We've been going through carb withdrawals here. Generally my children eat well, but I was finding that their consumption of crackers and 'Os" was becoming excessive and was probably contributing to their smaller appetites at meal time. As well, every time I turned around they asked, "can I have a snack," or "crackers". I had to cut the cord and instill some definitive eating patterns.
I've decided that cracker time is limited to the afternoon, and once they finish the crackers I give them, that's it. They have to wait for set snack times, and then their choices are yogurt, cheese, or fruit. There has been a lot of whining, but I have seen a definite improvement in the amount they eat during meal time. I'm glad I curbed the carb/snack consumption now, because I'm sure it would have been much harder had I waited any longer. I now see how this can snowball into something much more harmful, creating eating habits that are hard to break.
We keep all cracker and snacks (which is usually only tortilla chips, as we are not a snack/chip family) in a cupboard out of their reach. It is high above a counter so they can't even open the cupboard and see what is inside. This is helpful especially since my oldest has taken to getting himself something when he wants it. The other day he went into the fridge and pulled out four yogurt cups, opened them all, and was sitting at the table eating them all. At least it was yogurt and it wasn't something like ice cream, but it really got me thinking. The foods that you don't want your children to have access to at all hours of the day, need to be kept out of reach - and out of sight.
My grandfather always kept a bottom cupboard in the dining room filled with goodies for the grandchildren. It was a place we knew we could go to find snacks, candy and all that stuff we practically had to beg for at home. I'll bet my parents we glad that we only had the opportunity to raid the cupboard once a week when we visited my grandparents. However, my aunt has always - and still does - had a very accessible cupboard filled with cookies, crackers, snacks and whatever goodies you can imagine. The cupboard was always accessible - not only to us, but to the kids - at any hour off the day. What a temptation!(I do have to say that my cousins don't have a weight problem and are very good about eating their meals)
At this stage, with two little ones, I want to keep ensure that they don't have that temptation. I want them to learn about good eating choices and to understand that a snack - whether a cookie, cracker or chips - is something that is an occasional treat, not something that is for consumption at all times. I can see how children get to a point of no return when it comes to eating these foods - they get used to it as a child, and when they're teenagers the habit is hard to break, and even much harder when they become adults.
I agree, snack are easy. They make my kids happy and they keep them quiet for a period of time, but in the long run, it will be much easier to limit them at this time, than to wait until its too late.
Until next time, enjoy time with Food, Family and Friends.
Laura