PharmaMom: How much is that candy in the window?

A fairly regular post from a busy mom concerned about raising healthy children.

It's unavoidable.  On our walk to preschool each morning we pass this window--notice the candy is right at a young child's eye level.  I've considered avoiding it completely, going another route, but that would complicate things and it would not go unnoticed by my five-year old. 

This morning I asked her (reverse psychology, I'm so smart!) if I could eat all the stuff in the window.  "No you would get sick, Mom, and you would look like the meatball man."

A few months back when she had strep throat she was able to watch a few movies, one being Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  In the movie, the mayor of the town eats whatever he wants (ice cream, hot dogs, pancakes with loads of butter and syrup, etc.) until he is literally busting out of his clothes.  This has left an impact on my daughter and she gets it--you eat too much and you will look like the meatball man (she's so smart!). 

I thought avoiding the window would be easier--I wouldn't have to say no, and they wouldn't be disappointed.  I clearly underestimated my daughter (maybe I'm not so smart). It proves to me that talking to my kids about making the right choices may not always be easy but it's the smart thing to do.