NO cheese please!

you know those mothering moments where your heart swells and you grin from ear to ear. I had one of those last night... All over cheese huh?! Let me explain...

last night was Grayson's "famous people" program at school. I was having a crazy day {ha! When am I not!}, the girls were on an alternating schedule... okay off the point... anyway... I started dinner and went to get ready and forgot about it. I came down to some VERY burnt Brazilian black bean soup. Which is DELISH by the way... that is when it's NOT burnt. There was no time to make another meal so I grabbed some dry fruit and nuts {and suckers for back-up} and off we went.

After the program... which went terrific by the way... we decided to go get Subway to celebrate Grayson's awesomeness! {grin} Being the excited and thrilled mama that I was I decided that I would 'treat' the boys to their usual tuna sandwich with veggies AND cheese. Quite a while ago we cut out cheese everywhere we could {example where you can't cut it out... pizza} but a tuna sandwich easy peasy. I was standing at the counter ordering our sandwiches, looking back at the 4 anxious boys sitting on the stools at the big table, I eeked a smile and said "they'd like cheese on those". 4 footlongs made, with cheese, paid for and ready to eat! I handed out all the sandwiches and quietly watched as the boys started to eat their dinner. Waiting to hear when they'd find the cheese.

And then they found it... the cheese... and it went a little less like "oh, yeah, cheese" and more like "is this cheese, mom, why is there cheese on my sandwich?" My plan had been foiled... I had 'almost' ruined dinner {thank goodness cheese is easy to pull off} and my smile faded. Then it HIT ME. I DID IT! I taught my kids that cheese ISN'T the greatness that it claims to be. That it ISN'T good for you! And that they DON'T need it.

I grew up eating cheese... I never thought once about the fact that it wasn't 'good for you'. I didn't eat it in excess but when it was offered. SURE add some cheese! When we decided to cut out cheese {most of it} I had to keep telling myself to NOT put cheese on things... it was just such a habit. It didn't come naturally... even today I find myself forgetting that I don't need cheese, but for the most part it's super easy. And now the part that made me grin from ear to ear and my heart swell.....

MY KIDS won't have to worry about 'trying' to not eat cheese. They won't have to decided "should I, or shouldn't I". It will be easy peasy for them... at least where cheese is concerned. And hopefully by the time they leave the house I'll have a few more of those healthy eating struggles conquered!

So next time, NO CHEESE PLEASE!

I can guess there are a few of you wondering "why in the heck doesn't she eat cheese?" More on that coming... {grin}

37 comments:

  1. Im interested to know about the cheese now too! Ive been cutting it out of our diet....but not for any particular reason other than its high in calories and I actually dont even notice it missing in most things that I used to put it into. Cant wait to hear! lol.

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  2. I'm interested to hear the drawback of it too. PapaBear doesn't even like cheese, but the kids and I gobble it up since it is one of our main protein sources.(something I'm working on changing)

    Did you see my promo on your blog frog? They change all the time but I have a blog to book one up for the week. It's been fun to see which blogs the 'clicks' come from. :)

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  3. i would like to know too!!! Our cheese in Australia, is fantastic and very good for, but having just had a friend move to the US, she is definately not in love with your cheese!!! its a funny colour! Isn't always nice when you know they listen!!!

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  4. Yes, it is true that children are very easily pursuaded by their parents.

    I found this to be a very strange post, but if that is what is important to you, then...

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  5. Ooooh, I am also interested in why cheese isn't good for you...although I don't add it to my sandwiches b/c I can't taste it so I thought I'd spare myself a few calories. I didn't know it wasn't good for you though...our kiddos like it for snacks.

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  6. Hmm. Cutting out cheese. I live in the land of cheese. That would be very difficult for me. I think I get most of my calcium from cheese. ;)

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  7. Well do tell soon, because your post made me crave cheese and I went and got a big ol chink of it, before I finished reading it:)

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  8. That is ridiculous.

