“Let all who are simple come in here!” She says to those who lack judgement. “Stolen water is sweet; Food eaten in secret is delicious” but little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
Proverbs 9:16-18
When we lack wisdom, and that includes wisdom about good food choices, we may be sent to an early grave. It’s that serious. Please educate yourself on GMO’s and what our government is allowed to do, add/take out of our food without even putting it on the ingredient list!
Eat honey, my son, for it is good; Honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
Proverbs 24:13-14
My son, pay attention to what I say; Listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; For they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.
Proverbs 4:20-22
When you start to understand food labels and what to look for, it will be easier to make healthier choices. If something has a lot of ingredients, that is your first warning sign. That means the food probably contains a lot of unhealthy additives and preservatives. Along with hydrogenated oil, look for high fructose syrup—two major culprits in the rising rates of childhood obesity. And I go by this motto, if you can’t pronounce it, it probably isn’t good for you. If God put it on this earth, you can probably eat it. If man has packaged it, be skeptical.
Water is the best thing we can drink. Allowing kids to have soda, iced-tea or anything with caffeine or fake sugar at the dinner table or any other time will actually build an addiction. Why start them on something that is not good? A sip of soda here and there will lead your children to want it more and more. However, if you do go out to eat, allowing a lemonade or juice is a great treat.
He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.
Proverbs 13:13
I know what you are thinking. OK we know that we have to get our kids to eat healthy foods. Now how are we supposed to do that? First let me offer you some incentives.
The best reward for getting children used to eating nutritious meals is this: healthy children. Other rewards? Making one meal at dinner and all your children eat it and there is no need to be a short order cook. If you go to a friend’s house for dinner you know they will eat what is put in front of them or at least try it. You won’t be restricted on what you make for dinner. You can stay with relatives and know mealtimes won’t be a problem. It is up to us to make food choices for our children so that as they grow and become independent, they will make good choices for themselves. The bottom line is that if we cater to our children and let them eat whatever they want, no one benefits. Your children suffer the poor health consequences of poor nutrition and you become slaves to your children’s desires. Eating healthy should not be an option.
If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!
Proverbs 24:10
Roll up your sleeves and get ready. First step, make your mind up. Make your mind up that from now on, you are the boss, you decide what your kids will be fed. Second step, know that it is a long road and your meals won’t be harmonious until all of your children are at least 5 or 6 (that is, if you start when they are toddlers). If you are starting tomorrow and you already have a 4 or 5 year old (or older), it may take a year or two to get there.
Now let’s be seated. How? With toddlers in a highchair, highchair, high chair. Most small children really can’t handle eating in a big boy/girl chair. They will get up from their seats while they are eating, they are inherently messy and they don’t have the cognitive ability to understand how we behave at the dinner table.
Good habits start at home. If your child is not doing something at home, they won’t be doing it outside of it. Children can’t generalize. They don’t make distinctions between when a behavior is acceptable and when it isn’t. It either is or it isn’t. Therefore, establish this rule at home. If your toddler is refusing to eat then explain to him, “Daddy will clean you up and I will put your food away”. When he comes back for a “bite”, put him back in the highchair and place the plate in front of him. If he screams, take the food away again and place him on the floor while you explain that eating is for highchairs. If it happens a third time, put him in a time out (we will get to time-outs). Children eventually learn that there is a place for eating and a place for playing. They will not starve themselves.
Restaurants: Children will not sit in highchairs for hours upon hours. Dinner will not consist of a great conversation with friends when you have a toddler with you. The toys, distractions and meal will only last so long and then it is time to hit the road. Tiny people have tiny attention spans. But if you do have trouble at a restaurant, again, take them outside and explain to them that you will not go back in until they are ready to sit in their highchair (this does not include letting them run up and down the sidewalk- you will never get them to agree to going back into the restaurant).
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.
Proverbs 6:23
