What is wrong nutrition?
Before we answer this question, it’s important to understand the definition of “nutrition.” According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, nutrition is defined as “The act or process of nourishing or being nourished; specifically: the sum of the process by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances.”
Hmmm…”utilizes food substances”… proper nutrition, then, would more than likely result in the maintenance of a healthy body through the proper utilization of food. This is where wrong nutrition comes into play.
Considering the fact that obesity rates have soared to epidemic proportions in our society, accompanied by overwhelming rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer – it would be fair to assume that the majority of Americans are not eating “properly”. How could so many people get it so wrong? This is when the head scratching begins, and cerebral light bulbs go off. What if… it wasn’t just coincidence? What if we have been being fed WRONG nutrition – both literally and figuratively – and the accumulative effects of artificial additives, excessive sugar and salt, man-made fats and chemical dyes were the reason behind the “dumbing-down” of the American diet – and the fattening up of it’s consumers?
In a nutshell, wrong nutrition comprises the majority of our over processed American diet. Participants of the ‘wrong nutrition team’ include – but are not limited to: various fried and salty snacks, breakfast cereals, commercially baked dessert items, frozen meals and desserts, candy, sweetened drinks and soda, packaged meats and of course… fast food.
Now, we aren’t suggesting that in order for you to raise healthy children, these food items must be eliminated from your cupboards and replaced with organic produce and wheatgrass. Obviously, we live in a society where we must coexist with wrong nutrition. The key to this coexistence, and healthy habit building is to find the balance between wrong and proper nutrition. And this takes a little bit of time, effort and especially active participation by all… this means mom, dad and all the siblings.
Wean on…
For new parents, this will be a naturally ‘easier’ process than parents with children already ‘hooked’ on wrong nutrition. For new parents, the key to striking this balance has to do with the gradual weaning into wrong nutrition. Nope, that wasn’t a typo. The key is to slowly wean into our over-processed American diet but doing so with a foundation already built on healthy habits and food preferences.
This may sound conflicting to many, but evidence-based research has demonstrated over and over that the denial, refusal and banning of junk food – oops, ‘wrong nutrition’ – carries risks of overindulgence later on in life. There is of course a method to this ‘weaning into’ – and it starts in phases. For example, for your child’s first 2 years, over processed foods have no place in a young toddler’s daily diet. During these years, parents should do their best to encourage healthy snack and meal choices and omit the obvious saboteurs of healthy habit promotion – such as soda and sugar fruit drinks, candy, commercial baked goodies, fast food meals and salty snacks. During the later years of toddlerhood and preschool, begin the slow ‘weaning into’ by offering the healthier versions of ‘wrong nutrition items’. We are not suggesting succumbing to artificial colors, trans fats and food items that carry ingredient lists longer than the phone book! Weaning into “wrong nutrition” is achieved by building a foundation of safer and healthier options – exposing your child to the world of cookies, cupcakes, and snack-food favorites by choosing the healthiest versions. For example, choose baked over fried, low sodium or salt-free items over regular, low fat over full fat, reduced sugar (not sugar free) and whole grain over refined. And if possible and feasible, choose organic versions as they tend to contain less – if any at all –artificial additives. This should be a gradual process and incorporated into your existing healthy family diet.
By the time your preschooler enters into the school system, their classmate’s lunch box items will instantly intrigue them. This is completely normal. Don’t be discouraged if they temporarily abandon the healthy foundation you worked hard to establish… it’s still there! But handling the peer pressure of neon green yogurt with gummy worms will have to be a battle waged first in careful thought and strategy.
Stand firm to your views on healthy eating, however, validate their curiosity. If they persist – then relent. But first explain to your young child why these types of food items are okay only once in a while. It’s okay to agree that these foods taste good – maybe better than what they are used to. But it’s important also to explain that once the taste is over, their bodies are working really hard to make sense of the strange ingredients. In the long run, they will feel better, run faster and be stronger by eating healthy.
Wean Off
For older children, “weaning off” wrong nutrition and into proper nutrition may be a little more challenging, but not impossible! It is never too late to encourage healthy habit building in your lives and your children. The key to weaning off wrong nutrition and beginning the journey of achieving balance with proper nutrition is also a gradual process. The most important factor needed in achieving success is the active participation of the entire family. If pork rinds or whole fat ice cream remains a staple item but with a new set of rules as to who is allowed and denied access, your journey will most certainly end in failure - quickly. Parental role modeling cannot be stressed enough when it comes to the success of long term healthy habit building in your child and family.
Don’t forget the one golden rule of weaning out the ‘wrong’ food items that have been common staples in your kitchen – always on hand and readily available to the ever-ready little consumer… YOU can drive. They can’t. You are in complete control over the cupboard inventory. Be strong… excuses like, “But he has to have his favorite blue toaster tart for breakfast or else he will freak out” further delays healthy habit building. You can make the difference between encouraging long lasting unhealthy habits that will likely develop into health ramifications, or stick it out and stand firm against the initial protests, whines and even full blown tantrums.
But don’t go cold turkey – again, this can set off the message of restriction and denial. Instead, slowly pick your battles. For example, choose one or two known contributors of the “wrong nutrition” family and replace them for a healthier version. Chances are – your child will eventually figure it out and wonder where the fried pork rinds went. This is your opportunity to start the dialog of healthy eating and the benefits that a healthy body will have on their lives.
Check out “Artificially Reared” to learn more about the risks associated with artificial additives and chemicals abundant in our diet, and stay tuned for more tips on weaning on and weaning off.