Here's a question to mull over and answer...

Can we really lessen the emphasis on food in our lives?

I mean...I know we are able to lessen it from it's importance before we were banded...but are we truly able to "get away from it?"

Whereas when you break a smoking habit...or a gambling problem, you can simply remove yourself from that thing, or the experiences that trigger you to indulge in said habit.

We can't do that with food... it's everywhere and you HAVE to have it.

Are we doing ourselves, our spouses/partners, children, etc...a disservice by celebrating life moments with food? Should we find another way?

I have three kids and my FEAR is that they will live the same lives dh and I have lived. I almost always reward or console with things other than food...but we still Celebrate our birthday's with cake...we still sit as a family and share meals together...we still have family over for picnics... Although food isn't meant to be the main part of those events, they sometimes are. Are we creating a positive healthy food relationship for our kids??? After living fat lives, is it possible to really know?

What do you all think?

Rain

I agree. I am trying to do this at our home, I have gotten rid of all the junk food in the house. Now it is a special treat to get ice cream, cake ect.

I used to reward the kids with fast food, or candy ect. No more, they now actually get cash, a few dollars here and there and lots of acculations. It is working well.

My girls are 8 & 7 now so they understand what is healthy and what is now, they are constantly asking if things are good for them to eat, even when out in public. I appreciate it! Keeps them and me on our toes!

Me too.

I think its our culture to a large degree, we do celebrate everything with food but we dont HAVE to overeat when we do it. I've learned I dont have to have a huge meal, dessert and 3 glasses of wine just because its a birthday dinner.

But I think its really important to pass that on to the other members of your family too. However its something I'm struggling with with my family because the kids have the influence of all their peers and simply dont care about their health or the threat of getting fat at the moment. I have to be tough sometimes. And other people think we're weird health freaks simply because I dont let them have McDonalds three times a week and we dont have soft drinks in the house!

Date night is hard for Hubby and I. The last 10 years we had ALWAYS gone out to dinner, or something surrounding food. Now we are trying to do things that do not revolve around food, walking, bowling, even watching a movie!

You hit the nail on the head. We need to get to the point where you eat to live and not the other way around! It's really hard to be around people (gluttons) like I used to be.