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What's crack?
Keeping My Kids off the Crack
Written by Tabitha Stine
If you are a Zoner, then you believe in its benefits not only for athletic performance but also for overall health. I began to follow this prescribed eating plan in early 2008 after reading Nicole Caroll’s CrossFit Journal (issue 38) article entitled “Getting off the Crack.” I realized then that having a balanced diet was good for me and naturally, would be good for my kids as well. Since that time I have steadily implemented the zone diet into my children’s daily lives. Just as I asked myself almost a year ago, you might be a parent wondering, “how do I get my kids eating right consistently?” To help you answer that, I will share my experiences as a mother of four young children who are living “in the zone.”
The first thing I believe to be extremely important in developing a healthy diet for your kids is to educate them on the macro nutrient groups. They need to be able to look at a plate and determine themselves the protein, carbohydrate, and fat. This knowledge has been very useful when I am explaining to my kids why they’re eating green beans with dinner instead of french fries. When planning meals for my kids I am very generous with the blocks. They are growing kids who (taking after their tall skinny father) are not on any calorie restrictions. I generally fix 2-3 block meals and let their appetite be their guide. If they are still hungry after a plate of food, I give them seconds but the next helping is still balanced with portions from all macro nutrient groups. With three boys who seem to be hungry all the time, this is important so that the balanced meals they eat keep them full longer.
The most important nutrient for a growing child is protein and we as parents know, kids like to snack. To keep your kids eating right, it is wise to have quick protein choices on hand that they enjoy. My kids love “turkey wrappers” – string cheese wrapped in a slice of turkey. They eat hard boiled eggs with the yolk removed and replaced with (I know it sounds gross) almond butter. They also enjoy cottage cheese, grilled chicken strips, and an occasionally mixed protein shake because they think they’re drinking chocolate milk. I usually serve these proteins with fruit and some nuts to create a balanced snack.
My research and experience has shown me that through educating and training, children can adhere to a healthy diet. If you teach them to eat balanced meals now, it will benefit them greatly as growing children and be easier for them, as adults, to keep to a healthy lifestyle.
Tags: Nutrition
Hey you guys! I love your site! Hope to see you all soon!
Miranda 801
C-Note,
Do you put crack in the Rocky Road Brownies you are making for tomorrow’s cheat meal?
Speaking of cheat meals…thanks to Kim Bozman, this will be the February 13th cheat meal centerpiece: http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/
DOUBLE WHOOT!
Great post, Tabby Tabberstine! I might try those eggs…
M,
Does that BBQ cheat come with a defibrillator? Holy Moses! In the words of CJ Martin… If you are going to cheat…. Cheat hard! Or something like that.
Off to squat, GET LOW!
Tabitha, great post! But why get waste the yolk? 50% of the protein in an egg is in the yolk, not to mention the majority of the vitamins (i.e. A, D, E, and K).
Calvin,
Like I said, you have to have protein sources that your kids enjoy! My kids hate the yolk so I tried a suggestion from Mrs. Lynn Sears, wife of the good Dr., and put hummus in the middle. That was “spicy” and didn’t go over well either. Almond butter was a big hit so there you have it.
I can attest to the fact that eggs are great with almond butter. Or say, chicken with almond butter and guacomole. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!
Did you guys check out the hottie on the main site yet? She looks awfully familiar…
A few things to note today:
1. Tabitha is a studly athlete and a rock star mom.
2. Thank goodness for strength days and for C.J. pushing me to up my weight.
3. Elle and Amy rocked the back squat today. Awesome work ladies. Way to get over the mental hurdles.
4. Mmmm Good Meals are the BEST. M you are on a roll.
5. We need to figure out an alternative to the styrofoam boxes my meals come in. This cannot be good for the environment.
6. I thought that I had a special love affair with PB and almond butter. Mark takes it to a whole new level.
Peace out,
Dantelope
Well, M, there is an entire box of powdered sugar called for in the recipe for the marshmallow, walnut, fudge topping… so, yes, my brownies are ladened with crack. And, darn it, i ate the leftover batter straight out the bowl! I live by the 80-20 rule. Eighty-percent zone, twenty-percent crack
Great post, Tabitha. I couldn’t agree more with starting them off eating a well-balanced diet early. They will thank you later!
New containers coming soon…just as soon as I use up the bazallion of the others I have…the more you buy the faster I can be eco-friendly! Do it for the environment! Whoot!
Thanks for your persistence Dani. Heavy is better. Feels good to get those back squats in again. Excellent strategy Michele. And I lubs my shooters!
Thanks for the clarification Tabitha. I will keep that in mind when I eventually have my own progeny to feed.
Ahhh yeahhh.,,,,,Mmmmm Good Meals packaged in hemp sacks (or maybe fruit roll up style packages…edible?)
Did you know that CrossFit makes better cage fighters (like sweet Michele) and golfers alike? Not only does my man Nate hit a nice 170# OHS and is able to knocks out 135# snatches for reps……he is also a great golfer.
Today, Nate was just three shots shy of breaking the course record at Sea and Air Golf Course at NAS North Island (including an eagle). Flexibility, coordination, agility, speed, balance. A CrossFit golfer…. all day.
The only birdies I ever see are in my head at the 0600 WOD! Nice job Nate Dogg!
~BC
Daaaaaamnnnn Nate Dogg! Thats a good day!
BC, funny you should say that CrossFit can improve your golf game… I told CJ that maybe two months ago and I got a ‘you are crazy man’ look out of him. I swear that the motor recruitment, stability, and midline strength improved my drives like no amount of range practice could.
Cal, please keep in mind you’ll have to feed your progeny extra due to the abnormally sized calves and quads.