Like all moms, Gwyneth Paltrow wants the best for her children. Although her family adheres to a strict low-carb, gluten-free diet, the It's All Good cookbook author reveals she lets her children cheat on occasion.
"I tried to start them off with all of the right foods, but as they got older, the lure of Oreos and cotton candy outweighed the lure of carrots with hummus. And that's all a part of childhood and I love Oreos too, so I completely understand," the 40-year-old Oscar winner wrote in her March 28 Goop newsletter. "I try to make sure that what is on their plate at home is nutritious and tasty, and then I loosen way up on the reigns when we are out."
Paltrow continued, "They love a brown rice stir-fry, but they also love their 'Coke of the week'. My daughter gravitates toward fresh fruit and raw nuts but will inhale a bag of hot Cheetos at the airport. It's all about balance."
The Contagion star — wed to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin since 2003 — said she often cooks with daughter Apple, 8, and son Moses, 6, because it gives them a firsthand look at how easy and enjoyable healthy eating can be. "I always saw the kitchen as a place to acquire a vast practical knowledge," she explained. "My son, in particular, is extremely into it."
"I've included my kids in the kitchen from almost the time they were born. They were always strapped to my back when I was cooking or nearby in a highchair watching and banging spoons. From very early on, I encouraged them to participate and let them do 'dangerous' tasks such as cracking an egg or stirring something carefully over heat, and they always felt proud," Paltrow recalled. "Later we started doing math with measuring cups and ounces."
The actress — who described herself as "an insanely busy working mother" — added that if someone in her family wants to eat something that's on the "restricted food or allergy list," she loves to find a healthier alternative: "I'm all about finding my way around an obstacle."
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