Oreos, Self Portraits and Healthy Eating Habits
Today was an exciting day filled with creativity, celebration, and a step towards developing healthy eating habits. As we worked on our monthly self-portrait session, I couldn’t help but be proud of the incredible progress in the fine motor skills of the children.
In addition to our artistic endeavors, we also celebrated National Oreo Day. Our calendar proudly displays an “O” for Oreo. And of course, as Tatum rightly pointed out, no Oreo experience is complete without a glass of milk for dunking.
At lunchtime, we introduced a new concept to the children – “Are we full yet?” Our aim is to instill healthy eating habits, something that U missed out on. As we enjoyed a delicious meal of chicken taco soup with a sprinkle of shredded cheese and accompanied by saltines, I noticed some of the children finished their meal rather quickly and expressed that they were still hungry.
In response, I provided them with additional food to fill their bellies. It was important to emphasize that this was not a treat or reward for finishing their meal, but rather a way to honor their body’s hunger signals. We want to move away from the notion of food as a reward and instead focus on nourishing our bodies with wholesome foods, steering clear of sugary indulgences as a go to for nourishment.
What struck me the most was the children’s understanding of this concept. There were no hurt feelings or anger; instead, they embraced the idea of listening to their bodies and eating to satisfy their hunger . My hope is that we are nurturing a group of healthy eaters who will carry these habits with them throughout their lives.