Healthy Treats Redefined
Around our house the word treat is used pretty frequently.
I’d estimate at least once a day, but more realistically probably verging on three or four times.
Treat, however, is a word we never use in reference to food. Healthy eating is a given in our household and just means the sum total of what we eat in a day. We always have the kinds of foods in the house others might refer to as treats (healthy chocolate bars, ice cream etc.) but to us they’re simply food.
Treats for our family are 100 percent experiential.
A treat can be as small as one-on-one time with a parent or as big as seeing Wicked on Broadway.
At our house the word treat means the gift of an experience outside the norm. It’s something we look forward to, are grateful for and appreciate.
As with most six year olds my daughter seems to be constantly clamoring for treats (movies with mama, swimming with daddy) the *only* difference is she’s not seeking food.
All that said, the prevailing notion of healthy treats is an ever-present topic of conversation among my mom-friends.
We’re all responsible for providing daily school snacks for our children and many of my friends struggle with finding a ‘treat’ they feel good about sending.
And yes.
The majority of the time they use the word treat.
Not surprisingly, when we discuss this concept, the “treats” I chime in about are the “also’s” I send with my daughter’s snack. Short notes. Surprise photos (like the one above). Even drawings I’ve done a la the ones she frequently leaves around the house for me to discover.
While so many of my friends fret about the food-treat, I’m confident these “added snack experiences” lend a sweetness to her afternoon which couldn’t be obtained through food.
Still, all these treat’versations sparked me to consider how we use the word and whether it would be applicable to her daily snacks.
I’m an intuitive eater.
I listen to what my body asks for and ‘treat’ it to those foods.
I believe all healthy, whole, clean foods are treat’y because they help our bodies to thrive.
With that definition in mind I do send treat-snacks to school each day.
- Cinnamon grahams.
- Chocolate rice crispy bars.
- Fresh local fruit.
- Homemade peanut butter balls.
Foods that will nourish my daughter’s body and give her the energy to make it through her day. Foods where the *experience* of eating them is a pleasurable one.
Foods I like to think, were she at an age to fully grasp mindful eating, she’d intuitively know her little body was asking for.
We don’t refer to food as treats in our household and yet, after reflection, I’d say all foods we eat are ‘treats’ it is merely a matter of semantics.
- Does your family refer to particular foods as treat foods?
- Do you differentiate between healthy treats and ‘non?’
- Anyone else use the notion of ‘treat’ solely for experiences?
Be well!
Carla
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Oct 11, 2012 @ 14:55:00
Carla, I LOVE this! How did you get so darn wise. Honestly, it had never occured to me to think of treats or rewards as events rather than eating.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 01:37:00
Oh, good point! I need to rethink my wording…
Oct 15, 2012 @ 02:06:00
This is such a good post! When I have a family I want to have this mindset! What a healthy example to have for a child!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 02:22:00
I almost didnt realize we did this until one day—when my girl was little—when my child came up to me in front of a friend and said I NEED A TREAT.
).
My friend looked a little horrified (ok it was a newish friend
Intuitively I responded OK WHEN XX LEAVES WE WILL GO TO THE PARK AND PLAY IN THE WATER.
That was my ah ha OH we dont use treat for food! moment.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 02:43:00
OMG I LOVE THIS and will be doing this with my little ones!! may be a silly question but do you just call the rest snacks?
Oct 15, 2012 @ 02:48:00
Guilty of using the word treat yesterday in reference to candy! lol
Treats to me is something I wouldn’t have on a regular basis. It’s that little something that make me go Mmmm..but in sweeter sense (literally).
You bring a great perspective to the use of this word. I will definitely think twice before using it the next time. This post has completely made me re-evaluate its entire meaning!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 02:48:00
p.s. Pretty sure I see a FUFACE in there
Oct 15, 2012 @ 03:18:00
We are the same here–I’ve never wanted to “treat” food as a reward. Yes, we eat desserts, but we don’t reference it as a treat. Great post!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 03:21:00
its funny because i rarely use the word treat with food. Maybe a goodie. But i like how you reference treat with time spent together. That is a REAL treat!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 04:25:00
what an interesting post, I never really thought about it! I tend to think of a treat as something yummy/junk food but I guess thats not always a good idea!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 04:30:00
is it just me who caint respond/comment on phone?
SHE MAY EXPRESS MORE DELIGHT OVER THE FORMER…I dont differentiate.
