Having grown up in the wonderful Midwest, home of the
8-month Winter, I not-so-fondly remember spending countless school days stuck
inside because we just couldn’t get outdoors for recess without risking
frostbite, hail or snowball ambushes.
Raising my boys in Southern California is a different story,
however. We are fortunate to live in a place where they can get outside in the
fresh air 300+ days per year, including the great majority of their school
days. But simply being able to get out and play is not enough. Providing them
with the resources to thrive, and the energy to do so, is a critical mission
that I take very seriously.
One of the things that still surprises me, as a parent, is
how hungry my boys seem to be ALL DAY LONG.
Just woke up à
They’re famished
Back home after school? I can hear their tummies rumbling
like mini garbage disposals waiting to be filled.
And of course when the clock strikes 5:00pm I know that
they’ll either soon turn into pumpkins or start swiping sneak previews from the
counter of the dinner I’m always just a few minutes behind on preparing.
But there’s truly only one thing that I know will satiate
them no matter the time of day. And no, it’s not gummy bears.
Good old-fashioned milk. California’s finest.
I know that I can steal those last five minutes of dinner
prep, (which is really usually 10. OK, 15) needed to prepare their requisite
evening noms with a quick glass of milk. Sure, those gummy bears might take less
effort, but they’re worth it and it’s a great appetizer. Plus, I‘m fortunate
that the Junior Dudes think receiving that tall, cool glass is a treat, even
though they usually have it multiple times daily.
My older son, the 5 ½ year old Little Dude, can be a picky
eater. And by “can be”, I mean has been every day of his life. We are fortunate
to know that while he will likely enter Kindergarten without ever having tried
pizza (entirely of his own volition), we never have to twist any arms for him
to enjoy an apple, grapes or myriad other fruits.
As parents it’s important to appreciate winning the little
battles even if the larger wars are lost more often than we’d prefer. I can admit
that it took me a while to get used to the Little Dude’s preferred daily lunch
of yogurt, fruit and rice cakes, which is certainly not the most exciting lunch
option available to him. But I know now that I’m giving him the energy to
refill his tank so he can get back outside to enjoy the sunshine while hiking,
biking or just chasing his brother down the block.
*******************
I’m happy to share with you that I’m partnering up with the
California Milk Advisory Board to tell you about their Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP
60) initiative, in association with the NFL. FUTP 60 is all about ensuring that
kids get their full servings of nutrients the old school way: via dairy,
fruits, grains and veggies while getting at least 60 minutes of physical
activity every day. Also, to ensure that kids are getting exercise at school,
they are offering schools grants up to $4,000 for the upcoming school year to
support their health and wellness programs, featuring plays from the Fuel Up to
Play 60 Playbook. To
apply for a spring grant, visit fueluptoplay60.com
for more info and to get your school involved. Grant deadline is June 16.
I was compensated by the California MilkAdvisory Board for this post, though unfortunately not in bricks of cheese or vats of sour cream. All opinions
expressed within are my own, for better or worse.
*******************
*******************
Want more of The Dude right now? Come visit/like/friend/follow me on:
Facebook: TheDudeOfTheHouse
Instagram: @DudeOfTheHouse
Twitter: @DudeOfTheHouse
Pinterest: @DudeOfTheHouse
Google+: @DudeOfTheHouse
Periscope: Dude of the House
No comments:
Post a Comment