gettin' on my soapbox

I am about to get all judgy and controversial. Maybe you won't like me anymore. This is definitely a hot button issue in some circles, so I understand if you disagree. But, here goes.


Preschool snacks.


I remember a conversation I had with a friend of mine before I had kids. She was upset over what her kids were being fed at school, and I kind of got it, but not really. But now I have a preschooler of my own and I totally get it. We are not crazy health nuts, trust me. We are a family of donut lovers and coffee drinkers (well, not the kids - they need no help in that department). In general, though, I try to make sure everyone gets a well-balanced diet consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein. When the little guy started preschool this year we got a handout explaining the rules of snack - no peanuts and generally healthy. 


"So buddy, what did you have for snack today?"
"Ooooh, it was good, Mama! Chocolate milk and chocolate pudding!"
"Uhhhh, that's it?"
"Oh, and some grapes."


Really, people? Chocolate milk AND chocolate pudding? At 10am? Really?


Those things aren't necessarily bad, but I mean, come on. Let's pace ourselves. And also, I have to deal with that sugar rush right before nap time. Geez.


Anyway, it's our snack week. I did send grapes and juice, even though my kids really never drink juice. It's a treat and it's fun to take something you like to school. I also made breakfast cookies, and I am going to share that recipe one more time, because kids do not even know it's healthy, and I did want my little man to be kind of excited about announcing his snack. 


So here it is!

confessions

2010 was not my healthiest year. It was a year of indulgence, actually. I cooked with a lot more butter, said yes to a lot more donuts, enjoyed a few extra mochas. I am not against any of those things... in moderation. But the problem was that instead of losing those last few pounds of baby weight, I gained eight of them back. Turning it from baby weight into regular old butter weight. And despite the fact that I was nursing my little guy up to five times a day, those pounds still snuck up on me. As the holidays approached, I thought to myself: you have two choices. You can gain another seven pounds (the average for most people from Thanksgiving to New Years), or you can kick these pounds to the curb.


So I did. I counted my calories and exercised, and now six weeks later I am ten pounds lighter. I am totally against calorie obsession, but I needed to reprogram my brain to what is normal and what my daily intake should look like. 


So, I am going to hop back on this blog and hopefully keep myself accountable. I am not saying a final goodbye to butter or donuts or mochas, but I am most definitely going to keep my relationship with those dudes a little more casual. 


Here is to a healthy 2011!