by Claire
I was in charge of snacks today for DD’s volleyball game. Thanks to my Community Supported Agriculture pack I got yesterday I had some strawberries to share! I’ll have to post on the CSA again soon but short update is, I love it!
As you might recall, I switched the kids and I to “real food” almost one year ago and I am finding it is these group events that are the most challenging. I portioned out strawberries and grapes for the nine girls on the team. I was pretty darn proud of myself b/c it would have been SO much easier to grab a box of cookies or candy like they usually receive and be done with it! As DD saw me packing the snacks she became worried. My 8-year-old was completely freaking out about the ridicule she would face with our choice in snacks. By my very nature I am not one to do something different b/c others say I should (and yes, I ‘ll say it for all of you–this in a doubled edged personality trait!), I encouraged her that this was a great snack and that her teammates would love it! She went on about Oreos and those fruit gummy things but I “gently” stood strong. DS was helpful in that he understands now the value of eating well so he encouraged DD to calm down.
I admit as I got to the game, I got nervous too! Even had a last second thought that I should drop the fruit and RUN! Isn’t that SAD? Isn’t that crazy that our culture has done this to us?! I found myself explaining my self in an apologetic tone. I quickly stopped THAT nonsense and got just as excited about fruit as the girls should be and it worked (mostly). There was one girl who asked for seconds and a couple of girls who only took the bag of fruit because their parents were nearby giving the evil eye. My daughter got stronger in the moment and I heard her saying that you get good energy and vitamins from this stuff!
And–I saved money! Fruit is SO much cheaper than the packaged crap! I had to really hold back from going on my food rant as we are new to this group. My friend who I’ve known a long time was very supportive and confessed that she wanted to do the same but her daughter “wouldn’t let her.” I have so been there but for today I stood strong.
Now I’m off to enjoy some strawberries and grapes! As I picture the scowls of some of those little girls and both laugh and cry a little.
Born and raised in Texas. I’ve at least driven through every state in the US courtesy of a roadtrip loving Dad.
I’m single with two children and a good parenting relationship with their father.
I am a “life is just half full of funny” kinda gal. Humor is my saving grace and I am thankful for it every single day. I have a strong Catholic faith and am thankful for that foundation.
I read a lot for a living but still enjoy a good book. I love biographies but in recent years have found the need for fun fictional books–sadly, for a long time I just didn’t enjoy fiction!
I love live theatre of any kind–from local productions to Broadway.
I love to scrapbook and pride myself in my kids’ albums.
I love being a mom but also love my career. I’m blessed to have found a balance allowing me to be at everything my kids need and want me to be at–while also having a career.
Favorite Quotes: Well behaved women rarely make history.
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. -James Bryant Conant
Good for you! My DD’s tennis coach won’t allow junk food kind of snacks, as she feels it slows them down. My turn for snacks was a couple of bags of cutie oranges and a big bag of pretzels. There wasn’t any left 🙂
I’m glad that you’re helping other kids be healthier, and it’s a bonus that it’s also the affordable approach. Kids need models other than using highly-processed, sugary and fatty foods to celebrate everything.
Also, I know you care about writing, and this post is a mess. Two examples…
It should be “I switched the kids and myself to…” In case you forget the grammar rule from grade school, take the other party out of the sentence… you wouldn’t say “I switched I to real food”. You’d say, “I switched myself to real food.”
Second, there is no need for quotation marks around the word gently. Quotations would indicate you didn’t intend the word to mean what it normally means. In this case, you did gently stand strong.
Margot, saying Claire cares about her writing is not an excuse to embarrass her in front of everyone and point out every little mistake. No one can be perfect all the time give her a break. That’s like me saying “Margot, I know you care about manners, and your response was a mess. One example: You sound like a complete cow.” Just ”sayin” 😉
Well look how far you’ve come. A year ago commenters were saying you didn’t have it in you to make the hard financial choices and reduce debt. Now all they have to complain about is your sentence structure. Claire, you should be thrilled!
🙂
Silver lining Adam! Silver lining!
Snark Attack:
I understand that you wanted to help out, but you should have proofread your post about correcting someone’s grammar. It is littered with mistakes that I wouldn’t otherwise comment upon, but you opened up the whole grammar can of worms.
For instance, “Also, I know you care about writing, and this post is a mess.” – what are you using ‘and’ for? There appears to be no logical joint modification properly expressed by your subject, verb or noun.
