Food Rant
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Topic: Food Rant
Posted By: millymollymandy
Subject: Food Rant
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 1:43pm
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I have been wrestling with this for some time...
I was brought up in a house that was pretty strict about healthy good, healthy, non processed food. Biscuits were for treats, ice cream was maybe one night a week. I'm 37 years old and have never had a single filling. I try to eat well and enusre that we have home cooked food and that doesn't have heaps of muck and rubbish in it. Since becoming a parent I have appauled at some of the things kids get feed. I have seen 1 year olds sippig from bottles of juice, kids eatin chippies every day of for lunch etc, etc. It makes me angry as I hate to think about the outcomes of these poor diets. I find it really hard when we have to eat in communal situations as DD, makes a beeline for the crap and is too young to explain why she should eat something first. I'm not adverse to treats, but I don't want these things to be a normal part of my kids diet. Mostly I just sit there, do my best and try not say anything as I don't want to sound like a prat. But I guess what surprises me is that when there's so much information out there about healthy eating why do people do this too their kids? Am I crazy? Is it just me? Sorry I just need a rant... |
Replies:
Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 1:52pm
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sounds like how i was raised. Man i remember being jeleous of all the other kids and their chips and their white fairy bread sandwhiches and i had brown bread with lettuce and cheese and tomato.
Never had a filling either. Though when i was old enough to make my own money i did go a bit crazy on the chips and pies etc to make up for years of holding back but i soon weaned myself off that. I also remember throwing massive tantrums because my mom wouldnt let me have a Mcdonalds party OR go to a friends mcdonalds party. I think a lot comes down to expense - you know, price of soda vs milk and apples vs chips. And convenience. |
Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 1:53pm
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I totally agree! And I'm really not looking forward to DS starting solids because I'm a bit worried about having to ask people not to feed him certain stuff! (namely grandparents!). Don't want to come across as an overbearing food nazi but it is really important!
ETA: Same upbringing, $1 worth of lollies on a Saturday and occasional mid week treats such as icecream...healthy lunches. No fillings here either! I want the same for my children. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 1:55pm
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Totally off topic, but loving the avatar Bowie!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:02pm
| Isn't funny how we sometimes turn into our mums? Interesting about the fillings! |
Posted By: Turtle
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:07pm
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I was brought up in a similar household. And our school had rules where you weren't allowed to bring chocolate, chips, lollies or anything but water to drink. Only days there were exceptions were for end of term shared lunches - but my mum still made club sandwiches and I had to take them along.
However....none of this helped my teeth, I have had fillings all my life. I am very strict about cleaning and flossing too, and visit the hygienist twice a year but still a filling every year 
I openly glare at people giving babies/toddlers bottles of juice! |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:14pm
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Oh I so know what you're saying, I'm sure those in my coffee group and family etc think DH and I are being ridiculous when we say no yo offers of ice cream, lollies, lollypops etc etc.
thank goodness its something we both agree on and feel strongly about -------------  
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Posted By: kiwikt
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:17pm
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I agree! I was brought up the same way and am appalled on a daily basis what my friend feeds her 2 year old.
I have NEVER seen her eat a vegetable. Every time I walk into her house she is eating sweets. She has no set meal time - often before bed she will say "I'm hungry" and get fed crap. She eats pies for lunch! I just cant understand why her parents feed her that stuff. They eat really healthy so why arn't they feeding her healthy food. Of course I cant say anything! But it drives me nuts. ------------- Due 14/10/11 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:19pm
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I had the same upbringing (but still have lots of fillings!) and I was reasonably anal with DS, but it has been a bit different with DD. I'm assuming you have 1 child? It is FAR easier to monitor the food intake of a one year old when they are your only child ... you try telling a one year old they can't have a juice when you're at a 3rd b'day party and all the 3 year olds are drinking it!!! I used to be a bit judgemental too but there comes a point where the odd juice is not the end of the world and I have had to relax a little. I still wouldn't let them have fizzy drink tho ... so maybe I'm still a little anal. I don't mind chips either, but don't like them having too many lollies or chocolate or ice cream. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: AbzandH
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:26pm
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Excellent thread idea!!!
