Once upon a time, children were given the best food in the household because parents knew that little growing bodies and minds needed the most nutrients. And if that meant that the parents went without the meat or fruit and vegetables, then so be it.
Fast-forward to today, and a strange phenomenon has appeared; the division of food into 'adult's' and 'children's'. Adults get to tuck into the real food and children get given the manufactured, toxic bomb of 'pretend food', because it is made into funny shapes and characters to appeal to immature palates… and also because it is cheap.
One of the things I love about the island is that food has yet to completely become fake. At present, you won't find the hugest selection of ready-meals and fake food in supermarkets like you would in the UK. I like the fact that if you buy a pre-packaged Cypriot burger or sausage, the ingredients will be mostly meat with some herbs, spices and breadcrumbs. Its European counterpart will have a long list of contents trying to pass themselves off as ingredients, with meat faring rather low on the list.
Many (Cypriot) children still get to eat at yiayias at lunchtime where real, hearty food is served, and of what I know of many nurseries, the food is real and traditional there too with dishes such as lentils, black eyed beans and pea casserole on the menu.
But the play places of the town are rapidly changing this and letting us down with their disgusting kids menus…
My son was recently invited to two birthday parties in play places. Kids were served a plate of nuggets, chips and mini pizza. Adults were served a buffet, which, whilst it had some fried rubbish, also had chicken skewers, salads and rice. I felt sick watching my son eat anti-nutrients whilst I got to eat some real food. But of course, I couldn't single him out so I let him eat it whilst trying not to look!
Children's menus – at play places and many other establishments – are littered with fried, reconstituted or manufactured dishes, given cute names to entice kids to eat, whilst mum and dad tuck into something fresh. Why can't these places simply have one menu that offers half portions for kids? I can resign myself to the fact that if my children are eating well at home, the occasional trip out for a bad meal won't damage them, but that is not the point; the issue is that we are not given other alternatives at some establishments.
There will be many reading this that do not share my views, and I often get teased by friends that I am too militant when it comes to my children's food. I do not accept my children being offered sweets and junk by other people and people have to start respecting mothers who want to be in control of their children's nutrition. We are not 'mean' mums because we want their food to heal and nourish rather than raise their sugar levels, suppress their immune system or make them hyperactive.
So, just as I accept the right of parents to give their children junk food – and I don't judge for it – I want others to be more tolerant to parents like me who want their kids to eat REAL food, and for eateries to recognise this with healthier options on their 'kids' menus.
