Question:
Choosing the right foods in your home

I want my kids (6 months and 18 months) to grow up with good health values. One of the main reasons I hoped to have this surgery was for my family. I know a lot of my weight issues come from my childhood, as I see slowly but surely my babies picking up bad habits. My husband has agreed when I am to have surgery he will make sure, only food that I can eat will only be brought inside the house and our children will learn to eat what I have to as him also. This is great right. Or am I just kidding myself. Have any post-opts have had the same or similar goals only to discover meals had to be prepared differently from your own. Without the "good ole' bad stuff added" your family just would not eat it!    — so2luv (posted on October 24, 2003)

October 23, 2003
Hi there, I also have 2 young children and I had the surgery when they were 7 months and 22 months. Wls has improved their diet some, since a lot of the junk is not in the house, but they still do get some treats, which I'm fine with. Good Luck - it's always best to try.
   — kandi S.

October 23, 2003
Since surgery, I have made huge changes in the way my children eat. Aside from the weight issue, white sugar and white flour are just NOT HEALTHY for them. They never did eat white bread (even as a pre-op, I didn't go there) but I have reduced the white flour and white sugar they use to eat by a good 80%. Since they don't have the insulin resistance that I do, I don't have any limits on the healthy carbs (whole grains, fruits) like I do for me though. They're healthy and happy and now seem to even crave healthier foods and are much better eaters than before when they were getting junk. I still make them treats, but I use alternative sweeteners like brown rice syrup, or even splenda. I stay away from processed foods as much as possible. We still have a happy meal on a rare occasion, but I figure if we eat healthy, whole foods MOST of the time, maybe they can grow up without the weight problem that I had/have.
   — mom2jtx3

October 24, 2003
My very thin husband absolutely MUST have carbs - lots of them lol...or he loses weight. Not good! However, since surgery I've made sure those carbs are healthy carbs and not the old crappy white flour, sugary carbs. Sure he still have his cheese nips that he loves, but limitedly. Now he and the kids eat a lot of veggies, whole wheat pasta, whole grain breads - boy, really investigate those bread labels...they try to be soo sneaky when they call something whole wheat :>( - whole grain crackers, and splenda sweetened products. My whole family is getting lean and mean, but not suffering at all from it. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 24, 2003
Hi Kimberly. I wanted to share my 2 cents with you on this. I had surgery because I did not make good food choices, always choosing junk food over more healthly options. I was an extremely picky eater growing up and when I had my son in 1992 I decided that I did not want him to share my bad eating habits. My son never tasted anything sweet at all until his 1st birthday when he had a tiny piece of birthday cake. He never drank any kind of soda until he was about 3. When he was a baby and starting to learn to eat, I always gave him vegetables first (even if I wasn't eating them myself), I did not give him even the fruit baby food then because I did not want him to crave things that tasted sweet. I cook breakfast for him instead of pop tarts or sweet cereals. My son will be 11 next week and he makes healthy food choices. I pack his lunch every day for school and I allow him to choose what he wants in his lunch and it usually consists of a sandwich (ham, mustard, lettuce & cheese), baby carrots or broccolli, unsweetend applesauce or cantaloupe or strawberries (whatever fruit is in season) and orange juice, water or milk. My son loves vegetables and fruit and I know when I am not with him that he will make sensible food choices. In the past I would rarely keep chips, candy or other junk food around for him to eat (even though I would eat these things at work or wherever). On the rare occassion he is allowed any kind of soft drink he is limited to only one and it is usually diet, which he does not mind at all. My son does not like things that most kids his age like, such as spaghetti O's or macaronni & cheese because he never really got them when he was younger and now has no taste for them. He still eats stuff like pizza, hot dogs & french fries and things that are not the most healthy but I know that if he had to choose between a piece of fruit and a bag of chips, he would probably choose the fruit. Good luck, I know how hard it can be to instill good eating habits.
   — Dawn P.