I too was bought up much the same as the rest of you ladies, as was bf. We are super strict on what our boy eats, he is only 1, and we've been to a few kids birthdays where he will have a bite of cake, or a cheesle. We want to teach him that these foods are treats and keep it that way. We've decided for his birthday, there will be cake (banana), fairy bread, and chippies (thinking corn chips actually) and the rest will be healthy snacks as it's mainly adults. Mum has drilled into me that you start the way you wish to continue. It makes me furious when a friend of mine brings her kids up, they eat whatever crap is in sight, leave full plates of meals (you know the meat and vege kind that they arent used to at home) run around like lunatics, and get overtired and emotional. One of the kids is 2 and probably the most destructive hyper kid i've met (mum thinks its funny, his breakfast is a bag of chips in the car on the way to daycare) the other is 8 and so overweight its sad. As for grandparents, if you are really clear on what is/isn't ok they're usually fairly good about it i've found. Our boys GP's always ask first, and if we aren't going to be there I pack food for him. |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:33pm
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I was brought up with mostly home cooked food... BUT we always had pudding at dinner time and pretty much had sweets every day. Add to that my mum's fear of the dentist, you can just imagine how many fillings I have
I hate the term 'food nazi' but I know that's what people will think I am  I think it's sad that such bad diets and eating habits have become the norm, so that if you do choose to bring your child up on a healthy diet (which can include treats!) you're treated like a freak.
My pet hate is Nutella. People seem to think it's a healthy option for some weird reason ??? mmmmmmmm chocolate on toast for breakfast Actually, cereals are my general pet hate, especially the ones that try to make out that they're the healthy option when sugar is the 2nd or 3rd listed ingredient 
Don't get me strated on McDonalds, KFC and the like. I've no idea how I'm going to deal with that when he's older. I certainly won't be taking him, but I guess I wouldn't go as far as to stop him from attending a friend's B'day party held there. That's more to do with the food production than the fact it's just bad for you. |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:40pm
exactly what i was going to say:) i was a lot slacker during my second pregnancy and i admit his habits have got a bit bad too..i know all teh healthy rules and most of the time that's what he has.. i dont think letting him have a treat a day or whatever is letting him eat badly:) i do think there are two extremes in these posts..it's one thing to feed them junk all the time , quite another just sometimes...i just don't let what others do get to me.. it's just one of the many parenting decisions:) ! though i do get mad when people try to feed Liam chocolate..he is one!!!! and allergic..and not their child to feed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Nikki wrote:Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:40pm
Oh and I don't buy into the 'it's too expensive to eat healthy' cop out. Porridge is probably the most filling, healthy, and cheapest breakfast there is! Yes fizzy drink is cheaper than milk, but water is FREE! If you buy your fruit and veg in season, cut down on meat and eat lots of pulses (super cheap and super good for you!) you don't need to spend lots of money on your weekly shop. It's all the crap you don't really need that sends your bill sky high. |
Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 2:47pm
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[QUOTE=Nikki] I had the same upbringing (but still have lots of fillings!) and I was reasonably anal with DS, but it has been a bit different with DD. I'm assuming you have 1 child? It is FAR easier to monitor the food intake of a one year old when they are your only child ... you try telling a one year old they can't have a juice when you're at a 3rd b'day party and all the 3 year olds are drinking it!!! I
Nikki - I totally agree, and yep I have let my 1 1/2 year old have a wee spot of juice and parties etc when all the adults and big kids are drinking it.My peeve is more with situatons like playcentre, where they eat communally as part of their daily lives. Last week they Cheezels and some extra ordinarily bright popcorn, which must have had some nasty coluring in it. |
Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:06pm
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I only have the one, and am relaxed with food, but steer DD more towards the healthy stuff. For bfast she has cereal or toast with a spread, I don't like nutella so it definitely isn't that, and cereals are weetbix and cornflakes none of that bright stuff, she will run to the fruit bowl and ask for fruit about 7times a day, I have to limit it she's that bad with fruit you give her a small portion for her size and she's back asking for more. Not complaining because I'm really glad that she eats well.
