Do you ever find yourself sitting there just thinking? I believe I took way too much fish oil yesterday but that's what happened to me.I started thinking about when I was a little girl and walking to school. It was about three blocks and we had an alley behind our house so we had the choice of walking on the sidewalk in the front of the house or the alley in the back. We had to wear skirts or dresses, no pants, no jeans, no shorts, none of that back then. We had our bookbag and our lunchbox to carry. No backpacks back then either. If we had homework it was done. Always.
The one that lived the furthest, Judy, came first for me, calling at the door, I'd join in and next we'd stop at Linda's house for her, sometimes Marilou went with us too. There were either three or four. We had no fears of anything bad happening to us out there alone at such a young age, it was unheard of back then. Oh the chatter that went on between us, we were ever so grown up and talked about things like boys and teachers and parents. Since I was an "only child" I never had anything to contribute when they talked about siblings.
Some days we traded lunch things. There were lots of ethnic foods in lunches and that was very strange to me. I usually had tuna or ham or peanut butter or cheese on mine. With butter. Not mayo. Now I liked mayo, but my mom always put butter (really margerine but mom always called it butter) on sandwiches instead. I never thought to ask her why, I just ate it.
Then I got a sweet of some kind, cake of course was my favorite, and a fruit. The fruit was mostly a banana, an apple, or grapes. Maybe a peach or pear in season. Never anything exotic. And two cents in the bag to buy milk or a thermos in the lunchbox with milk in it. Either white milk or it might have Nestles chocolate powder stuff in it for a treat.
I was a very skinny kid. In the fifth grade I weighed 48 pounds. I never thought about it but when the nurse weighed us one day (we had physicals IN school then) she said "you only weigh 48!!" like I was a freak or something. As I look back on things I realize the reason I was thin was portion size. My mother cooked for three and there were usually no leftovers. She cooked the amount you were supposed to eat. Period. It was always plenty and I never went hungry but when I think about what was on the plate, it sure was way less food than you see on a plate today!
And when dinner was over I could go outside and play until dark or bath time. Then you got a snack before bed, either cereal or something like that. Again, the portion was small, I remember cereal in small dessert bowls so it was probably 1/2 cup.
Now I think this was really good. The portion size. I want to try to go back to this if I can. When I cook there are always left overs and most of the time they get tossed a few days later. Either that or we eat seconds which is never a good idea!
Anyway that's where my mind went. What about yours?
27 notes:
Thank you, cara Bee!
A great tale, your memories are not from oil of fish...I like your words a lot!
Have a good week...
Hugs for all of you!
My thoughts are with you!!!
Ciao!
I was just the opposite! I was a chunky little brat. My mom took chef's classes and we ate large, and everything was covered in a sauce or gravy. I lost all of my baby-fat in 6th-7th grade, but I was 5'6" and weighed 125 in the 5th grade! A lot of kids thought I was a teacher in the 7th grade. I thought it was neat back then to look older. NOT anymore!
I loved trading lunches. The best thing I found was from a little Roman Catholic girl who always had tuna or something like that, on Fridays. One Friday she wanted my beef sandwich so bad, we swapped.
She had a peanut butter with marshmallow cream on white bread. I'd never tasted anything so delectable! Now I realize she had to go to confession for eating my beef sandwich on Friday!
~~~Blessings~~~
My mother always cooked 3 huge meals a day for 12 - my parents, maternal grandparents and 8 kids... plus any friends we had eating with us. It took her a long time to learn how to cook for 2 when the kids all left and it was just the 2 of them.
I was thin when I was in school, but started putting on weight in my last year of high school. I stopped dance class, the basketball team, the gym team, riding my bike and walking. I got my driver's licence and me and my boyfriend/fiance/husband drove out to eat or out for a Banana Split or Pizza... I totally caved in to junk foods and the foods I enjoyed most. Portion size of course plays a huge part, too.
I thought when my parents moved in with me and with her doing all the cooking that might help but it doesn't, because I still don't exercise and my Dad has to have about a dozen types of sweets in the house at all times.
