grazing vs meals - spinoff

[bellona]

The thread about grazing made me think to ask this. I've heard that when you eat the ph in your mouth is changed and it takes a while for it to stablize. If you graze then it can't stablize and it causes your enamel to break down. Is there truth to this?

Also, I feel trapped by the traditional concept of meals. I know that it's usually a time for families to catch up, but we homeschool, I work from home...we see each other all day, catching up is only an issue when dh gets home at night. However, I don't like having yet another ritual surrounding food. Because that's what it feels like for me. I'm not always hungry, but I've learned that dinner is a big meal and you eat alot. My kids are often not hungry at dinner.

Does anyone do anything else as a sort of family together time when dh gets home at the end of the day that doesn't include sitting at the table eating?

[dreamrawalwz]

Maybe sit and play a game or have your children show him what they've done while he was at work? Go outside and all play together or just sit in the sun relaxing?

[bellona]

I like the idea of going outside together. Now if I can just get dh out of the house when he gets home :D

I'd like to do something that even my youngest would be able to participate in and that rules out games. I had thought at first that going outside wouldn't really get us together (with the kids running around everywhere!) but if we played games together outside, went running together or went for a walk in the woods we'd be spending that time.

Do you do these things?

[dreamrawalwz]

I like the idea of going outside together. Now if I can just get dh out of the house when he gets home :D

I'd like to do something that even my youngest would be able to participate in and that rules out games. I had thought at first that going outside wouldn't really get us together (with the kids running around everywhere!) but if we played games together outside, went running together or went for a walk in the woods we'd be spending that time.

Do you do these things?

Well actually in my first response I was going to say "i don't have a family and we don't do this, so I'm not sure if it's helpful" I see my sister do this with her family though.

[eachpeachpearplum]

My kids do graze and I encourage that. I try very hard not to lable the meals they eat. After the morning meal they basically eat when they tell me they are hungry. I make them fully aware of what is available so that they know in advance. They only strict rule is no waste. They must finish one thing before starting on another if it is fresh and cannot be stored.

I also have things out in the open where they can help themselves like the fruit and nuts.

They both eat very little at dinner. However if there is a growth spurt comming and they are eating everything in site I feed that hunger I dont make them feel bad for being hungry at a time when they usually are not.

I really want them to learn to understand what their body is telling them not what our society to told them when & what & how much to eat.:o

Cheers,

Eppp

[Rawkinlocs]

Sometimes when my dh gets home (or later on thereafter) all the kids will just come and jump on our bed and we'll all talk or play (dh tickling the kids or rough-housing with them) or we'll watch tv together.

My kids are grazers but they also drink a lot of water throughout the day so perhaps this helps with the tooth enamel thing...not sure, never really heard that nor looked into it. I mean, most animals graze (I know not all...but a LOT of them) but I'm not sure what the effects are as far as the pH, etc. But so far so good with the teeth!

[irhxcbcziuzxs]

isnt grazing good for you, i eat all day throughout the day, when im hungry... instead of gorging myself one just a few meals

[shine72]

My kids eat when they're hungry, and so do me and dh. This usually means we don't all eat together a lot of the time. Since your kids are still little, they could have a "tackle Daddy" session after he gets home and settled. My kids STILL do this with my dh and they are 11, almost 10, and 7. They love it and Daddy has a good time with it too. Everyone is usually trying to tickle someone in that. My kids also have hobbies that their dad has the time to do with them that I don't, so that gives them even more special time with Dad. Family walks are good too. We used to do them a lot, now it's hard sometimes to get dh or our ds with autism out of the house. Gotta talk to him about re-instating that possibly!

HTH!:D