Anyone else a parent here to a future health nut?

lipglossjunky73
lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
edited September 27 in Fitness and Exercise
I was wondering if anyone here is inspiring (not forcing) their kids to be little health nuts by leading by example.

I have a 4 year old. We are raising him vegetarian since my husband and I are vegetarian (mostly vegan - but we cheat once in a while with a dairy product!)

My son would live on fruit if we let him. He prefers fruit over any other sweet. He hates chocolate, won't touuch cake. He likes fruit flavored gummy candy - which we limit. But as soon as he sees fruit, he goes nuts!!!

He loves shredded wheat cereal (not the sugary kind), and rice milk! He also lives on edamame and avocado.

He never asks for junk food - except gummies. It's not in our house, so it's not on his radar.

I was telling my husband the other day that he ONLY knows the periphery of the supermarket. I don't even think he is aware that there are aisles in between! Except for the cleaning supplies.

He has already participated in 3 fun runs (mini kid races that occur before a race). My husband and I both run, go to the gym, and as a family we go on hikes. To him, fitness is a normal part of our lifestyles.

I am so proud to say that we are leading by example, and showing our son that food is fuel, and fruit is dessert, and the best thing to do on a weekend is move and sweat!!!

Anyone else raising a fit, healthy family?

Replies

  • kellygirl5538
    kellygirl5538 Posts: 597 Member
    Your kid is young...very hard to monitor once they go to school!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    Your kid is young...very hard to monitor once they go to school!

    He's been in full time daycare since he was 8 weeks old!!

    Since he was 2, They have had birthday parties, cookies, lunches, pizza, etc. And he has still continued making healthier choices - all on his own.

    And remember - this is leading by example, not forcing. Giving your child a strong base when he or she is young is what will help with life choices later! School is a few hours a day. That still means breakfast, dinner, and weekends are with us!

    He still likes his mac n cheese!!!
  • bethdris
    bethdris Posts: 1,090 Member
    We have taught our kids that cake, candy, etc are occasional treats, not an everyday event. We eat well rounded. They've never had soda, and as long as under my roof probably wont. (at least not at home). They love soy milk, and kid cliff bars. (also a treat) I'm glad to see that they are changing the lunch programs at public schools. Some of the foods there are just SOO unhealthy. It all starts at home!
  • kanga1980
    kanga1980 Posts: 22
    WOW Kellygirl, Negative much?

    Hey- that is great! Habits started now will stick for the rest of their lives. As the oldest of four, my mom raised both me and my youngest with good eating habits... we didn't know what candy was either. Even when we did find out, we still made good choices all through life. I always hated soda pop and other super sugary sweets... just never developed the taste buds for them early on. My sister is also conscious of her choices.
    My youngest brother and sister however---- well, I think my mom may of gotten burned out. She kinda let them do what they wanted and were heavily influenced the foods at school and at their friends. Drastically different those two. But improving.

    Great job!!!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    WOW Kellygirl, Negative much?

    Hey- that is great! Habits started now will stick for the rest of their lives. As the oldest of four, my mom raised both me and my youngest with good eating habits... we didn't know what candy was either. Even when we did find out, we still made good choices all through life. I always hated soda pop and other super sugary sweets... just never developed the taste buds for them early on. My sister is also conscious of her choices.
    My youngest brother and sister however---- well, I think my mom may of gotten burned out. She kinda let them do what they wanted and were heavily influenced the foods at school and at their friends. Drastically different those two. But improving.

    Great job!!!

    Thanks!!!

    As for the negativity, I don't let it get to me. I deal with so much being vegan/vegetarian and raising a child vegetarian. I think that people underestimate what a 4 year old is capable of grasping and doing on his/her own. I hope these choices stick, but they are already so ingrained in him, I can't imagine them changing that much. My neices and nephews were already overweight at 4, and now over 10 years later, they are overweight teens.

    I don't see this as an effort. First of all, it's cheaper not buying all that crap. Chips are SOOO expensive. We never have soda, and when my stepdaughters drink it, he says he doesn't like it because it's "too bubbly!!!" LOL. But give that boy a fruit smoothy, and he does back flips!!!