Willpower... I haz none.
Bee -
I appreciate being skinny - I didn't hit 100 lbs until my junior year of HS and joined the service at 137 lbs @ 5'11"!!
As for my thoughts, they usually go back to significant events in my childhood - firing off firecrackers under the bridge on Drury Drive (trouble!!), the day the two cats both had kittens (animal shelter) or Mom passing a roll (literally) down the table during thanksgiving dinner.
I had seven siblings, so I have many memories. Perhaps I shall blog about them.
JustJon
there was no mayonaise because your luch used to sit on a shelf in the class room. Back then the biggest thing we had to worry about was that the mayo would "turn" and make you sick!
PS sounds like you lived in Mayberry, hehe
It does sound like an idyllic childhood. Did Donna Reed live next door?
I loved Donna Reed.
I am an only child too, Bee. My mother used to give me about the same kinds of lunches as you got. Sometimes I would get some potato chips too to eat with my sandwich.
It's fun to walk down memory lane...sometimes.
Have a nice Monday!
I used to walk over a mile to school with neighborhood kids. We never gave a thought to our safety, alone or in a crowd. We simply had to watch out for traffic. Bad guys only robbed banks back then...they never stole or hurt little children. Ah, the good old days! Big hugs...
Portion control was a foreign concept in our house. We took the bowl and filled it. My biggest mistake would be coming home from school at 3 and eating everything in sight, and then dinner around 6 when everyone else got home. I am sure that's where my pounds added up from.
Portion control will be a new thing in our house when Baby Girl arrives.
Another contribution from moi:
Cat Lover's Rules
1. The cat is not allowed in the house.
2. OK, the cat is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.
3. Ok, the cat is allowed in all rooms, but must stay off the furniture.
4. The cat can get on the old furniture only.
5. Fine, the cat is allowed on all the furniture, but it is not allowed to sleep with the humans on the bed.
6. The cat can sleep on the bed, but not under the covers or on the pillow.
7. OK, The cat can sleep under the covers and on the pillow by invitation only.
8. Well, ok, the cat can sleep under the covers every night and on the pillow too.
9. Humans must ask permission to sleep under the cover with the cat; only the cat can sleep on the pillow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I can relate.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Lots of activity and portion sizes... along with a wide variety of foods.
Holy Cow Bee! That's not just portion size, that's just THIN!! My 1st grader weighs 48 pounds and HE is thin.
I really enjoyed hearing about your "young days". I remember those!!! Also, your birthday party when you turned five, I believe. Someday, when I get around to it, I hunt up some pictures to send you.
Also, I remember your mom's spaghetti. I liked it so much, I went on a blind date instead of to my usual dance. That's how I met my dear late husband.
LUV, Auntie J.
I always cook way too much, MWM always says "who else is coming for dinner?"
I read somewhere recently that the population of Britain were at their fittest during the war years. Apparently it because of rationing everyone had small portions at mealtimes. Makes sense doesn't it. I'm trying to cut down on portions too Bee.
We ate big meals three times a day. We lived on a farm and did lots of work, so we ate very big meals. I was thin as a rail too. All that work I'm sure.
I think I need some fish oil so I can have think days. This was a fun post honey.
Have a terrific day. Big hug to you and Sarge. :)
I remember being sick all the time when I was little.... I had allergies and threw up a lot, so I started school at 6 1/2 weighing 29 pounds. Now, my nursing books say the only time youo are the same height and weight is at six years old and that should be 44 pounds and 44 inches tall. If you were only 48 pounds in the fifth grade....you were SKINNY! All the rest of your memories could be mine. except we had no alley and I'm a bit older. It's nice to just sit and remember something nice from the old days....keep hitting the fish oil!
I am glad I had the "leave it to beaver" childhood that I had. I feel sorry for the kids today. So many broken families with kids plugged into the computer world. No social skills being gained. It's real sad.
