Feeding Bytes - Real Nutrition For Busy Families

Why do YOU exercise?
An instructor at a fitness class I took 10 years ago in New York once said something about toning our arms so the skin and fat on them do not jiggle when we wave our kids goodbye at a school gate.
I do not think I will ever un-hear or forget this. I keep remembering her words every time I look at my arms in the mirror.
... My 10-year-old recently shared her ballet teacher’s vocabulary around the shape and firmness of the tummies of a bunch of 9-10-year-olds in her class.
I wish I could erase those words from her memory.
Research shows that women are more likely to do particular types of exercise for appearance reasons, specifically weight loss.
The same women tend to have a poor body image and high self-objectification.
I think I would have fitted into that cohort in my twenties but not anymore.
I have now found my own balance with exercise and fitness and I like it this way:
I have been exercising a few times a week most weeks for the last 25 years BUT I never felt like I needed to run a marathon or participate in something equally strenuous to feel fit
exercise is never a punishment for what I eat BUT my body is craving it because I feel so much better afterward
exercise energies me BUT I am very comfortable to take a couple of weeks off if this is what my body needs
exercise relaxes me BUT in many cases, I understand that it is a good night sleep or a chat with my friend is what I really need to feel restored
exercise will not erase the signs of aging or give me a brand new body BUT it makes me feel stronger so I can keep up with the kids
every year, there is a new fitness trend or a new hot class in the gym BUT I only move my body in ways that make me happy. I never do dance classes or intense weight lifting and love barre-type exercise, running and yoga. To each their own.
I want my kids to enjoy moving their bodies and feel strong and empowered by exercise BUT I do not want to turn it into a chore or a way to “fix” their bodies in any way.
So I am removing my 10-year-old from that ballet class.
Which body image damaging “pearls of wisdom” from your exercise classes can you remember?
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What a fantastic visual by @kidseatincolor. Choking is extremely dangerous but also preventable.
Cut the foods into safe shapes👇🏼. Smallest for 1 year olds and increasing the size as kids grow. The photo below shows safe textures for 1, 2, 3 and 4 year olds.
Make sure kids are seated when they eat
... Avoid hard round or sticky foods in globs until kids are 4 or older. Examples: hard candy, whole grapes, baby carrots, popcorn, nut butter on a spoon.
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