Post Halloween: Teaching Our Kids the “Why” Behind Moderation
Angela Lemond
November 03, 2011
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My 4 ½ year old son, Evan, was on quite a roll this morning! He started off by telling me his leg hurt. I asked him if he hit it on something and he said no. I then explained that when his body grows, it can cause his body to hurt sometimes. He said, “Oh, I know why! I think I ate too much candy for Halloween.” I stopped in my tracks and smiled. “Really? You think that’s why?” He said, “Yes. Mommy, will you give me something healthy to eat? I need to make my leg feel better.” I almost fell over. I explained to him that the foods he ate for breakfast were actually healthy (whole grain waffles, yogurt, orange juice) so that should make his leg feel better soon.
I think Evan remembered me telling he and his sister about how candy can make them feel “yucky” if they eat too much. I’ve explained that eating some candy is fine, but eating a lot can make them feel sick and can even take some of their “super powers” away. Even when I thought Evan wasn’t listening, I think that made an impression on him after all.
My kids, Evan & Hannah, about to head out trick or treating!
As parents, let’s remember to tell our children the “why’s” behind being healthy. Avoid making associations between food and weight or "to avoid getting granny's sugar disease," but instead mention things that matter to them right now. Evan loves soccer, being strong, smart and running fast. I tell him that eating healthy foods help him with those things and he gets it. Get them invested in the healthy lifestyle for their own reasons; it will stick with them for the rest of their lives. [By the way, he recently started eating broccoli after over 3 years of rejecting it on his plate and now he says it’s his favorite food. Perserverance in healthy messgaging and exposure pays off!]
Stick with those positive messages, Mom and Dad. They are listening even when you don’t think they are. I was reminded today that my son is listening to me. J
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About Angela Lemond
Angela is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and co-owner of Lemond Nutrition. She left a successful career in corporate marketing a in 2000 to pursue her love for nutrition. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas Southwestern coordinated dietetics program, she began her career at Children's Medical Center in Dallas (now Children's Health). She trained in all areas in the hospital before landing in cardiology then gastroenterology and eventually helped start the LEAN (Lifestyle, Exercise & Nutrition) Families program for overweight children. Angela started her private practice in 2008 and left Children's in 2009. Most recently, she has co-authored and is certified as a Freedom Wellness dietitian coach.
After transitioning out of inpatient pediatrics, she started understanding the importance of wellness across the family unit. Angela loves to motivate all ages to show folks the power food has to help achieve their goals and purpose in life. Whether that be helping someone with a medical problem that food can provide therapy for, or for general wellness. The behavioral aspects of eating cannot be understated. Angela loves to coach her patients and clients on the what, when and how of eating well for their specific goals. Areas she feels the most passionate about are family wellness, eating disorder recovery and digestive issues. She is currently working on her master's in clinical mental health counseling, and plans to be a licensed professional counselor (LPC). Angela realizes that behavioral health status is a big influencer in the individual's relationship with food and eating. She looks forward to creating more patient / client therapy in the food and mood space.
Angela is a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which is the 100,000 member professional organization for food and nutrition professionals across the world. Quoted nationally on hot nutrition topics, her specialties revolve around children, families and general wellness.
Angela is married with two children - Hannah age 16 and Evan age 13.
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A note from Angela:
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