What Do You Feed Your Tweens?

Three years ago, you could find me in the kitchen most nights. I was cooking chicken breasts dipped in ranch dressing and rolled in cracker crumbs. As a vegetable, I would open a can of French style green beans. And with every “well-rounded” dinner, there was a starch, right? I’d make those yummy scalloped potatoes from a box.

You would be hard-pressed to find any of those items (except for the chicken breasts) in my pantry right now. My proverbial eyes have been opened to the wide variety of foods that are available and I have learned that there are healthier and cheaper ways to feed my family.

I’d like to think that I fall ¾ of the way to the right side of the spectrum – towards the organic and whole grains side.

I grew up in a “normal” household. Normal to me is how most of my friends were raised. Soda in the fridge, chips in the pantry, and frozen snacks in the freezer. No organic, no emphasis on whole grains, and no label reading.

Look at me. I turned out just fine.

Why the switch?

I saw that what my kids ate had an influence on how they behaved. Cold sugar cereal for breakfast? My boys were miserable by lunch. They were hungry and cranky. Frozen chicken nuggets, ketchup, and canned peaches for lunch? They were running around like crazy for an hour, then crash! They were cranky again. And dinner? Same thing. It was a cycle.

After watching a friend of mine spend her Sundays baking fresh wheat bread, homemade granola bars, and chicken stock for her family to cook with during the week because she didn’t like the offerings of our local grocery store, I thought I could meet her halfway. I realized I could better for my own family.

Now I buy whole grain bread instead of white.  I cut out the cans and buy fresh and start shopping the perimeter of the grocery store, where the fresh foods and meats are located. It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t quick. It’s a work in progress.

We have cut out processed meats like hot dogs. No pre-packaged snacks, like fruit snacks and granola bars. No fruit juice, with the exception of 100% orange juice. And even then, only one small cup per day. 

I make dinner every night. Mostly chicken, one or two fresh veggies, and maybe some fresh fruit on the table. I don’t feel the need to serve (colored) potatoes or (brown) rice every night.

And it has paid off. Lower grocery bills, albeit more trips to the store are necessary to keep fresh food in the house. No more sugar-high-followed-by-a-crash after every meal. Healthy kids, healthy parents. It has become a nightly challenge to look through the fridge and find the most colors to add to our plates.

This works for our family, and I understand that it may not work for yours. I wanted to share my story and ask about yours. What do you feed your kids? Why do you eat it? Has how you feed your family changed for the better or worse?