When little people come into our world through birth, adoption or foster care, we are flooded with emotion and sheer wonder of a new soul entrusted to us. It is a high privledge indeed to steward a life, to be the one they call, “Mom.”

As the Mom in their world we get to be the one to make lots of decisions about how to raise them: schedules, schooling, holiday celebrations and more. One decision that often ebbs and flows between being a delight and the bane of my heel is what to feed my kids each day. Can anyone relate?

For some reason,it never quite registered  that when I had kids, I would be the main one choosing what food comes into our home and just what I would feed these precious kid-o’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Recently, I became a Certified Dr. Sears Health Coach and I’m having so much fun teaching my first class to a bunch of Mamas! As a Dad of 8 who has written over 30 books, Dr. Sears is a treasure trove of insight into this area. The one concept that has set me so free to enjoy loving my kids through food is traffic light eating.

Green Light Food- GO food….Grow food. Whole food.

Yellow Light Food- SLOW down food. Sometimes food.

Red Light Rood- STOP and think food. Is there a better choice I could make?

Or how often am I okay with us eating Red light food like the yummy ice cream treat above.

As Mamas there is one ingredient that is vital when dealing with food and that is our attitude. We can make or break meal times can’t we, Mamas?!? Recently, after all the work of prepping a meal, setting the table and trying to keep my kids involved, by the time we sat down to eat I was a pent up ball of stress. After lighting the candles and praying I excused myself to go lie on my bed and scream into the pillow.

This was a victory for me because typically I stay at the table and I am just…well, you know…quiet. Not mean, not overly joyful or interactive, just…quiet. So it was great to take responsibility for myself by taking a 5 minute break from the table to get out some of my frustration and return to meal time with a happy heart.

So today, enjoy looking for ways to get green light foods into your precious ones. Healthier foods allow information to be processed correctly in kids brains, which helps kids function at their optimal level.

And just in case you’re wondering what I served up for dinner last night…here it is…salad & quesadias with veggie cheese, sour cream & salsa.  And yes, it was a paper plates Friday!