As a child of the ’90s, I can’t help but chuckle at the food culture I grew up with. Back then, health-conscious parents were few and far between, and we thrived on snacks like Cool Ranch Doritos and Little Debbies. Organic was just a buzzword that didn’t exist in our vocabulary, and I certainly didn’t have to worry about what my chicken nuggets were made of.
Fast forward to my life as a millennial mom, and grocery shopping has transformed into a whole new challenge. I thought I was doing well by sticking to the perimeter of the store—where the meat, dairy, and produce reside—avoiding the sugary middle aisles as much as possible. It felt like a win and a way to ease my guilt over not having a garden of my own.
However, my perception quickly changed during a lunch with a friend. She opened my freezer and practically fainted at the sight of my Tyson chicken. “Is that really what you’re feeding your kids?!” she exclaimed, almost in horror. I stood there, bewildered. It was just chicken, right? I grew up on a farm; chickens were either in a coop or running around trying to peck my ankles.
After her dramatic exit, I decided to dive into research. Big mistake. I found myself spiraling down a rabbit hole of alarming articles, videos, and podcasts discussing everything from the dangers of non-organic foods to the latest studies on childhood health. What could my kids even eat? It seemed like every option had a horror story attached. Unless I was prepared to raise my own livestock and grow a full vegetable garden, my kids were destined for a diet of doom.
Then, I stumbled upon an episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! that challenged the organic hype. While it eased some of my guilt, I didn’t take nutritional advice from two entertainers lightly. So, I settled on a balanced approach. My kids still indulge in processed foods occasionally, but I also make an effort to introduce organic options. They may experience sugar highs now and then, but thankfully, they’re not sprouting beards in preschool.
I’m not claiming to be the perfect parent, but I won’t be the one handing my kids soda in sippy cups either. I care about their nutrition, but I’m not ready to go full-on “crunchy” and start making homemade soaps or anything. I’m more like the instant oatmeal of moms—convenient, but not overly complicated.
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In summary, while I won’t go to extremes to ensure my kids only eat organic, I strive for a balanced approach that keeps both my sanity and their health in mind.