As a rule of thumb, I hardly pamper my kids in order to build their character, self-confidence and help them learn life skills. They are expected to do things for themselves once they are able to do so e.g. wearing clothes and shoes on their own, keeping their toys, self-feeding and cleaning up after themselves. They have age-appropriate chores to do and are responsible for their own things. There is a reward system for offering extra help to others. But there is one area in which I indulge them: food. And oh, how I really indulge them!
I peel, remove the seeds and chop fruits into bite sized chunks before I serve them. I debone meat for them. In fact, I even tear out the meat from fried whole fish! (Like the above picture) I make sure that there is something in my daily menu that each of them would like to eat. With my husband on a low carb diet, I often have to make a separate portion for him that does not include the carbs which the children love. Nope. They don't need to follow the Daddy's food restrictions. They also get to choose what to eat most of the time. I put in the effort to work out a healthy and balanced meal taking into account their preferences and choices.
Perhaps, I am influenced by my own mother who used to cook my favourite food all the time when I was young. Or maybe it is because I was very often asked to strip off the meat from chicken wings and peel prawns for my brother as a child. I find that this is one way I show my love to my kids in spite of all the extra hard work I have to put into.
Yet, I also worry. Will they grow up not knowing how to eat unless bones, seeds and skin have been removed for them? Only time will tell. At least, I have actually seen my eldest manage to eat a drumstick without help.
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| Japanese mikan nicely peeled and fibre removed, just the way my kids love it! |
