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The strength of the child depends largely on the food given them when they are too young to select for themselves — Mabel Hyde Kittredge, 1917
The feeding of small children has been controversial for decades and the controversy goes on. Should a child “clean his plate;” or just go as far as he wants? Should he be fed a hamburger supper early so his parents can dine in peace later on or is the ritual of everyone eating together important?
Many nutritionists now believe that small meals eaten more than three times a day give the body greater energy. Children seem to know this instinctively needing their midmorning snack and afternoon “teatime.” I respect their instinct. However I do think at least one relaxed meal each day with everybody in the family is a reassuring pattern for children. During family meals children need not be catered to individually. They can be taught to try the adult menu.
Snacks and drinks between meals are a particular problem for mothers: what to give a child that will be nutritious but won’t spoil his appetite for lunch or dinner. Daily and hourly we have to fend against Kool-Aid and Toaster Pop Tarts - cheap instant foods especially invented to entice children. The makers of white bread advertise constantly) but there is no cartoon animal on television to lure our children to dark breads or sesame crackers.
Aside from the nutritional aspect constantly depending on prepackaged and frozen foods robs a child of a learning experience. Stirring canned green beans is not very interesting. But if a mother is snapping real beans she can show the child the stalks end how to break off the tips and snap in the middle. The helper may decide to become a bean thief popping uncooked pieces into his mouth when she isn’t looking. He offers one to the cat or builds a log house of beans. He laughs and learns. Even though he is slowing down the process his mother laughs with him.
Food-fixing is not an invented playtime. It is real. You will have gotten something ready for dinner and had a happy sharing time with the child. Constantly cooking with a child would be exhausting but the sharing times are irreplaceable.
I am not a health-food addict but I do believe in starting with the raw product as often as possible. It helps a mother expand her art of cooking and it helps a child develop his palate. The sooner a child is given homemade oatmeal cookies and a glass of eggnog the easier it is to keep him away from supermarket garbage. The system at home started early and held to consistently is what really matters.
There are times when small children are just cranky and tired and want to know that their mothers have ways to comfort them. Any mother knows that when a child’s complaint is persistent she should go ahead and get professional help.
But the main focus here is food and is meant to encourage mothers to make custard instead of buying chocolate pudding in a plastic container. After the first few times making custard becomes a habit and habit is half the fight. Eating can be a healthful, peaceful and special time though for many children and parents it means battling. I hope the suggestions here will reinforce women’s attempts to slow down the household mealtime pace and will help them enjoy nourishing a family.
