Nutrition

Well, I did say the topics would be random, varied..I have had nutrition on my mind forever. Today I had a long conversation with my oldest , Tad about this very topic. I have been to culinary school after all and I know all about foods and preparations. Wow, like I had never tried to have the Mom to athlete nutrition discussions with him, Tad was full of "what do I do when " questions. So, as  always I tried to talk with some Mom like authority. Talking all about what to eat and when to eat and when not to eat. All the while I was asking myself,  what the heck are you doing giving him this advice? That didn't stop me from spilling all my idealistic thoughts on eating...What have I done?

So, I have been obsessing about what have I taught my children about nutrition..How could I teach them when I am so confused on the topic in the first place. Look at the food pyramid..does it even make real sense? I have  tried many things when it comes to eating;too much junk food for pity parties, or the latest diet when I have guilt about my weaknesses. Is a Low carb, no carb, no fat, counting calories, count points,
calories in vs. calories out. Exercise, 20 minutes a day, 30 minutes or is it 90??? Drink water and don't drink soda. Eat Pommegranites. Stay away from artificial sugar and only use the real sugar,but never use high fructose corn syrup and watch your blood sugar...Where do we learn what is the right thing for us and our nutrition?

I have thought about why am missing this? why am I so confused? My mother always prepared my meals growing up; there was a hot breakfast every morning, my lunch always had a sandwich, snack and 2 cookies with milk, dinner was always balanced and included a salad. Her meals were yummy. Everyone loved her cooking. I have the fondest memories  of my Nana baking pies, breads and pasties. Mom could do it all too. I think I inherited this cooking gene from those wonderful women. Well, somewhere in there was the nutrition piece that was passed to me through osmosis or was it? In my journey I  have taken in so much information from so many sources I don't know what to trust anymore. Society and our wacky culture has scrambled my brain.. So I am probably not fit to give advice about nutrition after all.

 My Dad weighed the same amount at 89 that he did when he graduated from VMI. He knew how to take care of his nutrition, Mom!!  Really he ate 3 meals  a day and a afternoon snack and cocktail before dinner.
He never ate more then 2 cookies or (I swear to this!) one piece of dark chocolate. His biggest meal was at breakfast. He always ate at a table sitting down and very slowly, never in the car. No fast food or fast fads for him. He exercised daily no matter the weather. Jogging, then walking and even carrying his own golf bag for 18 holes.

So the thing I think I missed from all the cooking, balancing and meals that my Mom taught me(by example) was what Daddy practiced everyday..Moderation  My blog is later today as I needed most of the day to mull this over. Now before bed I will share with Tad those things that are better then nutrition that I learned from Daddy; Eat 3 balanced meals a day with the biggest meal in the am, exercise daily, sit down while you eat, eat slowly. Finally, everything, even Wild Turkey Old Fashions are good for you in moderation.