How my kids changed my eating habits
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It’s not that I was a junk food addict. But I did tend to indulge myself with sweets (I’m a big fan of peanut M & M’s), I didn’t like apples and my favorite drink was Coke.
But all that changed when I became pregnant. I don’t know whether it was the hormones or it was mother instinct that radically changed my eating habits. Suddenly, sweet stuff made me sick, Coke gave me heartburn, and I had cravings for apples and lots of vegetables. I’m lucky because I know many pregnant women who had strange cravings, including my mom. She claimed she craved for ox tail soup while carrying me. A friend craved for sushi, food that’s strongly discouraged during pregnancy.
When my twins were born, I thought I’d go back to my old eating habit until they started eating solids themselves. But then I had to change my diet again to set a good example for my kids. Suddenly, I paid more attention to what I was eating – because what I ate was what also my family ate. The first to go were the M & M’s. I gradually introduced more and more vegetables and fruit to our daily fare. My boys didn’t like carbonated drinks for a while so I was safe with my Coke. But that, too, had to go when they turned three. Nowadays, I only drink mineral water.
Then my boys got addicted to apples and cucumbers. For snacks it’s always apples plus some seasonal fruits. And supper is not complete without cucumber slices. My husband is now sick of cucumbers so I add raw carrots, tomatoes, and sweet capsicum for variety.
Remember that theory that what mommy eats during pregnancy can influence the baby’s food preference? I think it must be really true because my boys like eating what I used to crave for.
It’s not always that easy though. Like most kids of their age, they are attracted to sweets and I let them try from time to time. But you know what? They’d stop of their own accord, after the initial desire has been satisfied. R especially is very sensible when it comes to sweets. He’d had the bad experience of throwing up during their 4th birthday party and has been very careful since then.
Because of my kids, I have become more health conscious. The attitude of “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you shall die” is a thing of the past. My kids make me think about the future and not simply about living for today. Thanks to my kids, I’m now taking better care of myself.
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