Just One Mom

Food.

I have two sons - a kindergartner and a very-soon-to-be one year old.  I have always paid attention to the food that I offer them. I am not perfect.  In fact, my own dietary habits fall just short of the standards I have for my children. There is a bit of parental hypocrisy there, and I'm working on that.  As my son started kindergarten this year, I was determined to send him with a healthy lunch from home.  Without looking at the hot lunch menu, I'd assumed that it would be bad.  When I did read the menu, I was disappointed with the offerings.  When I looked even closer to the items and found their ingredient listings, I was appalled. Very little fresh food, nothing local, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils - the list of offenses got to be too long.

This really bothers me.

Food.

The newest health data at County Health Rankings and Roadmaps shows that the county I live in, Kern County, ranks 54 out of 57 ranked counties in California for health outcomes.  We rank poorly in adult obesity, physical inactivity, and 58% of our restaurants are fast food restaurants.  Kern County also has an alarmingly high rate of food insecurity. Kern County is a very agriculturally productive area.  How is it possible that so many people suffer from hunger? Why are so many residents overweight or obese? How do both of these issues exist together in one place?

This really bothers me, too.

I started thinking about these things and started connecting dots. I wondered if this was bothering anyone else.   I talked to other parents. My child wasn't the only one receiving a food reward (ranging from gummy bears to candy) for doing well in class. My son wasn't the only getting questionable snacks during after school care.  What were those parents doing? Strategies ranged from talking kids about healthy food to outright forbidding kids to accept the junk food to giving in and letting kids have what seemed to be well accepted and established food rules in the elementary school environment. I found it all very frustrating and I was very uncomfortable with the changes in my kid's diet.  As I thought more and researched more and learned more and talked more, I started to believe that I needed to do something about it.  But what could I do?

Food.

And now for a bit of a disclosure.  I am part of that percentage of overweight adults.  I contribute to that statistic.  I was a chubby kid growing up and I've always self-identified with being overweight. I've lost a little and gained a little more and lost a little.  Since my first son was born, my weight has remained fairly stable.  I haven't gained more, but I have lost much either. Oh, and I'm not very handy in the kitchen. My husband does most of the cooking, but I'm learning.  I've been picking up skills, but it doesn't come naturally to me.

I am not perfect. This also bothers me.

I want to be a good example to my children.  I want my family to be healthy. I want more for my community.  Issues related to food are so complex and they can be so emotionally and politically charged.  Its a touchy subject. That isn't going to stop me anymore though.  These things matter.  Food matters.

I'm just one mom, but I'm going to make a change. It's going to start with me and end some time in a better future. Are you with me?