And With Baby Comes ... a Healthier Diet
Submitted by
Vanessa Antoine
Before my husband and I became "three," I didn't put much thought into meal prep. After a long day at the office, the quickest answer to "What's for dinner?" always seemed to be pizza, or beer and hot wings, or cheeseburgers and deep-fried potatoes.
Then we became parents.
Mealtimes in the early days of parenthood were not too complicated; all I had to do was pop out a booby for the baby and dinner was served. Beyond that, Gerber had us covered with jars of healthy food combinations and vitamin-packed snacks. Now, however, our breastfed-turned-Gerber-slurpin' baby has made another turn. Mealtime has evolved into a complex issue that requires more thought.
I sometimes find myself struggling to come up with a meal that everyone will eat. And incorporating that "5-a-Day" thing isn't as easy as the Department of Agriculture would like us to believe. But it's not the baby's fault; my daughter is easy. We started her on veggies, so she has continued to enjoy them in toddlerhood. My husband and I, however, are another story. Neither of us are exactly healthy eaters. Nevertheless, my efforts continue.
Now that we have someone else eating at our table, making better food choices for my family is my new focus. Having a little one around has made me more aware of what I'm putting into our bodies. At the grocery store I find myself asking, "Would I have eaten this before I became a mommy?" Needless to say, quite a few things get put back on the shelf. So, while junk food was once a hands-down favorite, colorful veggies and naturally sweet fruits are quickly gaining in popularity. Let's just hope I can keep it that way.
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