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Being "That" Mom When Faced with The Gap


snack bar

 

I’m so excited that my oldest child is turning five and is now old enough to participate in organized team sports. We have done swimming, skating and gymnastics classes, and those have been great for learning specific skills. But there is something also appealing about being on a team and learning to share, take turns, and work as a group while also getting in some physical activity. We decided to sign my son up for t-ball in the Spring/Summer and soccer in the Fall.

 

During Opening Day for Little League I was confronted with an issue I did not expect – The Gap! I don’t know why I was surprised. Gap foods are everywhere, so why should I be surprised that they would be at sporting events for little children? There is a snack shack with hot dogs, ice cream and slush. Opening day included a cook-out with hot dogs, chips and other Gap foods. And of course the ice cream truck that lurks at all soccer and baseball fields was in attendance.

A friend forwarded this blog to me about a soccer mom encountering the same situation: http://blog.fooducate.com/2011/11/01/soccer-mom-on-a-nutrition-mission/

Every family that participates in organized sports is likely to be faced with this dilemma. It looks like this is yet one more occasion (weekly!) for which I am going to be problem-solving healthier options. I’m going to be “that mom” who says no to hot dogs and slush, and yes to oranges and watermelon. My son does love fruit and understands that we like to eat healthy foods to take care of our bodies, but facing the “peer pressure” of what all the other kids are eating is going to be somewhat new to us. It would be easier to shy away from this and just give in as a weekly treat but if we are looking at years and years of Little League, what is the message he will get?

I’d rather tackle this now and be the family that brings water and fruit to sporting events regardless of what other families are doing. And maybe if we start this early enough, other families might be influenced by what we eat rather than the other way around.

Have you had the same experience? What strategies have you used to stay out of The Gap during organized sporting events?

 

 
 

 

by PeggyKerans on 06/25/2012 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: strategies, kids, mommy blog, nutrition

About the Author

Peggy Kerans

Peggy has worked at HMR since 1997 in a number of departments. She is a woman that wears many hats, and juggles a hectic family life with her husband and 3 small children. She likes to cook, do crafts, be a positive role model for her family and keep things fun.

Comments (1) Post a comment
Thank you for this great blog. I use my status as a dietitian ALL the time to get my 3 and 5 year old out of Gap situations...I even order Edible Arrangements as their birthday cakes, we call them "Fruit Cakes". I agree; starting early and laying a good foundation of healthy eating will make healthy choices their norm when we aren't there to offer guidance. I am happy to be "that mom" too!
by DrJeanene on 06/25/2012