Rewards
When I lived in Manhattan, my apartment was around the
corner from a little bodega. I was
there almost every night buying a candy bar, sometimes two. A couple of weeks before I moved out,
one of the gentleman that worked there told me I should pick up cigarette
smoking. He was like a doctor in
the 50’s who told his overweight patients to try smoking to curb their
appetites. This guy was calling me
out!
It has taken me years to kick the sugar habit and to stop
rewarding myself with sugary treats.
I actually still do reward myself with food, but with good food that I
enjoy and (try to) eat in a fancy restaurant! There is nothing more rewarding than eating a good meal with
my husband and friends (I did not include my children in that statement because
I don’t really taste my food when they are around).
Recently, we had a crying episode in church that lead my
husband to say to the girls, “No bagels because of how you behaved in
church.” I didn’t want to argue
with him, but in my head I thought, “Really? We are threatening them with food.” First of all let’s be honest, I wanted
my weekly bagel! And second of all,
it made me cringe that we were using food as a bargaining chip. Well, cut to the next week in church;
we held the bagel threat over their heads and they were fine. And the minute
Shealyn got a little out of line, what did I whisper in her ear, “UH, do you
want your bagel?” Horrible,
right?! But we all got our bagels
and everyone was happy. However,
are we going to try to change this reward system? Yes.
The more I study this topic, the more my stomach starts to
drop. I am totally guilty of
bribing our girls (and myself) with food.
After beating myself up about being the parent that has to bribe her
kids to behave, I did a little research and some brainstorming. Here is what I
came up with:
1.)
Coins – If the girls are really good, I promise them coins for
their piggy bank. They are saving for pink sparkly tapping shoes (this has also
become a wonderful time to teach them about basic economics…sparkly tapping
shoes are clearly a want and not a need)!
2.)
Bouncers and Slydos – my girls love this place!
3.)
A trip to our favorite park (or a new one)!
4.)
An arts and crafts project that we do not do often.
5.)
Limit television and then use it as a reward.
6.)
Movie night!
7.)
Check out oriental trading www.orientaltrading.com and stock up
on stickers and pencils so you have things on hand to reward with other than
food.
My other ideas do include food but in a fun healthy way.
1.)
Dinner at the beach or a lunch picnic at the park. The reward focus is the change in
scenery not the treats you may have included with the meal.
2.)
Let your kids bake with you. We love to make healthy muffins from our friend Meredith’s
blog (www.whatsforlunchdot.com – click on baking and look for the Apple a Day
recipe). The treat is the baking
the muffin and eating what we have created.
3.)
Never say never!
I know in my heart of hearts that there will be times when I will use
ice cream or other foods as a reward.
I would be lying if I said other wise.
And for us adults;
1.)
Manicure
2.)
Pedicure
3.)
Message
4.)
A long walk
5.)
A yoga class
6.)
Scratch off lottery ticket
7.)
Movie
8.)
Sign up for a special class (cooking, writing, painting)
These will never leave my list,
1.)
A great night out with your partner and or friends enjoying
good food and good company!
2.)
A glass of wine and your favorite magazine.
I would love to hear feedback about how you are rewarding
yourself and families!
Love deeply, eat mindfully and reward wisely,
Kim Gilroy
Insideout Wellness