Teehee!
I just caught the “snark attack” on this…I laughed! And I want to point out that I laughed b/c it is a great use of words! Not b/c it was a jab at Margot. There’s a difference! And just b/c I laughed at the great use of words does not make me passive-aggressive. LOL!
Margot, it must truly be hard to be so humble when you’re perfect!
I think calling Claire’s post a ‘mess’ (was it ok that I used quotes there?) is probably a bit of a stretch. Just sayin’…
Moreover, this is a blog not an academic journal. Let’s not take ourselves so seriously, eh?
In our town, many teams have stopped asking parents to send in snacks. The main reason was that so many parents bought the least healthy foods – such as Munchkins and Capri Suns, for example.
It is pretty crazy to encourage kids to play sports and then undermine their good habits by rewarding them with junk food. The idea that kids even need a snack (other than water and maybe a couple of orange slices) during a game is silly. It’s not exactly a marathon.
Good for you for not giving in to your daughter. Hopefully, she’ll follow your example as she gets older when the “cool” kids are doing things that she knows aren’t good for them.
And Margot… come on. I’m sure there’s a grammar blog out there. Sign up and knock yourself out.
Thank you for sharing and modeling healthy snacks. I think it is crazy that kids are fed junk food at athletic events. You did a great service to the kids health and your wallet, healthy food is affordable. Good shout out to CSA.
Our soccer coach requested that fruit be brought as half-time snack last year. Loved that. Good for you for taking something healthy! You’re right. It’s easier to grab the crap.
Well, count me as “not cool” either … nearly 15-20 years ago. I never bought junk for snack for my son’s teams. Always grape clusters or oranges or cheese chunks. When he was older, traveling with a high school team, I made sandwiches and sent fruit to eat before getting on the bus. I don’t know how girls react, but the guys wolfed down those sandwiches and fruit and looked for more.
For all the years our kids have been involved in soccer during the summer, parents are asked to sign up for oranges for one game during the season. It’s understood that you can supply either orange slices or watermelon, but it must be fruit for the halftime break. After the game the same parent supplies the freezies. Kind of a balanced approach I guess.
Great job! In addition to working a full time job I also race mountain bikes across the country. The team I’m on had an opportunity to volunteer at our Ronald McDonald House that houses 90 families from all over the country and their children receive treatment. Us bike racers are a funny lot – we’re paleo, primal, vegetarian, etc we know how to eat clean!
We’re allowed two hours to prepare food and we chose some yummy dishes of cranberry feta pecan salad, orzo and zucchini salad, couscous and chickpeas, quinoa and mango salad along with oven roasted chicken and some tuna.
It was funny/sad to watch people go through the line grimacing at all the healthy alternatives. We convinced them to try it and many people came back for seconds! We learned later that a lot of the meals people prepare are loaded in carbs like spaghetti, lasagna, mac and cheese, etc.
GREAT JOB ON BRINGING HEALTHY SNACKS!!!!!!!
Jeni,
The kids and I volunteered at a rest stop at a bike ride this past weekend. This was our first experience with this bike racer lot you speak about and what a great opportunity to learn about a whole host of food approaches! We were so enlightened! I’m going to share your story with the kids too. Thanks! 🙂
Good for you! I think there needs to be a healthy balance today-all of this junk food is just crazy but I think it’s o.k. to have fruit and a treat too (I am thinking homemade cookies, lol.) My son is special needs and eat via a feeding tube and I make all of his food from scratch, blend it in a blender and then put it in his tube so I know how exciting it is to eat “real food”.
Years ago, my son was hospitalized a lot and I spent a lot of time with him in the hospital. As a parent, I got a parent tray and could order anything I wanted (they had an outside vendor service the hospital food). I kept looking at the hospital menu in bewilderment since I couldn’t find any fruit on the menu! I looked and looked when finally, I found the fruit. It was under “dessert”. I mean really, do we have to trick kids and call it dessert instead of just fruit? While fruit can be dessert, it’s amazing how screwed up things are.
In middle and high schools we would sometimes get quartered oranges as a halftime or post-game snack. They were so delicious!!!! It was refreshing to just bite into a juicy orange. And, since they were quartered, we didn’t have to peel them – we just started eating!
I think fruit, especially if it’s juicy, is great for halftime or after a game. You start quenching your thirst right away.