October 24, 2003
I agree with the previous poster's thoughts. We have three kids almost 6,7 & 8 and we were a bit more extreme in some areas...not giving our kids sugar until they were 5, and more lax in other areas...the occasional can of spaghetti o's and mac and cheese. What I will tell you though that our efforts have payed off...some of my kids favorite sandwiches are cucumber and tomatoe with blue cheese dressing or cajun roast beef with habenero jack cheese and lettuce! And our son hates chocolate....who would have imagined one of my kids not liking chocolate! Anyway, with kids as young as yours, I think you will find that they are highly adaptable. We are all 'programed' from the time we are young to eat certain things - and the decisions you make now for your children will influence their eating habits for the rest of their lives. Think about all of the foods in other countries that you wouldn't even consider eating that the children of that society eat without giving it a second thought! As far as 'family meals' I think you will find that for the most part you will be able to prepare something you can all enjoy....and other times you might choose to skip part of the meal...just because maybe even the whole wheat pasta or bread you might use may be more carbs than you want. Anyway, give it your best effort, and some time - and before you know it, your whole family will be reaping the benefits of a healthier diet. Oh...I also want to mention....sometimes it takes a while for kids (and us for that matter) to get 'used to' new foods, so don't assume that they hate it just because something doesn't go well on the first try. Like my hubby loves egg salad or tuna salad sandwiches...well, none of my kids liked them when they were younger....and now, all but one (who does eat them begrudgingly) just love them....and that's just one example of the many things our kids have 'learned' to like. So, just like anything else, make sure you try, try, again. Good luck!
   — eaamc

October 24, 2003
I have one son who will be 4 in December. This is definitely a tough issue!! Both my husband and I are MO, but didn't start being overweight until we were between 8-10 years old. We have tried to make good eating choices for my son's sake. The hard thing to realize is that poor eating choices are in many times emotionally driven. Both my husband and I were rewarded with food for good choices. Behave in the grocery store? Here's a candy bar. "Normal" adults will have made some of the same eating choices that we as overweight adults made as children. The difference being that they did not make food an emotional crutch, or maybe were simply more active. I am the only one in my family that is so overweight, and I can tell you that we all eat the same foods - I just would binge on them, eat them late at night, wasn't physically active, etc. We do not allow my son to drink pop (EVER!), and he rarely drinks juice. Milk and water only, and he loves both. We started baby food with the vegetables, so that he wouldn't reject them after eating the sweet foods first. I think what is just as important as the quality and quantity of foods that you serve is your ATTITUDE towards eating. Don't let your children see you planning meals obsessively - I would talk about what I was going to eat next meal while eating another meal. Act as though food is just a necessary fuel source. Don't deny your children food if they say they are hungry, even if you fear future fat. Give them options for their snacks - would you rather have some turkey and crackers, or some baby carrots? Giving children the power to make their own choices helps give them confidence in themselves. My 4 year old is very slender - but so was I at that age. Does my son go through picky stages when all he wants is a PB&J? Definitely. I was picky, too - but all I wanted was junk. And since it was easier than giving in to me than standing firm, all I ate was junk - chips, spaghetti-o's, candy. Be consistent, and try not to let your kids see you worry about food. Sorry for the long post, but there are many things to consider when kids are at stake. A great book to read is 'Carbohydrate Addicted Kids'. It's very helpful in planning meals that do not center on carbs. Also gives you signs and symptoms of carb addicted kids...it's a great read. Good luck!! Open RNY 3/20/03 326/226/146
   — vittycat

October 24, 2003
Hey! I have a 2-year-old son. He'll eat anything. He tends to not like overly sweet things, ie: he'll drink plain milk or water over chocolate milk anyday. He'd rather have raw brocolli with "dip" (low fat Ranch) over a cookie. On the times I don't feel like cutting and washing some fresh veggies, I'll try to pass him a cookie instead...and will find it tossed on the floor later on, with him asking for a banana. I didn;t do anything special. I gave him rice cereal mixed with breast milk forst, then gradually moved on to cereal mixed with banana baby food, etc. That didn't program him to eat sweets. The biggest thing I've done is treat food as though it's no big deal. If we go out to eat and he wants "fry-fries", he gets a little with some ketchup...and he's as fine with those 5 fries as he would have been with 6 oz of them. I don't make an issue out of it, insisting he eat some salad and chicken first or whatever. I've always diluted his juicy juice. Half water, half juice. He makes a funny face now if he gets straight juice. It tastes funny to him. I don;t make him eat. If he doesn't feel like it, oh well. I try to make things fun for him-like I mentioned, dipping is huge for him. He'll eat about anything as long as he can dip it. His favorite foods are oranges, brocolli and baby carrots, and steak. I think there's things you can do, such as not forcing your little ones to eat, giving them a variety of healthy foods, and not flipping out over an occassional piece of candy. I guarantee, if you make a big deal over food, you're children will forever have that as a big issue in their lives. Food for fuel and move on!
   — jenn_jenn