Was reading a daily newspaper a few days ago and came across a column entitled, Do we feed our pets better than we feed our kids? After seeing the column I decided that was a good question.
The writer was talking mainly about the recent pet food contamination that impacted many pet food manufacturers and thousands upon thousands of pets. When we first heard of the problem we jumped at the bag containing food for our Old English Sheep-dog, Maggie, and established it was not one of the contaminated numbered bags.
The writer of the column was not saying we are feeding contaminated food to our children and have less concern about that than what we feed our petsat least she wasnt saying that directly. Her point is we are mostly on a hustle-bustle weekday schedule that sometimes sees us throwing food at our kids in the manner requiring the least amount of time.
What does that mean? It means fast food, either at home or at the first quick-service restaurant we come to on the way home and pick up burgers, fries, pizza, etc. that is anything but a healthy diet. While it is not contaminated as the pet food was, it is certainly not a healthy, well-balanced meal and in the long run causes as much of a problem with our kids health as some dogs had with the pet food. Our kids are not dying immediately from this food but over the long haul it leads to diet deficiencies, obesity, etc. that can and does lead to an early death.
The Springer kids have long been on their own so we dont dictate the kinds of food that they partake. As I look back over the years and consider how we handled them I would say we are not guilty as charged, by the writer.
Mother Linda is a trained dietitian, formerly worked in a couple of hospitals, and practiced what she preached at home as well as at work. Over the years she preached, and provided a healthy diet and prepared the necessary fruits, meats, vegetables, etc. that our kids needed daily. It was a rare exception when we headed for the burger or pasta places for our snacks.
Our kids, now in their forties, all seem to be healthy, are used to eating balanced diets, and continue along this path as adults. At least that is my view as I observe them. However, there is still a message there for all of us to mind our diets.
Such are the people, places and things that have touched my life in my West Virginia home!
Don Springer can be reached at touchlife@worldnet.att.net.
