Before I had kids there were things I would “never do.” I’d never go to McDonald’s PlayPlace. I’d never let the kids watch TV just to get 30 minutes to myself. And I’d never give them blue food. To me blue food is one of the signs the end is near. Could anything dyed blue possibly be ok to eat? I mean, it’s blue.
So far we have, in fact, gone to McDonald’s just to play in the indoor “playground.” OK, here’s a sad confession–I let my kids get the Happy Meals there but I don’t actually eat anything myself. I just can’t do it. Does that make me a bad mom?
And I have been known to put on Blue’s Clues so I can read People Magazine in peace for 24 minutes.
But I have not yet given in to the blue food. But it’s probably only a matter of time. I can feel my resolve slipping. I started out gung ho natural and organic. We buy organic chocolate milk,organic fruit leather and organic bunny grahams. Our canned ravioli and frozen pizza and yogurt in squeezable tubes are made with organic ingredients and somehow that makes me happier and feel less guilty.
But it’s a slippery slope from no preservatives to neon snacks.
My two oldest boys spend most of their days at pre-school while I’m at work. And with that is the dreaded job of packing two lunches each night–or in a blurry rush each morning. Why do I hate that task so much? It takes all of 7 minutes, but for whatever reason it drives me crazy. Anyway, the oldest has been helping me pack the lunches–mainly by directing the action and calling the shots.
“Apple juice or organic milk?” “Juice”
“Turkey or ham?” “Ham–no cheese.”
“Grapes or an orange?” “Grapes–no seeds.”
“Strawberry or blueberry yogurt?” “Daniel’s Crush Cups.”
“Huh?” “Daniel’s Crush Cups.”
This went on for about 5 minutes until I just plopped blueberry yogurt tubes in the lunchboxs and called it a day.
Then, a couple of days later at the grocery store, my son came to a screeching halt in the yogurt aisle. Daniel’s Crush Cups! He looked at the shelf with stars in his eyes and a song in his heart. It seems Daniel’s Crush Cups are not Daniel’s at all–they are Danimals. And from what I can tell it’s just yogurt packaged in a flimsy plastic cup so you slurp it out without a spoon. He wanted them so badly. And he batted those big blue eyes at me so beseechingly. I gave in.
So now there is one more thing I would “never do” to cross off the list. At least the yogurt is a lovely shade of Pepto Pink. I find comfort in the fact that it is not blue.
Hey, whatever works.
