Staff Blog: The Wonder Times: 5.23.08

Staff Blog: The Wonder Times

Wondertime staffers share their experience with big issues of the day

Comments

May 23, 2008

The Tweekie Defense

more in the wonder times:

Going Green

A Good Read

View all blog entries

by Naomi Shulman

I really try to keep my family eating healthfully. We buy organic veggies, grass-fed beef, hormone-free milk. Even our pizza is made from fresh, local ingredients (or at least delivered freshly from our local pizzeria!). I sweat the "healthy junk food" paradox just like Catherine Newman does.

So how did it come to pass that a box of actual Twinkies lurks in my pantry? I blame those crafty editors at our sister magazine, FamilyFun. My daughter Lila requested a butterfly-themed birthday, so I bought the ingredients to make this fabulous cake, which calls for a Twinkie to play the part of the butterfly's midsection. Why not, this once? Then, at the last minute, I bailed and bought an ice cream cake (sue me), leaving the Twinkies to loiter in the back of a cabinet.

You probably see where this is going. After dinner the other night, Lila announced, "For dessert, I want that bread and marshmallow thing you bought."

Bread and marshmallows...? "What?" I said.

"You know," she replied accusingly. "The bread and marshmallow thing. The thing. It starts with a 'twa' sound? TWEEK-ies?"

Then, just as fast as you can unwrap those little frosting-filled sponge cakes, we were explaining that Twinkies actually contain neither bread nor marshamallows, which somehow veered off into a conversation about the so-called Twinkie defense. And just as we were explaining the words trial, lawyer, and even murder, my husband and I watched, apparently powerless, as both our daughters tore into the preservative-ridden, artifice-rich treats. Even the dog managed to pilfer one of the wrappers, which I found later in her crate, half-chewed and, probably, half-digested.

The moral of the story is...um, I'm not sure I even know anymore. I guess it's Don't Buy It If You Don't Want Your Kids To Eat It. 'Cause they'll find it. Oh yes.

Get to Know Naomi: Naomi Shulman is Wondertime's research chief. She lives in Northampton, MA, with her husband Chris, daughters Lila (7) and Stella (4), and their fluffy dog, Sullivan.

From Our Sponsors

Check Out These Delicious Quick & Easy Recipes

Easy Birthday Party Planner

Fun Games for the Whole Family!

Less Sugar, More Vitamin C