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  9. why is my concern my children's and my own health deserving of ridicule?

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  10. Maybe if you explained? I know, you are about to.

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  11. We are a dairy free household. I notice huge improvemments on behavior , poop, attention span ect.
    My sister just took her daughter off daire and after 3 years of not sleeping through the night she now sleeps well.
    We do NO dairy at all. We drink almond milk and do not cook or bake, so no butter either.
    We feel great!!!!

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  12. interesting post - i didn't grow up eating cheese either - at all - my husband ate it all the time and puts it on everything to this day - it is so weird to me. I don't feed my kids cheese either.

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  13. well since everyone else is weighing in...We do eat cheese, but not a lot. More so because...well like you said...it just isn't sustinance. It's flavoring at times (parm for example), and a good treat at times, but high in cal/fat and usually not super natural. However, in the scheme of things, if it's sugar or cheese...I choose cheese. Very excited to read your post on your reasons!

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  14. this totally cracks me up, that people can get in an uproar over cheese! (just don't let the wine people find out, what would they eat with their drinks?)

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  15. I personally would love to hear what you have to say. We can all learn from each other and make the decisions that we think are best for our family. I don't really understand why people feel the need to leave Anonymous comments. "If you can't say anything nice, don't say nothing at all"

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  16. I have a feeling I know what will be in your post, having researched a lot on dairy as I pondered whether or not to give it up.

    At this point I don't buy it, and I don't order cheesey dishes when I go out, but about once or twice a month I'll indulge in one of two places- a fantastic italian place that makes everything from scratch, and a pizza place with out of this world pizzas with fresh ingredients. We are a dairy obsessed country, and I know I was shocked once I started researching the dairy industry. I'm really looking forward to the post!

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  17. Amen, Brittany!!! If anyone needs more scientific proof check out www.thechinastudy.com .... also get the book, "The China Study". You will cut out all dairy and meat. I'm workin on it!!! Let's post some recipes!!!

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  18. I think dairy is a problem because of so many chemicals and human growth hormones on the cows. They are extremely unhealty so is every dairy product.
    I recently started to buy my milk from the farm near by...I know the cows personally :)) so I started to make my own plain yogurt, curd, buttermilk and a kind of cheese :) You can not imagine the clotted cream that I have, just amazing and it is perfect with honey...
    SO I think the main problem is not dairy products but the quality of the milk...
    So I really wonder your reason...

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  19. cheese aside.
    are you not concerned at all about the vast amount of mercury in tuna?
    it should really be given to small children sparingly.

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  20. Wow, Britt! The best part of THIS post is the comments! Keep 'em comin' people! :-)

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  21. Hi Brittany
    I have just popped over from the 'other' Brittany's blog at 'Mommee and her Boys' cos i thought you must be amazing having SIX kids and TWINS no less!! But there you are in that first 'random picture' looking GORGEOUS ...AND..... you are doing something constructive about the US obsession with cheese (leading to a nation of overweight people second only to us Australians who for some reason have taken over in the fat stakes. I think it's a ploy to get onto 'The Biggest Loser' show on telly but who knows...). So now I am triply impressed :-) I may do the random photo thing if that's ok? So, 11th photo fro the 11th folder? Hmmm but WHICH hard drive is the question!

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  22. I love your blog. But...cheese is awesome. Especially organic cheese from grass-fed dairy cows! Small farmers need our support. And I'd happily weigh 2 pounds extra for my love of cheese. :)

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  23. p.s. Isn't it silly that I've been reading your blog for a while and the only thing that dragged me from my lurking state was my love of cheese??!! I'm a sad, sad individual. :) Your blog is inspiring to me and your photos are beautiful -- thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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  24. We are another no-cheese family! Our girls consider it a special treat, available only at restaurants, my boys just think its gross! We don't do milk either, and I'm so tired of the shocked gasps when I tell people we don't believe dairy is healthy. You go girl!!

