Better Than a Snack in the Snack Bar

Today while playing Mah Jongg a friend of mine reminded of an interaction she had with her then six year-old son.  Her son and my daughter Carter have been in school together their whole lives and now at thirteen would be horrified about this story.

My friend was taking her son to our club to go swimming.  While in the car on the way there they had this conversation:

Mother:  “Maybe some of your friends will be up at the pool.”

Son:  “Maybe”

Mother:  “Maybe some of your swim team mates will be up at the pool.”

Son: “Maybe”

Mother: “Maybe when we get there you can get a snack at the snack bar.”

Son: “Maybe.”

Pause

Son: “Maybe Carter Lange will be up at the pool and she is better than a snack at the snack bar.”

When my friend could get to a phone she called me and told me this word for word and we both roared because first of all our kids were six years old and second, nothing on earth is better than a snack in the snack bar to any kid.  Except maybe to her son on that day.

It got me thinking about how much American’s snack.  Everyday after school it’s the same question…Can I have a snack?  The answer is almost always yes.  But why?  Do other cultures all snack after school?

I watch these commercials for weight loss plans that send you the food you are supposed to eat.  They say things like, “We send you three meals plus two snacks a day.”  Eat, eat, eat, all through the day.

I have to say that I have cut snacking out of my routine during this challenge and not only do I not eat as much at meals and I don’t think about food as much.  I am just eating breakfast lunch and dinner and don’t eat anything after 8:00 unless I am at a party where they have not given me dinner until 8:00.

You can bet I don’t miss a meal, but I never have.  I certainly have not changed personalities and become one of those people who just eats to live, but I also am not sitting around waiting for a snack because I know I am going to get a whole meal soon, not a snack.  My friend’s son got part of the equation right.  A meal is better than a snack in the snack bar anytime.