LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti, MA
LeAnne Ruzzamenti
About me:
A marketing communications professional, LeAnne is passionate about a healthy lifestyle and hopes to instill that passion in others. She holds a master’s degree in communication studies, is a mother to toddler twins and includes red wine, dark chocolate and feta cheese among her favorite foods.
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Transitions throughout babyhood and toddlerhood are hard. From creating sleep schedules and introducing solid food for infants to potty training and moving to big-kid beds as toddlers, each small step forward sometimes feels like an insurmountable task.
One transition that I had difficulty with was introducing sweets and less-than-perfect, nutrient-rich foods into my toddlers’ diets. Before the age of two it was easy. They just didn’t know what incredible tastes and sweets were available. I remember chiding my father-in-law for feeding my daughter a few bites of cheesecake off his fork when she was 15 months old. “But she likes it,” he pleaded. “Of course she does,” I replied, “but she doesn’t know what she’s missing and she doesn’t need it.”
This summer, right before my twins turned two that changed. Suddenly they knew that the rest of us were eating for enjoyment and they wanted to tryit for themselves. I treaded lightly. Would my toddlers who rejoice to have chicken for dinner and fruit for dessert start shunning their core diet and crave only sweets? I tried to avoid it as long as I could, but we are a family that enjoys our dessert, and I wanted my children to have the same experience.
So we started having dessert after dinner most nights. They can now count on having something sweet at least once a day. Following Ellyn Satter’s recommendations, I don’t require them to eat a certain amount of dinner to “earn” dessert. I do help them understand that desserts are something special and that they should be limited. We’ve taken to calling them “special treats,” which gives us a working vocabulary when they request cookies before breakfast. We also limit quantities, helping guide them to more nutrient-rich options when they want more to eat after the sweets are gone.
Although it was a scary transition for me, I realize that it was just one of the first of many “letting go” parenting experiences ahead. It has been wonderful to share my favorite “special treats” with them and to watch as they celebrate the great tastes and flavors we all enjoy.
LeAnne Ruzzamenti
Director of Marketing Communications