Nicole—it’s just food. snacks. a decadent cookie say steamed carrots
Oct 15, 2012 @ 05:01:00
It is really a great way to look at this Carla & I think people with kids might want to start incorporating into their life with kids – I love it! I do use treat for my treat cookie on the weekend OR my treat I have after dinner which is actually healthier for an after dinner snack but I still call is a treat. I do stay away from the word cheat food though… or cheat day…. I really rally like this & going to mention this to people with younger kids.. a much healthier & funner way of looking at life!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 05:25:00
I’m sure that we’ve referred to a food as a treat from time to time but normally the kids call them “sometimes.” We have grow foods and “sometimes” foods. It stuck with them as babies and they still use those terms.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 05:46:00
We refer to them as “snacks”!!! I don’t differentiate between the two – my son loves his snacks (sometimes they are not the healthiest) but I usually try to make them healthy – apples, banana w/ pb, healthy bowl of cereal…
I like the concept of using the word “treat” for an experience…never thought of it before but will likely start using it this way with my sons =)
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:22:00
I really need to rethink the word treat. I do tend to use it with foods that I rarely have. Thanks for the post!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:28:00
it’s amazing to watch her as I can see how DECADENT and FANTASTICAL
she really thinks experiential treats are. my surprising her at lunch? Seeing Hotel Transylvania? she gits over the top excited…
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:29:00
I think we use the word “treat” in our house to mean it is not an everyday thing. As an adult, I have learned to eat “unhealthy treats” sparingly and in moderation and I am trying to pass that mindset along to my family.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:38:00
I do refer to some food as treats, but not often. I tend to use it more when my friend says she is going to have a “cheat day” and my response is that I think it should be considered a “treat day”
I love the treats your family has!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:47:00
Totally get what you’re saying and completely agree. I may have to re-assess my usage of “treat” meal. I thought it was better than using “cheat” meal! maybe…maybe not
Oct 15, 2012 @ 06:54:00
Oh if all the world’s Mommies were as smart as you. I love this post – and I agee completely. At my house we use the word SNACK for in between MEAL nibbles. In our ‘adult’ only household, the word TREAT has a whole different meaning.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 07:04:00
I really wish my parents had brought me up this way! I overuse the word treat…and it’s 9 times out of 10 with food.
Oct 15, 2012 @ 07:12:00
Since my children all fall into the ‘sweet’ (rather than ‘salty’) camp, we use the word ‘sweets’ to describe less than healthy food choices. While I do limit ‘sweets’, treats (as you describe them) are given out as frequently as possible!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 12:24:00
Great post!! I do use the word treat, mostly to describe food, but after reading your post I am going to use it differently now. I like you “treats” better than mine!!!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 15:15:00
I love this post and that fact that treat is an experiential gift. We do differentiate between healthy foods and non-healthy but we do say “treat” and my kids associate that with foods that are not everyday foods. We have tried to use “treat” to talk about more experiential things too but then they look at us expecting ice cream!!
Oct 15, 2012 @ 16:11:00
Here’s what I have noticed: foods/beverages that used to be considered treats back in the day are now the norm…even though they are advertised as treats. We are bombarded with messages that we need to treat ourselves constantly! And so these treats are no longer treats at all. What is special? You explained that very well in this post
Oct 15, 2012 @ 17:58:00
We could never afford what most consider treats. So special foods were served for special occasions. Sweet and non sweet. Being a teacher rewards were not edible but time spent together doing something.
Oct 16, 2012 @ 00:47:00
This is such a great way to look at the word “treat!”
Hoping over from Link Love and sharing love to a fellow FFA.
E
adventureofe.blogspot.com
Oct 16, 2012 @ 04:56:00
We use the word treat for different things. Truthfully, we’re more likely to use the term “special” when referencing to the Little Man. We’ve found we can differentiate the types of “treats” that way. He has a “special” bed when he sleeps at the grandparents, “special” toys that he can play with when the baby isn’t up and able to get them, “special” time spent with one of us etc. We’ve found this to be a great way to show him that “Treats” exist in many shapes and forms and all are special
Oct 16, 2012 @ 08:55:00
I get what you are saying and I guess I never thought about how I use the word before. I like to “treat” myself to special events, experiences, outings with my hubby, new clothes and yes also food treats but that doesn’t always mean something unhealthy. I “treat” myself to fresh organic fruits and veggies at the Farmer’s Mkt.
As alsways you have brought awareness to something I hadn’t really thought about before.
Oct 16, 2012 @ 12:35:00
I love, Love, LOVE this post! I need to start thinking this way.
Oct 17, 2012 @ 15:08:00
I am extremely fortunate that my kids are really good with intuitive eating. I don’t deny them things, but they know that when it comes to things that aren’t necessarily good for them, there is a definitely line of moderation. Most snack treats we have here are healthy, but there are the splurge occasions. They practice everything in moderation and that really makes me so proud!