I suppose every generation of parents thinks their kids are way more educated than the generation before. I certainly hadn’t heard of the food pyramid when I was 5! We bought our daughter an Usborne book about the human body when she was 5. She really loved it. Kids seem to have photographic memories. Not only does she read it and understand it, she remembers every little thing in it.

There is one chapter in this book about food and the food pyramid. The general idea being that different foods serve different purposes and we only need so much of each type. Her being familiar with this has made things so much easier. Like explaining why she can’t have Coco Pops every morning. Ok, the secret’s out, we have Coco Pops in our house… but they’re administered sparingly and infrequently… honestly and I really don’t feel the least bit guilty about it… really. Anyway, she often comments on the food she’s eating and where it lies in the food pyramid. It even creates a degree of self regulation.

A lesson here is that it’s so much better to take the time to explain to kids why they can’t do or have something… when they understand, it’s so much easier for them to accept.

One day Leah was blowing bubbles. Then she started trying to catch them in her mouth. Her mum told her this probably wasn’t a good idea. Leah paused, looking pensive and after a fewe moments came out with this:

You know, there should be a section above the food pyramid for things you should never eat, like bubbles.

Priceless. The mind of a child is awesome. So I’ve taken this concept and produced my idea of what should lie above the top of the food pyramid.

The Extended Food Pyramid

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Jody Parenting, Personal Ramblings bubbles, food pyramid, Parenting