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  25. Yes the China Study! Please, anyone who is interested in understanding the vegetarians/vegans in their family, and to ease fears of nutrition, read it. It's an awesome books, based on tons and tons of studies and decades of professional experience by the man writing it. Very interesting stuff :)

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  26. You can eat anything as long as it's in MODERATION.

    I feel bad for your kids for having you as a mother. You are so dramatic sometimes.


    Mara :)

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  27. Wow, people can be really rude. We were told by the chidlrnes hospiatl, sleep clinic, pediatrician, naturopath, and consitpation treatment center to remove dairy from our sons diet, as well as white flour, processed foods, and sugar. So I dont think it is so crazy, try it with your children Mara, you might see a huge improvemment in your children.

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  28. My hubby used to eat pizza without cheese all the time. Round Table Pizza has tons of veggies to choose from....and he loved their crust and sauce. :)

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  29. Cheez Whiz people, relax! (hah! I crack myself up!) Brit, you go girl! It's your blog and while I and my family eat cheese I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on the subject! Don't let the naysayers bother you....must be needin' attention and this is the only place to get it. ;0)

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  30. oh Miss Brittany...we COULDN'T be more different! =) Which is one of the resons I love reading your blog...brings my mind to all sorts of things it wouldn't have otherwise!! =)

    I DO want that black bean soup recipe please!!!it sounds DELICIOUS!! (assuming its not burnt that is!! haha)

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  31. Mara-

    I absolutely cannot believe you actually told someone that you feel bad for their kids for having her as a mother.

    Say you disagree. Say you think the cheese thing is outright stupid even. But how petty and small of you to take the time to read a blog she dedicates to her family, and then make such a thoughtless, ridiculous comment.

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  32. I am intrigued -- by the positive comments of course. I would love to change our eating habits in a drastic way -- mainly because I really do believe it will help our children's behavior. The problem is, how will I ever get hubby on board!!!!

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  33. Another day, another issue. Another point to clutter up the brain with.

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  34. The last few weeks Seth (my hubby) and I were just wondering what is so bad about dairy that everyone tries to cut it out of their diet. I'm interested to read your post about it.

    Does your family just not eat cheese or do you try to cut out all dairy?

    I've heard it can be bad for your system but how? My 1 year old eats dairy (more than I'd like to admit) and is a pooping queen so I guess I always assumed it didn't effect her as much as it does some other kids. I dont' know that I feel any different weather or not I eat it. I might have to test it out sometime.

    Like I said we've been talking about this whole to do dairy or not to do dairy thing so I'm excited to read what you have to say. (I need to do some of my own research too but haven't)

    Tarah

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  35. also delurking but more to encourage

    Thanks for sharing your family with me (I do like to pretend we could be friends)! I love me some babies and some twins and some natural, creative momma's. I really hope the meanness doesn't hurt your feelings today...*virtual hug*

    You are brave for keeping the comments open - I woulda closed 'em down by now...if I was brave enough to share my family with anyone...

    Thanks. Be encouraged.

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  36. I grew up and we occasionally had cheese in my household. Then my sister with Autism was born and a few years down the road my mother dove head first into research about diet and how it is linked to Autism and so many other things. Needless to say my parents and my younger siblings (I am the oldest of 5 with 19 years between the youngest and I) are dairy free. They make their own rice milk and cheese just doesn't happen. The kids even know to say no to cheese. When/if they do have cheese there is a HUGE difference in my sister with Autism. I need to be better about cutting it out before my toddler is older. I back you completely on this and do not find it ridiculous at all. People just have a hard time when others are suggesting to go against the "norm". Its your family's health, therefore it is your business and YOUR decision.

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  37. Parents have such a powerful impact when it comes to preventing eating disorders.
    Please be more careful.
    All foods fit.

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Thank you for blessing me with your words!

Brittany