PS
Auntie Bee I gave Momma purrmession to anzwer bout her memories...speakin of witch ain't too gud...
purrs
Abby
Those were the Days when we all were happy, even though we here in Europe suffered from lack of everything after WW 2.
In fact, most people had what were needed of healthy food and clothings.
No extravaganca- Nobody thought of such things. In fact - it was not available. People went to Sweden by bus, even to buy canned peaches.
At School we had breakfast every morning. From 8 am. Milk, some slices of bread with different spread or cold cuts. My fav was Rose hip marmelade.
I lived then only 20 seconds away from the School - I did it in less than 10 seconds when I ran. And was very hungry.-- ))
When young, I did not like Butter.
Only used margarin - it was only 1/4 of the prize. To day I don't touch anything but real butter these days.
Have a great week and pls excuse me for not beeing a frequent commentor in the past.
btw. I did listen to an interesting radio program this afternoon - about Cats and Birds.
It's posted in both English and Norwegian - simultaniously so to speak - here:
http://toraamusic.blogspot.com/
You may pick up some Norwegian;-)))
It's too bad kids eat so much fast food nowadays, combined with playing computer games instead of fun outdoor games!
We didn't eat much.
I remember having cereal or toast and egg for breakfast. Then at school lunch would be a sandwich --usually bologna with mayo, or chicken. Sometimes she'd put in a "Nutter Butter" cookie and other times a spritz cookie. There was usually a thermos of either juice or milk. It was a real bummer when I'd drop my lunch box and the thermos would shatter. This was the days before all plastic themoses!
Once in awhile I'd buy lunch. It was .45. I remember because if we bought it it was only after looking at the menu, which was printed in the daily newspaper. So the day to buy it was usually on Thursday, because on Thursday they had hot dogs!
I still love hot dogs. I cannot understand people who do not like hot dogs. I can be their friend, but that's just one void I will never quite comprehend!
Gosh....
Wonderful post, tons of memories came flooding back...
My mother made lovely lunches... and I think I just took them for granted like all kids do.
I also remember looking at the paper to find the lunch that I would like to buy and that wasn't very often... but for a treat I could.
Thanks for the memories...
cheers, parsnip
I happy that I was able to read your blog today. Yeaterday my monitor blew up and this morning went out to get a new one. Why I was looking for a new one the man ib charge said it may not be the monitor but the graphic card. I said what the heck is it. He explained in detail. I bought a new one, hecked it up and hoped for the best. Lucky me. It works so I was able to read your blog and comment to you. It's crazy when you can't work on your computer. You're lost. I loved your blog and I thought about when I was in school during lunch. My mom usually gave me peanut butter and jam but some times Italian luncheon meat with mustard. The school would give us a small bottle of milk and for dessert a small piece of chocolate cake. Isn't it nice to look back to when we in school. We had Emily and Cole today. Both of them had colds because Emily caught it from some little kid form her class. Thats life when your child starts school I told my daughter. I just hope that we don't catch it. I hope Charlie is doing well today. He's in my mind all the time. I just wait until I see you both. Ciao.
Paul
Hi Paul, did I blow up your monotor with my post?????
This is a very nice and interesting post Miss Bee.
Thanks for sharing a story about your past. I very much enjoyed enjoyed the read. You writing always calms my mind.
♥
I grew up in an Italian household, so portion control wasn't ever on the cards. It was more about who could eat more. Eat you're hungry. Eat some more. have another meatball. How about a turkey sandwich. You want some macaroni? I just made fresh sauce. Yep, that was my childhood.
I used to be skinny, too. I warn my skinny kids their day of reckoning is coming....
And I don't mind leftovers. Not that we have them too often with Middle Son still at home.
yeesh, i wish i could get the hang of portion control. i usually cook too much on purpose so that i don't have to cook the next day! but it usually means we're eating too much the first night :P
let me know how it works out for you!
yeesh, i wish i could get the hang of portion control. i usually cook too much on purpose so that i don't have to cook the next day! but it usually means we're eating too much the first night :P
let me know how it works out for you!
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