Food Fascination: How Far is Too Far?

Look, he actually CHOSE to eat fruit, without answering to a drill sergeant! (Now, if only we could get him to wear a shirt...)

As parents, we always want to do what is best for our kids. Part of doing our best is making sure that they eat wholesome, nutritious foods that fuel their bodies and brains.

But, how many of us also know Ms. A-Little-Too-Into-It-Mama, who purees fresh, homegrown spinach with ginger in the blender, has her own carrot garden, and does a rain dance once a week to promote healthy beets?

We all know her, and sometimes, without even knowing it, that person could be you. Use this article to make sure you don't go too far when promoting healthy eating.

Make Things Easy

With the rise in childhood allergies, childhood obesity, food scares and lifestyle changes, food control is very important. But there is a limit to how much you can control what the kids put into their mouths, especially when they are with their sitter or nanny. Make sure your sitter is prepared from the get-go in your house to give the kids the right food.

You have several tactics that you can try: give the sitter ingredients that the kids should avoid, make an allergy sheet, have the sitter fill out a food log, make a separate cabinet for the kids' foods... there are unlimited options to make sure your sitter or nanny knows what is going on. As always, Sittercity's also made it easy with our interactive Food Facts Sheet. Fill this out and tape it on your fridge and you are good to go! Also direct your sitter to our Kid Calorie Counter where she can track your kids' weight over time and make sure they are making healthy choices!

Be Direct

Approach your sitter or nanny directly if she is giving the kids unhealthy foods. Talk openly about why is going wrong and why, and make sure that it is a two-way conversation. Your sitter may have some valid explanations for why the kids had Doritos instead of strawberries for a snack yesterday, or she may not be aware that the kids are sneaking items they aren't suppose to have.

Ideally, your sitter would know every single move your kids are making, but honestly, it's a bit unrealistic. After all, it could be happening on your watch, too. Make sure that you aren't judgmental. If you find yourself constantly accusing the sitter of undermining your instructions, you might need to stop and take a hard look at what the problem really is and then offer some solid solutions for turning the behavior around.

Consult the Kids

Check to make sure that you are getting the right healthy-eating messages across to your kids first, before even making your way to the nanny. Be sure to praise your kids when they make the right choices – positive reinforcement goes a long way! And, if your kids are like the other 99% of the child population that opts for sugary snacks over those organic veggies, explain why they would be better off to eat something healthy and offer them a choice. Many times, they will go for the healthier option, especially if they feel it was their decision and not yours.

The same is true with their sitter. Instruct the kids' caretaker on what you'd like her to do if she sees the kids reaching for cookies instead of fruit. The key is to not be too dismayed about the occasional junk food the kids may eat. Likewise, don't be too hard on your sitter if there is an occasional slip-up. It happens!

If there is a constant conflict with food in your home, it's time to reevaluate your stance on eating. If the nanny is doing a good job of feeding the kids your chosen meals and snacks, and the kids are eating those things a majority of the days they are together, it's OK to cut everyone some slack.

Support the Sitter

Every kid at some point or another refuses to eat something. In fact, most of us (whether or not we care to admit it) once lobbed yams or potatoes across the kitchen when our parents tried to feed them to us. You need to give your sitter an "out" if this happens.

If Johnny refuses to eat pureed spinach, and the sitter or nanny in desperation feeds them pizza, you'll have to take the caregiver's side. After all, it's a lot scarier to have a starving child than a child eating pizza. You can take it up with little Johnny later, but your caretaker will need your support on the job.

Empower and Educate

Are your kids objecting to the nanny or sitter cooking? Let your kids cook with you and explain why the family is making healthier choices. Help them to understand all the wonderful things found in nutritious food helps their bodies grow, their bones and teeth stay strong, makes their brain more alert and smart, and gives them the energy to do the things they love such as dance and play sports.

This will help them understand why you want them to eat well instead of filling their bodies full of "bad" foods that do nothing but weigh them down. It will also set them up to make their own smart choices when you aren't around.

Relay the Kids' Preferences

Recognizing your kids' natural preferences and sharing those preferences with your children's caregiver will go a long way towards avoiding disagreements over food. If your child doesn't like okra now, he might never like it. But if your sitter has no idea and she feels she's are expected to make sure that your child eats it, a conflict will ensue. Make this a regular occurrence and you'll have one aggravated sitter along with one fussy kid!

Be honest and realistic with yourself about what your kids really do and don't like, then let your sitter know by verbally explaining or writing it down. Minimize power struggles over food by offering kids lots of choices at meals and snacks. You and your kids are bound to agree on one or two things that make you both happy, which will help your sitter to feel less pressure and stress. Not to mention the kids will feel much more in control and confident in their ability to select healthy but tasty treats.

Look in the Mirror

The bottom line is that none of us want to be psycho about food, but we do want our kids to learn good eating habits that they can take with them through to their life as adults. Examine your own eating habits. If you are too focused on what you and they eat, and continually dictate what is on every single plate, kids will never learn to make those good choices for themselves. And a little will take you a long way: fill out Sittercity's Food Facts Sheet and stick it on the fridge, and direct your sitter to the Kid Calorie Counter. We'll do the work for you!