[ShannonCC]

This is long but I'll try not to ramble too much

Do you plan what you and your kids will eat or just wing it? If you don't plan, do you have "normal" diets (meaning no allergies, no sensitivities, no special needs, etc). If you plan, do you have special dietary needs? Or, is eating healthy in today's world a "special diet"?

Today the kids are going to my mom's for a few hours (just left them). My mom said she planned a picnic. Well, by "planned" she meant that she was going shopping at Whole Foods with the kids and picking out things that my dd could eat. DD can't eat soy or dairy (both hard to avoid!) and we try to eat "healthy" - whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc. She also needs a decent protein source at every meal.

We get to the store and we're finding plenty for Bridget, the 6 year old Grazing Queen. Then mom realizes there's nothing for the "grownups" to eat. They're used to picking up Subs, chips and Coke (my dad - my mom doesn't drink soda) so they're not going to be satisfied with the crudetes (sp?) and stuff like that, yk?

I point out some pasta salad and mom complains it's not whole wheat pasta. I say mom, the subs you were going to buy have white bread, what's the difference? She tells me they only didn't buy the subs because of Bridget.

If you have no idea why that is relevant, don't worry, neither did I :LOL I finally convinced her to buy the pasta salad, some really healthy looking chick pea and broccoli salad and some brown rice salad. Salads are good for picnics (along with all the fruit and veggies they were bringing).

At one point she commented that it was hard doing this since a lot of the foods the kids like don't translate well to outdoors (yeah, tell me about it). She then said something about how she didn't have a choice. I said sure you do, just say (to my dad) that tonight is not a good night for a picnic

She also complained (AGAIN) that I am making her life hard by asking her not to take the kids out to eat right now. She said usually they'd go to the diner where Bridget would get "just" a grilled cheese (dairy and soy in the margarine). Now I've made it hard on her by asking her not to do that. Cry me a river

It occurred to me I might have to have a talk with my mom about PLANNING what they eat. Yeah, if you don't care what you eat, if you have no food issues, don't care if the kids eat McDonald's, etc, then you can totally wing it. Stop at a drive through if you get hungry, whatever. You can't do that with my kids.

It also occurred to me that I should be easy on my mom. I live with Bridget 24/7 and *I* find it hard to plan her diet sometimes. There are times that *I* screw up and don't take it seriously enough and we all suffer for it. Or times that I forget to pack enough food for out of the house and hitting a drive through is just not an option for us right now. My mom only sees them once or twice a week. I know she doesn't really "get" the diet thing. I'm pretty sure she doesn't believe me that soy causes my dd to freak out and dairy might be the cause of her excema BUT she is trying her best so I should acknowledge that.

Phew! Long winded as usual

 

[cjr]

I have to plan. DS has wheat and dairy issues. If he eats wheat he gets bloated and his bowls go on overdrive and he has these explosive poops 7-8 times a day, then a rash. The dairy just makes him stuffy and agrivates sleep apnea. If I don't have spelt bread or barley baked goods, and remember to pack them...then he starves. My mom doesn't understand why we don't just keep "trying" him on these things to see if there's a change.

Why would I want to put the poor baby through all that over and over again.

I pack him meals when he goes to the IL's, and when we're out. He's now at the age that he wants to be like everyone else. Last night I ordered pizza for the girls as a special treat. He wanted some so badly. He kept giving me the sadest eyes and pointing to the pizza. I said to the girls that it's most likely the last time because it's just not fair. We will have to make it at home from now on so I can make it out of spelt with no cheese on half.

It's a pain, but it has to be done.

 

[ShannonCC]

Aw, poor little guy. Yeah, it's tough. My ds (3) doesn't understand why we're not eating cheese right now. As far as I can tell, he doesn't have a problem with dairy (but then, his sister didn't at this age either and now she does!) but I don't want him eating it in front of her. But then, he's easily distracted as long as we don't actually have any in the house.

We used to make cheese free pizzas. As long as you have a really yummy sauce and yummy toppings, it's great

 

[TwinMom]

Oh, yes, I have to totally plan what we're going to eat, especially when we're not at home. Whenever we go anywhere, I have to make sure I bring enough food to feed us for however many meals we'll be gone. It's frustrating to go to potluck-type situations; everyone else can bring one dish and know they can graze on everything. I have to bring multiple dishes just so my family can get a solid meal. This summer we're going to a family reunion for 5 days, like we do every year, but this year we have more allergies and restrictions. I think what I'm going to do is make some foods, freeze them, then take a small cooler on the plane with the foods. When we get there, I'll repack it with ice until we get to my aunt's house, then stick it in her freezer. We'll stop by the store for plenty of fruits, veggies, brown rice, and canned beans, then we'll be set. I am dreading it and we're still 5 weeks away.

 

[cjr]

Quote:

This summer we're going to a family reunion for 5 days

We have a 3 day one and then we're going camping with another family for a week. I don't mind doing extra cooking for the reunion. I will make a couple batches of fudgy barley brownies (which are to die for) and a bunch of barley muffins along with some home made spelt bread. In addition to some whole grain pasta/rice/quinoa salads without the mayo and hydronated oils (can't stand those mayo ladened maccaronni salads). My MIL has two large fridges and it's a pot luck kind of weekend anyway, so I won't look too weird or nourotic. :LOL

The camping trip is another story. We are staying in a small trailer with limited fridge space. This family is totally mainstream. They are our best friends but eat processed convienent food all the time. Meal replacement bars, protien bars/shakes, coffee in a can, pop tarts, chips, pop kraft "stuff". They suggested buying food together when we get there and just cook group meals. I have already started shopping for natural convienent foods like Annie's mac and cheese, natural canned soups, fruit spritzers (the natural alternative to pop for the kids), fruit and vegie bars, organic tortillas. I want the girls to have "camping" food, but a more natural alternative without all the crap. As for ds I am stocking up on wheat free fig newtons and cereal bars, spelt crackers and natural bean soups (his favorite meal). Of course I need enough for all 5 kids (our 3 and their 2) because that just wouldn't be fair. I don't mind though. We can go in together with the dinner meal, but I will be the one shopping for it. :LOL This is when I come accross as nuorotic.

 

[ShannonCC]

I don't envy you two :LOL Good luck on your extended trips!

We have problems with playdates. So many people eat a lot of (very yummy and tempting!) junk food and even though, at 6, she is able to understand why she can't eat it, I still worry that dd is feeling deprived. We do have treats that she can eat and really likes but the biggest problem is me forgetting that I should bring them. If it was just occasional it would be ok for her to have junk now and then but some of our friends bring those foods literally every single time we get together. They bring donuts, cookies, doritos, McDonalds, etc - all stuff that is problematic for us for various reason - and I'm offering the kid whole wheat pitas and carrot sticks

: I do read labels and if there's some junk food treat someong brought that doesn't have a problem ingredient in it I tell her to go ahead and eat it. Unfortunately, it's usually the case that these things have soy in them and that's a HUGE one for her that I'm not willing to take lightly. And you know, honestly, I don't want her to get in the habit of eating this stuff on a regular basis anyway. I think I have to try and remember that every single time we get together with one of those families, they *will* have highly tempting treats that are off limits for us and plan accordingly.

Family is another issue

My mom is trying at least.