Fruits, Vegetables, and Dads

My mom tells the story that when I was a young child I loved all kinds of fruits and vegetables.  I would eat any of them that she put on my plate and she would encourage me to do so.  Then my father apparently started egged me on to turn down 'those' foods and eat what he deemed good.  Foods such as bologna, chips, heavy meats, candies and the list continue.  Oh how wonderful for him to share that with me. What he didn't get to share was his life though.  He died from a heart attack when I was 8 and he was only 45.  But hey, at least I knew what good food tasted like right?

I wonder if we know what kind of damage we do to our children's lives down the road.  We have two healthy daughters, who are active and love all kinds of  food.  They don't like many fruit and vegetables though.  I can say that I kind of contributed to that from the years I avoided cooking foods my husband didn't like.  I passed on broccoli, green peppers, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and other items because he couldn't stand the smell.  Even though I loved those vegetables, I tried to be polite and considerate.  So I fed them corn, potatoes and green beans along with the occasional fruit dish, applesauce.  And I grew fatter while doing so.

When I think back of all the chances given to me, to encourage my daughters and my husband to lead a healthy life, to lead a healthy life myself, I feel regretful.  I do hold a glimmer of hope though that the girls will take notice that we are now eating different fruits and vegetables.  And maybe they will incorporate the really good food into their adult lives.  I've made a change myself already.  No matter what I'm cooking, I've been telling Carl to deal with it because momma knows best.  It's been that way forever and since the beginning of this post too.

But it's more than just moms know best, you dads play a major part in the life of your kidlets.  They are watching you even when you think they're not.  If you eat healthy, they will emulate that (at least during the preteen years).  And even if you're not eating foods that are on the healthy scale, don't discourage the child from eating things you don't like.  Your words mean more than you'll ever know.  I promise.