Pizza, cheese, beef, salty snacks, cakes, cookies, ice cream, bacon, sausage, processed meat, peanuts.
If you have a child under the age of 17 living at home, you’re more likely to have the above items in your shopping cart along with other high fat food. And these unhealthy food choices are making parents fat. According to the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, having a young child is one way to put on the pounds, at least for some parents.
According to the journal, parents with kids under the age of 17 consume an extra 4.9 grams of fat daily— with 1.7 grams being saturated fat. And we have a higher odds of frequently eating the food items listed above.
Previously it was felt that the parents’ diet was the cause of childhood obesity. The solution was to first change the parents’ diet and then the kids would ultimately become fitter. This new research says just the opposite. According to their findings, kids influence the food choices we make. But wait, aren’t we the ones buying the food?
I admit I have been eating more “junk” food since I became a mom. It’s more convenient to have these high fat/calorie snacks on hand. The same is true for eating out. Before Tyler, I hardly ever ate out. Once I became a mother I started eating out more, especially since I spend more time out and about. But I think if we never introduce unhealthy eating into our childrens’ lives then they will eat healthy. If we buy the chips and cookies as opposed to fruit, low-fat milk and other goodies, then do they have a choice? Of course they are going to be introduced to these items by others, so we can’t very well shield them from a chocolate bar until they turn 18. But we can limit the amount of that exposure in our own homes.
And don’t think it’s too late to start. I’m eating healthier to lose some weight (12 pounds gone already!) so that I can reduce the amount of blood pressure medicine I am taking. As a result, Tyler’s going to eat healthier because I am simply not going to buy all the unhealthy snacks and food I have been buying in the past. And I’m limiting the times we eat out. He didn’t like it in the beginning but when he realized he didn’t have a choice he’s learning to adjust.
So what’s your opinion— do you think having kids caused you to gain weight?
See also:
New Study Finds Divorced Moms Have More Illnesses