issued in a way a six year old would understand.

And please don't tell me that if I put broccoli, or couscous or tofu or a hunk of beef in front of Eliza ten times in a row she'll eat it.  Clearly you know jack about pediatric feeding disorders, because at best this tactic might work with a picky eater.

Talk all you want about "go foods" but use some common sense when telling kids what not to eat.  

Just know your audience.

Oy.