I (MHO) think our obession with food, eating and amounts begins with
formula/jar baby food feeding and it's measurements, and scheduling. And
of course we know that it has become the 'norm' in our society. We who
have breastfeed naturally (without watching the clock) tend to be less
caught up in amounts and scheduling of feeding.
I have to agree with Roni, my experience has been with my first two
children who nursed briefly and went the jar baby food routine, are my
eat anything, copious amounts eaters - i.e. they are my 'good' eaters.
Even #2, who was my first food allergy child. Once we found the culprit,
she was able to eat anything, and well.
#3 is back and forth, not a real baby food jar baby, but not completely
natural, he is that way as an eater, mostly eats well (hates veggies,
but will eat under duress - makes some meals a real pain).
It is #4 who is my picky eater. She was nursed until she weaned at
around 18 months and really didn't do too much of the jarred baby food.
She eats little, mostly grazes and is small and underweight for her age
(fell off the chart at 12 months and never has been back). However, as
she has played soccer for 7 seasons, on the honor roll and even went one
school year with perfect attendance, I know she's healthy. Oh, and by
the way, she eats exactly as I did growing up. Is she too, allergic and
instinctively protecting herself? I think so. I also know I outgrew the
problem, and I suspect she will too, and I'm less worried about her
since she is so much healthier than I ever was.
I just wish that other people would lay off my daughter on her eating
habits and size, they are the ones who are going to give her a complex
or cause her to worry or obsess. As long as she's healthy, what's it
matter how she eats, the amounts, or her weight?
And I also point out to people the irony of their commenting on her
size, in a couple of years, everyone will be 'pea, green with envy' at
her ability to keep slim and trim, yet right now it is perceived as a
'problem.' Just shows how schizophrenic American culture is.
Leslie Ward
Vine Grove, KY
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