    I actually worry when he goes to public school, that he won't eat all day. When the time comes he may have to bring his own food. He doesn't eat much when we go out. I have to rely on fruit on vacations, and nuts. He loves raw cashews and pistachios.
  • kanga1980
    kanga1980 Posts: 22
    COOL!
    Yes, I have been vegetarian most of my life- by choice, I wasn't raised into it- and vegan for about 5 years.
    It might be a problem eating at school. I do remember all through high school never eating anything all day until I came home. Packing lunches wasn't cool! And yeah, at 30 it seems stupid now, but I would not bring a lunch. I think that period was set me up for a small eating disorder all through my 20's. Oh well, we all have our challenges. The best to you and your son!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    COOL!
    Yes, I have been vegetarian most of my life- by choice, I wasn't raised into it- and vegan for about 5 years.
    It might be a problem eating at school. I do remember all through high school never eating anything all day until I came home. Packing lunches wasn't cool! And yeah, at 30 it seems stupid now, but I would not bring a lunch. I think that period was set me up for a small eating disorder all through my 20's. Oh well, we all have our challenges. The best to you and your son!

    Thanks!!!

    I think he will be a carbo boy. He loves pasta and mac n cheese. So, if worse comes to worse, he will get by on that until he gets home!!!

    I had an eating disorder when I was younger too!!!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    So... Anyone else? Be proud!
  • TAWoody
    TAWoody Posts: 261 Member
    Kids tend to eat the way their parents do so you guys eating healthy is good enough. But that should change over time. We all like foods that we used to hate and we sometimes hate foods we used to like. I used to hate baked beans and sauerkraut but now I LOVE them!
  • minniebee
    minniebee Posts: 193 Member
    I'm not a parent, but one of my best friends became a vegetarian at five and a vegan at seven and is still a vegan to this day at 19. He is definitely one of my role models when I try to eat healthy (although, I don't think I could ever become a vegan, he eats veggies like CRAZY and got me turned on to Almond Butter... SO GOOD!)

    All I'm saying is that your son is definitely old enough to understand the choices he's making, and don't be surprised if he keeps those same values into his adult life! And on a personal note, Thank you. It is one of the most important things to raise your kids to make healthy choices, and while my parents did a good job, I still seem to have a major affinity to butter and bacon (my Dad grew up on a dairy farm... nuff said.) So YAY! You ROCK and I am sure your son LOVES having health be a priority in your household!
  • cupotee
    cupotee Posts: 181 Member
    That's great! I read somewhere that the younger a kid is introduced to soda/candy/cake, the more they'll want it when they grow up. Even if your kid bends to social pressure in school/ at birthday parties, he'll still have a solid background in healthy eating. GJ :)
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    That's great! I read somewhere that the younger a kid is introduced to soda/candy/cake, the more they'll want it when they grow up. Even if your kid bends to social pressure in school/ at birthday parties, he'll still have a solid background in healthy eating. GJ :)

    Then funny thing - he will see kids excited about cake at parties, so he will get excited and want it too. I let him have it. I never say no. He takes 2 little bites and then won't eat it.... Guess he already is caving in to peer pressure!!!
  • McBody
    McBody Posts: 1,703 Member
    I definitely agree with you the 4 year olds grasp a lot on their own! I have a 3 year old son who is the same way. He's not being raised vegetarian, but he makes healthy choices on his own as well. My husband and I lead very active lifestyles (I'm a personal trainer and he's a paratrooper) and our son sees us working out all the time. He does go to daycare half days and is served the occasional cookie there- but he only likes them if they have raisins in them. When he's asked what he would like for dinner the answer is usually "Chicken, broccoli, and green beans". I'll take him along to training sessions for the clients who have kids about the same age, and he turns into a little trainer too and teaches the kids how to do flutter kicks and burpees. It's great. He ran a mile at the track the other night while dad had soccer practice and he constantly asks us when soccer season is because he can't wait to play (even though we play almost every weekend). He's being raised the same way my husband and I were raised- being outside!

    I fully support any parent who is leading by example and who isn't showing their child a path of self-destruction and contributing to our overweight society. So to all the parents out there teaching their kids the healthy way- you guys rock!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I am trying. They are both chocolate obsessed, though.

    I raise my children as vegetarian, but they have meat at school. Having looked at the school meal planner I think the meat options are marginally healthier, which is saying something as I am a big believer in vegetarianism as a health choice. I just don't think pasta every meal is a good idea.

