So I sat my kids down in the living room.with a bowl a tablespoon and the peanut butter in hand. I spooned two tablespoons into the bowl. I explained that this was an official serving of peanut butter and asked them to tell me how many calaries they thought were in this bowl. My daughters said 42 and 47 respectivly. My son wanted to different so he said 85. I explained that if we added all three of there guesses together we would not get to the correct answer of 180. It also has 15 grams of fat and 3 grams of sugar. My oldest daughter admitted to eating a cup an a half and my son to about a cup. We did some math to determine what that would mean. We found out that one cup of peanut butter has about 1,440 calories and 120 grams of fat and 24 four grams of sugar. I pointed out that as fat goes peanuts had a healthier kind than many fats we should still eat it in moderation. My oldest daughter told me that I was grossing her out and that she was sick to her stomach. Not what I was going for but hey I'll take it. I told them when they made sandwiches from now on they had to use a measuring spoon and they could not have more than two tablespoons at a time, one official serving, and absolutely no more sneaking into it when ever they are hungry or consequences would follow.
I don't think that last bit was necessary. My oldest daughter loves peanut butter so much she eats it almost every day for lunch. The last two days though she chose to forgo her normal lunch choice for other options and no one has snuck into the peanut butter, that I know about, since. I know that sometimes I quick to just tell my kids what to do and they should do it just because I said so, and they really should. Sometimes though we should explain the why's to them. Both because it lets them know why we are doing things and, we have real reasons and are not just a couple of dictators, and because it teaches them how to work things out for themselves and become problem solvers. Now my kids will be much more knowledgeable on what all of those numbers on the back of our food means.
I know I make many mistakes on a daily basis, especially as a father, but If I can figure out one way to do it better each day than I can really improve myself and help my kids. If any of you have suggestions about parenting, or just for life in general please tell them to us in the comments. They would be greatly appreciated.