So I just heard on the news this morning that there is this big lawsuit against McDonald’s related to the dreaded Happy Meal. Litigation like this is beyond comprehension for me. As a parent, I am fully aware that it is 100% my responsibility what goes in my children’s mouths (regardless of what toy comes with it). It is my choice to offer them crap to eat, it is my choice to provide organic food, it is my choice to offer a vegetable at dinner – bottom line – it is my choice as a parent. (PS - it is their choice to eat what I provide and there is not much I can do about that – ever try to force a 7 year old to eat something they don’t want to eat – not pretty and definitely a post for another day!!)
As a busy mom, I will admit that I am tempted by the convenience of the drive-thru and have struggled with the whining from the back seat for Mc Donald’s, Chik-Fil-A or another fast food chain. And yes, I occasionally take my kids to McDonald’s (collective gasp!), but together we choose what they will eat (and drink) and I still have veto power. I also choose whether the fast food run is a treat or becomes a regular staple of their diet.
Why do some parents abdicate their responsibility to their kids? Don’t get me wrong - I am no where near the perfect parent and I make a huge amount of mistakes everyday (more than I can count), but my kids know that Mom and Dad are the parents and they are the kids. There are some decisions they can make and then there are some decisions that Mom and Dad need to make. This approach can be a struggle, but at least for now, it’s working (not sure if I’ll be posting a drastically different point of view in about 10 years). We love our kids so much that we teach them and help them to make good choices, and when necessary, we will make the tough choices for their benefit – even when it isn’t the most popular choice.
How do you ensure your family is eating healthy? What tips, tricks, products, etc. can you share? What other choices do you struggle with as a parent?
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