New tricks? - Day 11 of 30 day writing challenge

My old dog learning a new trick

30-Day writing challenge through Kale & Cigarettes (500 words)

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Cliché I know. Or can you? When I met my parents for dinner last night, a conversation came up around the food choices we make when we're older. [I think that in the back of my mind each day I am preparing for my next day's theme]. I immediately knew that I need to write about the old dogs, me being one of them, but my predecessor started this and my kids will follow. We are following in a lineage as guided...

Eating the same thing every day

My mom eats the same chicken dinner like every night. They (she and my dad) go out to dinner every night—actually, it's still day since it's always still light out—to the Early Bird Specials. If I ever want to hang out, either alone or with Kid1, Kid2 and/or Kid3, I call them by 3:30 p.m. to find out there they are going for dinner.

My mom always eats the same half chicken, no potatoes/substitute for vegetables, only eats the crust on the bread, lemon in the water. Their Early Bird Specials include a glass of wine. My mom doesn't drink anymore so my dad drinks hers. After they've eaten at a restaurant a certain number of times, they get a free dessert: vanilla ice cream with berries. They have all of their servers trained, like old friends or family members. My dad gets to know the owners and has lots of stories to tell.

How to convince my mom that coconut oil is good for you

Back to the new tricks. My mom and I discuss brains often. She is very adamant about her early drinking days (when I was growing up). She does not want to lose her mind. I pass along my healthy food knowledge to her—especially since she is very into her weight and low fat (and I'm happy to say that they go for walks each night after dinner)—in relation to brain health. Eat healthy fats, including olive oil, coconut oil and real butter. I see her now through the years dipping into the olive oil but she still doesn't believe that coconut oil, known to be a saturated fat, is healthy. I explain each week how coconut oil is actually a fat burner, and one of the healthiest oils to cook with, ingest, etc. I even put it in my coffee .

Last year I got them to realize what's really up with the dairy industry, in particular cow's milk. Before actually switching to almond milk—I went shopping with them on the way home from dinner one day—she first wanted to try it to see what it tastes like. True to my mom's nature, she didn't just buy one bottle, she bought 5 (all different brands so she could really try each of them).

When we were growing up and I'd ask if she could buy apple sauce, there were always at least 5 brands in the cupboard by Monday (shopping day was always the same day, and my mom had her grocery list ordered by aisle at the grocery story because she had it all memorized).

Anyway, they are now drinking almond milk. Still working on the coconut oil. Maybe next year. They are 75 years old now.

My mom wholeheartedly admitted yesterday that she is definitely set in her ways and smiled at her new label. My cat is like that too (the one we saved our leftover chicken skin for), but then there is me. I like to say that I live on a flowing path of flexibility. Should look in the mirror again?