Choosy Moms Don’t Have Time For These Five Food Myths

I am a mom to three very young and very hungry boys. Feeding them takes up a good part of my day and I want their food to be nutritious and appetizing. I put vegetables on their plates at lunch and dinner (they very often go untouched). I keep their diets varied so that their palates continue to grow as does their curiosity about food. I never make them “special” meals; they always eat what my husband and I have for dinner (even when I make spicy food). I water down their juice and limit their sweets.

But, of course, I’m not a saint.

I must go through buckets-full of off-brand cookies my boys devour during hours of play outside. While I make my own baby food, I mostly use frozen vegetables that I microwave then blitz in the blender with some added canned chicken broth. I cook almost every night but I do occasionally reach for that Chinese take-out menu and I do stop at least once a week at McDonalds for a couple of Happy Meals which I have affectionately renamed “Makes Mommy Happy Meals.”

I’m not perfect but I do my best. And I think that’s good enough for my kids and me. I certainly don’t want to sound like the crazy mother portrayed in that SNL skit about the mom who passionately defends High Fructose Corn Syrup (although corn syrup did just hit the endorsement jackpot with Martha Stewart defending the much-maligned ingredient). But I don’t think I’m the only mom who would like some relief from the food police and those hard-to-satisfy foodies who tell them their best efforts just aren’t good enough. So here are a few tips to help you out while looking for good food for your little ones.

[ITPGallery]

Julie Gunlock is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum and a mother of three hungry boys.

(Top Photo: Pinkstock Photos)