I had the chance to chat May 11 with Sarah Krause, Gen X mom columnist and freelance writer.
10:41 a.m. Tom Karst: Hi Sarah - or should I say Gen X Mom?
10:42 a.m. Sarah Krause: I'm good with anything :)
10:42 a.m. Karst: I thought I would take a few minutes and talk with you about your Gen X mom columns that you have penned for Fresh Talk. Thanks by the way for your work!
Sarah Krause 10:43 a.m. Krause: Wish I could do more!
10:44 a.m. Karst: Your recent column about how moms rate the quality of their family's diet was very interesting and it has attracted quite a bit of reader interest as well.
10:44 a.m. Krause: Everyone is concerned about their family's diet nowadays, i think.
10:45 a.m. Karst: As you talked to moms - and as you think of your own family - what are some challenges you face to create a healthy family diet?
10:46 a.m. Krause: There are two things that stood out from talking with moms. First, time constraints make sitting down as a family together difficult. It seems that kids are involved in so much (too much!?), so families just run around during the week and weekend.
Second, moms said trying to feed picky kids has been a challenge. I find truth to both things. Our family does sit down together most nights during the week, but finding foods that all five of us like can be challenging.
10:47 a.m. Karst: But it sounds like you work at it, right?
10:48 a.m. Krause: One kid likes peppers, the other two don't. Or one likes tacos and the others don't. It's frustrating, but yes I work on it daily. Remember our "Good Eater Challenge?!" That helped prompt the three of them to try new foods.
I make sure to serve a variety of meals and don't rely on prepackaged or frozen meals either. We are a big produce family! :)
10:50 a.m. Karst: As I recall, that good eater challenge gives your kids some motivation to try - and eat - new foods. Do you think that has helped expand what they like relative to fresh produce?
10:52 a.m. Krause: Definitely! It opened their willingness to at least try some different fruits and vegetables, even if it was just a taste. One kid decided he liked celery with peanut butter, another realized Brussels sprouts were tasty and we discovered a new item -- Oca -- that everyone liked as well.
I let them prowl the produce aisles looking for interesting or tasty items that they might like to try. They've come back with plantain, heirloom tomatoes and cactus fruit
10:55 a.m. Karst: That's pretty cool you let them pick something interesting out. Changing gears, how do you handle eating out? Do you try to steer your kids toward more "healthy" menu items when you dine out or is that too tough of a battle?
10:59 a.m. Krause: Well, it's a pretty easy battle because we don't go out to eat a lot! When we do, it's often to grab sub sandwiches between soccer games. The little guys still chose foods from the kid menu. Our older one chooses whatever he wants. We don't try to steer them too much in a "healthy" direction because then we know it might be wasted (a la applesauce instead of fries). Alan and I try to make healthy choices so they wiill see us making good picks..
But if you're going to Winstead's, it's pretty much burger and fries all the way!!
11:00 a.m. Karst: I can relate! Thanks for your insights and we'll have to check in again soon. Appreciate the time!
Comments (0) Leave a comment