In an attempt to rid our diets of excess sweets, I packed Jackson a lunch with virtually no added sugar. Pretzels weren't the treat he was expecting.

December 29, 2009

Jackson’s Lunch:

• Salmon Salad on Spinach
• Grapefruit Sections
• Pretzels
• Red Ants on Logs (celery sticks filled with cream cheese and topped with dried cranberries)

I feel like everyone in our house is going through some kind of sugar withdraw.  Christmas is such a challenging time with regards to eating healthy.  There seems to be sugary treats on every horizontal surface!  Normally, I believe in moderation, but I, like so many others, have a difficult time sticking to limits during the holidays.  It isn’t mindless eating; I’m completely aware of what I’m doing.  I allow myself to indulge (or over-indulge) and seem to end every day telling myself that tomorrow will be better.

Christmas is over, and I’m trying to get the family back on track.  I shopped yesterday and made sure to stock up on healthy, fresh produce and lots of it.  And since Jackson has been buzzing along on a sugar high, as well, I grabbed loads of the stuff he loves hoping to entice him with good-for-you fare while getting him away from the sugar he’s grown accustomed to the last couple of weeks.

Every morning before we head out, I show Jackson what’s for lunch and ask him to remember to eat everything (that way there’s no surprises for him at lunch time).  Most mornings he’s pretty pleased with what’s in store, and this morning was no exception. 

I said, “Salmon salad,” and he said, “Yum!” 

I said, “Grapefruit,” and he said, “Yea!  My favorite!” 

I said, “Ants on logs,” and he said, “Mmm, I love ants on logs!” 

I said, “Pretzels,” and he said, “I’ll eat pretzels.” 

Then he said, “What about a treat?”  I told him the pretzels were his treat, though I could see a hint of panic and disappointment in his eyes.  Pretzels are only a treat to him when they’re dipped in chocolate.  But I stood my sugar-free ground, and you know, today was a better day!  Maybe tomorrow will be even better, or at least a little bit easier on us all.

While finger-food and bite-sized pieces are gimmicky, they seem to make healthy eating more fun for Jackson.

December 7, 2009

Jackson’s Lunch:

• Romaine Lettuce and Salmon Spread Straws (Combine about 4 oz. cooked salmon, ¼ cup plain yogurt, ¼ cup softened cream cheese, a little salt, and a small dill pickle or a few capers if you have them on hand in the food processor and process until smooth.  Spoon onto romaine leaves, roll, and cut into manageable lengths.)
• Clementine orange
• Spelt crackers
• Vanilla yogurt

We see gimmicks everywhere—toys included in boxed cereals, buy-one-get-one-free offers, napkins folded like swans, or cakes made to look like the Eiffel Tower.  Gimmicks are used to make otherwise blah items seem more interesting or appealing.  Chances are, even you fall for certain gimmicks, and certainly children do, too.

Children, in all their innocence, often can’t help but be drawn in to these seemingly fantastic deals.  As a kid, I hated a popular caramel popcorn treat that came in a colorful box, but I loved, loved, loved the prize that was inside!  You know the one I’m talking about.  As a result, I begged for that caramel popcorn even though I despised eating it.

Gimmicks are appealing to kids, so I unapologetically use them in Jackson’s lunches!  For example, he can’t pass up grocery store samples, so I often cut his food into bite-size pieces or finger-food portions.  Also, if he can dip it, he’s more likely to eat it; it’s like playing with his food.  So, I tend to pack a lot of dippables (hummus and red pepper dips are two of the most requested).  And I’m always on the lookout for fun ways of presenting his food in his lunch containers.  One of my favorites is a set of pinwheel-topped wooden skewers (I clip off the pokey end) that I found in the cocktail section of a specialty homewares store.  They make even the most common food item seem fancy and fun!  And fancy and fun are good when it comes to getting my child to eat.  Just be sure, though, to exercise caution when it comes to things like pokey pieces of wood in the lunch!

Gimmicks can be both annoying and irresistible for us adults, but I really believe you can use them to your advantage.  According to this article and many others like it, food presentation is as important as taste.  In other words, making everyday food items visually appealing makes people want to eat them.  Isn’t that a gimmick we all, adults and children alike, fall for?