    They do understand healthy eating, even at 3 and 5, they will eat things they don't like because they are healthy, within reason. I make sure they do a lot of exercise, they do every sports club going, and we often go swimming or cycling or just walking as a family.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    My 5 year old, when he was 3, asked me why it was ok to eat cows but not pandas. I said it wasn't really, so he decided he was going to be vegetarian then. As I said before, he does eat meat at school, though.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    I've also lead my kids by example. They like treats of course, but they also know that they are occasional and not daily. I don't buy many, anyway, the ones they usually have are home baked, like banana bread and healthy cupcakes I make myself. They like fruits and some veggies, chicken and turkey, but their biggest thing is their exercise. My kids exercise from 3pm to 7pm every single day after school. They both play sports and swim, and just love riding bikes and playing in the yard with their friends. They are 8 and 10 now, so they have had some time to develop, but they definitely do what mom does!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    Thanks everyone!! I especially love hearing these choices stick as they get older!!!!!!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    My 5 year old, when he was 3, asked me why it was ok to eat cows but not pandas. I said it wasn't really, so he decided he was going to be vegetarian then. As I said before, he does eat meat at school, though.

    AWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! :love:
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    I definitely agree with you the 4 year olds grasp a lot on their own! I have a 3 year old son who is the same way. He's not being raised vegetarian, but he makes healthy choices on his own as well. My husband and I lead very active lifestyles (I'm a personal trainer and he's a paratrooper) and our son sees us working out all the time. He does go to daycare half days and is served the occasional cookie there- but he only likes them if they have raisins in them. When he's asked what he would like for dinner the answer is usually "Chicken, broccoli, and green beans". I'll take him along to training sessions for the clients who have kids about the same age, and he turns into a little trainer too and teaches the kids how to do flutter kicks and burpees. It's great. He ran a mile at the track the other night while dad had soccer practice and he constantly asks us when soccer season is because he can't wait to play (even though we play almost every weekend). He's being raised the same way my husband and I were raised- being outside!

    I fully support any parent who is leading by example and who isn't showing their child a path of self-destruction and contributing to our overweight society. So to all the parents out there teaching their kids the healthy way- you guys rock!

    That is so cool!!!!!
  • boogie96
    boogie96 Posts: 3 Member
    I don’t know if I really consider it raising a health nut, rather we are just trying our best to raise a healthy child. The only food rule my wife and I consciously set for our 2 & ½ year old (meaning we ask the nanny/family members to respect if fully) is no soda or fast food, specifically no McDonalds Happy Meals.

    Other than that his healthy habits come from living with parents that try to live healthy themselves. I’m in charge of groceries and cooking, and I consider myself somewhat of a foodie, and therefore I buy as much fresh, organic produce as possible, I limit the processed foods to the very minimum, and have almost zero items with high fructose corn syrup in our house. While my child benefits from this, I don’t necessarily due it because of him, these are habits I would have if I was a single guy.

    I exercise, run, play sports, and just love being outside (my wife is a bit more sedentary, but she too enjoys getting outside), and my son just wants to do whatever dad is doing. Again, I’m not making it a point to get him outside; it’s just how I live my own life and he follows.

    He does get to watch TV, and we do make an effort to limit that (including no TV Mondays!) There are no video games in our house, but that is my choice as someone who just isn’t a gamer. I had an X-Box 360 for a few years and ended up selling it right before he was born because I just never played it. I did acknowledge at the time that not having it in the house would make it easier to keep my kid from wanting to play games all day, and that was a good thing, but I wasn’t sacrificing it for that reason.

    I realize that it’s easy at this age for your kid to have healthy habits because their parents have healthy habits, as young kids just want to be EXACTLY like their parents, but that will change as they get older. I can’t keep my son from ever having a soda, or wanting to hit up McDonalds. However, I can do my best to mold their taste buds and eating habits now, so that he can enjoy healthy foods and respect that junk foods are to be enjoyed in moderation only as he gets older.
  • kellygirl5538
    kellygirl5538 Posts: 597 Member
    I have been in public education 20 years. I see what they serve kids...so yes I do have experience and I think i can say so....you want to know why kids are overweight visit the schools!
  • lipglossjunky73
    lipglossjunky73 Posts: 497 Member
    I have been in public education 20 years. I see what they serve kids...so yes I do have experience and I think i can say so....you want to know why kids are overweight visit the schools!

    I consult in schools. I see what they serve and it sickens me. But I see thin kids in the schools making good choices. My son is already surrounded by crap. He doesn't even look at it. He likes some candy, but if there was fruit or candy in front of him, he chooses the fruit. I think the underlying goal is to teach a kid not to cave to peer pressure... Be it for a Twinkie or the crack pipe:tongue: Heres hoping our kids are strong enough to think for themselves and fuel their bodies the right way!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories