RIGHT or WRONG? Stuffing the temple

Posted: 11/16/07

RIGHT or WRONG?
Stuffing the temple

Reading what the Apostle Paul said about our bodies being “the temple of God,” I became convicted about what I allow my children to eat—too many sweets, etc. But my husband resists my words of caution and models an unhealthy diet to the children. What can I do?

I applaud you for recognizing the importance of providing a healthy diet for your children, and I encourage you not to give up.

You already have faced obstacles to your desire to change your family’s eating habits, and you will encounter others along the way. Some of your children’s schoolteachers and even members your church family will provide your children with candy, cupcakes and cookies on every imaginable holiday, and your children’s friends may serve as poor role models when it comes to healthy eating. Sticking to a healthy diet in today’s world is surely a battle.

Your primary obstacle right now, however, is your husband, which makes your situation a more delicate one.

Because you do not want your children to be disrespectful toward their father, you do not want to criticize your husband or belittle his eating habits in front of them. But most likely your children will ask pointed questions about why Dad can eat cake and candy and they cannot. Answering these questions truthfully yet tactfully requires more wisdom than possessed by even the wisest of career diplomats.

My suggestion would be for you to explain to your children that their bodies are growing every day and in order for them to run fast and have strong muscles, they need to eat lots of good foods like fruits and vegetables. I would not address their father’s food choices but rather address their own food choices and let them know you want them to be healthy.

The other approach you may take in reshaping your children’s attitudes toward food is to limit the sweets and unhealthy snacks in your house. Stop buying cookies and candy, and start buying fruits, vegetables and other healthy snacks, and offer those to your children in place of sweets.

Most likely, your children have said they do not like eating vegetables, and they have refused to eat most fruits. But there are ways around their prejudices against healthy foods. Numerous books and Internet sites now provide tips on how to make appealing and fun snacks using fruits and vegetables. Check books out of the library or surf the web, and you will discover that healthy does not have be boring or tasteless.

When you first implement these new healthy snacks, count on encountering complaints and maybe even some anger or tears, but stay strong. Your children, and maybe even your husband, will find that a healthy way of eating can be not only good for their bodies but also taste good.

Pamela R. Durso, associate executive director

Baptist History and Heritage Society

Atlanta, Ga.

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.