Every once in a while, I seriously question my judgement as a parent. Yesterday was one of those days. In general, I feel pretty good about how I raise my kids. I am fairly confident that I am just enough crazy to make them funny without giving them too many reasons to fall into an inappropriate relationship with their therapists. I am also reasonably sure that I give them enough treats balanced in with their healthy staples that they won’t hide a box of Swiss Cake Rolls under their bed to hide it from their parents/siblings. I’m not saying I did this as a kid, but……(there’s a technique to eating them, unroll the chocolate outer layer, eat it; then the cake, then lick off the frosting, then eat the cake.)
Yesterday, on our road trip back home to Brooklyn from Ohio, I shoveled more Baked Cheddar Puffs, Cheerios, juices, and snacks at them then what any two kids should have. It didn’t work. Those kids have a SPECTACULAR inner full-o-meter. Yet, I kept shoving it at them in some misguided attempt to get them to just be a bit more settled and less “MAMA, ARE WE THERE YET?? ARE WE ALMOST HOME?? WHAT’S FOR DINNER?? DID WE JUST PASS A TOYS R US? CAN I GET A NEW TOY??”
Here’s my question, what is it about being a grown up that makes you consistently able to shove past that full-o-meter for another bite of cake or french fry? I know I did a few times while on vacation. I had that I know I can’t *really* eat ice cream without getting sick, but what harm will a few bites cause me? Answer to that? A lot. A lot of harm. I was doubled over, holding my stomach like a woman pregnant with an alien that is soon to be geysering out of her belly button, and chasing down Ellen Ripley.
Our full-o-meters as adults seem to work just fine. Our brains, however, need some tweaking. Why do we ignore that feeling? It NEVER ends well. Moreover, why do we celebrate cleaning our plates like it’s a badge of dishonor? Why is shoving hot dogs down your throat a popular competition? You KNOW they purge. It’s like pageant bulimia. Why do we all eat too much?
Too many carbs. Too much fat. Too much sugar. Way too much food.
I am issuing you scamps a challenge, for every meal you can, as I understand the need to eat on the go, I want to to sit down, no tv, no book, just you and yours, for at least 30 minutes, and really feel your level of fullness, and before you get to that “pop a button on your jeans and contemplate a cigarette” level of fullness; stop. Stop eating. Put away your plate. Move away. I am curious to see how much different I will feel. Most of the time I am really good about eating intuitively, but lately?? Pshhh.
In case you need something to fill you up to that point, How about a baked egg in a tomato?
Tomato baked eggs.
Tomato Baked Eggs
Keywords: appetizer breakfast side vegetarian
Ingredients
- two large tomatoes
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp grated pecorino
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp roasted garlic clove
- pickled jalapeno rings
- salt and pepper
Instructions
slice tomatoes in half through stem end
core tomatoes
divide garlic and oil evenly between tomato halves
rub center of tomatoes with garlic and oil
crack one egg into each half
top with salt and pepper and pecorino
bake in a cold oven set to 425F for 12 minutes.
I will definitely be trying this out! Thanks!
What’s interesting about this is that I was never one to hide food though my little sister used to all the time. We were raised by the same parents, pretty much the same way yet had very different childhood experiences as it relates to food. I’m not sure at what age this “full-meter” tends to go away? Kids really are the best when it comes to “eating when hungry, stop when satisfied”!
My full meter is completely broken. I blame this on 3 things.
1. The “clean your plate” rule we had in my family when I was a kid
2. The fact that in Jr High & High School, I often had less than 10 minutes to eat lunch (band ALWAYS went late, cutting into lunch hour) so I learned to eat at the speed of light – and still eat that fast.
3. The fact that I have no self-control when it comes to delicious food.
Sooner than I realize, my son will be watching me eat instead of just staring at my boobs all the time. I want to model appropriate eating behaviour, and this is a great way to start. I need to eat slowly and with purpose and be okay with leaving food on my plate. I got really good at this when I was pregnant, but have fallen back into bad habits.
We all need to learn this lesson from children. It’s amazing how they really listen to their stomachs. (My boyfriend is the same way – he will only eat when hungry, and stops when he’s had enough. Very strange.)
Challenge accepted! I’m forever working on this. Thanks for the reminder!
YES. This was made for me.
Haha, I try to listen – but when it comes to chocolate, nope!
You’re so right about this one! Not sure if my full-o-meter has ever worked but I will give it a try!