Meddling Mother in Law

My daughter-in-law is an incredible person, as a mother and wife. I’ll even brag and say she works at a B-level job. All this hasn’t come without oversights, most of which are the babysitter’s fault. My small grandchildren have despicable eating habits. Processed foods, too many carbs, and when I stop by at meal time they’re very rarely eating fruit or green veggies. One night their dinner consisted of pasta and sweet potatoes.

I don’t blame my daughter-in-law, a working mother, because I see different fruit and vegetables in the kitchen fridge. I would like to give the very sweet and otherwise excellent full-time babysitter a lesson in nutrition and the food groups, but I don’t know how to politely broach the subject. Any ideas?

–Evelyn, Boston

I don’t mean to sound like a meddling mother in law, but the baby-sitter’s eating habits are funneling into the children. Change what she eats and your grandchildren will be eating more nutritious snacks and meals. Chances are your son and his wife would welcome gentle help. You are not going to change eating habits with one lesson. It will take a certain amount of commitment of your time for palettes to change.

Phrase the nutrition lessons as a series of ‘table manners lessons’ where you stop by the house at mealtime several times a week to reinforce such table manners as sharing that last popsicle. If they like french fries, make carrot fritters and let your grands participate. Showing the babysitter how to make simple healthy alternatives will be worth your time.

There are many books online and off with simple nutritious dishes for tots that you can share with the babysitter, and your son and his wife will be eternally grateful. Try Jessica Seinfeld’s website doitdelicious.com to find delightfully easy recipes for healthy children from her book, “Deceptively Delicious.”

Oh, and don’t forget to throw in such table manners lessons as “No elbows on the table” and “May I please be excused,” etc. Mealtimes are the ideal time to teach ‘please,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome,’ as well as to improve nutritional habits.