In saying all of that though she is allowed chips, juice, and chocolate, sometimes ice cream, but these are all sometime foods not everyday foods. On the days that she isn't drinking alot of water I will give her juice so that she actually drinks something, but its watered down. Just the same as adults kids need to learn what treat foods are and what everyday foods are. One thing that DP and I have been strict on is no lollies! That hasn't stopped mum giving her the odd jelly bean ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:15pm
Seems like there are only the responsible people on OB........ 
I believe a lot of people think they eat healthier than they actually do. And they certainly like to say they do. My baby had a piece of chocolate cake for her birthday and she has had mc donalds before. She even ate some commercial & sugary strawberry yoghurt with her avocado toast at lunch today! |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:16pm
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Our kids get dessert, not all the time but say 4 times a week.
And the grandparents live in the granny flat downstairs so I bet my kids eat a tonne of lollies .. just not at our house. I see no probs with them having "treat" foods with their lunch .. its not like its a huge amount. As long as its balanced .. everything in moderation. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:17pm
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I guess as long as treats like chips and sweets are reserved for parties then I probably won't mind.
I was raised to eat healthy, and Nana's was always for treats. I think that's Nana's for you. I figure as long as what we're eating at home and giving DD is healthy and good for her, then the odd party treat isn't going to hurt her. Dh and I are chocolate fiends though not sure how we're going to get around not giving it to DD. May have to go cold turkey ourselves. Wouldn't be a bag thing. The only toast spreads we have are marmite and homemade plum jam. Cereals we have weetbix and will add in ricies for when DD is onto solids. Only drinks we plan to give her is water. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:27pm
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there are lots of people out there who let their kids eat badly but i find that there are lot more parents out there now who monitor what their kids eat, and not just because they have to because of allergies and the like.
i objected to my kids mainly music who served potato chips with morning tea all the time... i dont mind chips for parties but not once every week. some of the other mothers felt once a week was okay and it was after they had fruit after all. I suppose if you are constantly put in a situation where junk food is presented for morning teas - like at playgroup - then you could talk to them and ask them if they have a healthy food policy and if not why. Otherwise you just have to use those situations as a learning tool and get your kid to make their choices from the healthy options. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 3:32pm
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oh and having more than one kid hasnt changed how i do things. all of my children only ever got juice if it was very diluted, fizzy was not an option for the young ones and dessert is still not an every day thing.
and i let the kids grandparents give them lollies, its not everyday and as a grandparent thats their job. In fact i have a picture of the my son eating an easter egg my other gave him for his first easter... he is sitting in his bouncinette covered in the stuff and having a blast. as a few others have said it is about moderation and that is what i want to teach my kids. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Mum_mum
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 4:19pm
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Im sensible with DD's eating, I let her have the odd treat of a bickie or chips or something but not everyday. She eats such a wide variety of foods and Im lucky she loves to eat. I do see kids that are really fussy eaters, won't eat veges, their parents say they will only eat crap, well thats the parents fault really for offering the crap after the toddlers said no to the healthy food.
I do get a bit pissed off with the grandparents sometimes when they tell me Im mean for not letting them feed DD a fourth marshmellow or 2nd lollypop and I don't let them give her juice specially cos they don't dilute it and lucky DD doesn't really like it anyway. However DD does get icecream or frozen yougart for pudding most nights, but thats a calcium thing
I am aware what daily treats of lollies can do as my teeth are shocking but also they are prone to holes so I am extra careful about brushing teeth with DD. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
 Angel baby - May 2008
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 5:12pm
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Interesting topic as I was just talking with DH last night about the exact same thing! My problem is with the amount of snacky kids things available from the supermarket eg, fruit jellies, fruit bars, strings etc and how they are all packed full of sugar. I am guilty of buying them on occasion as lunch box fillers but I do try not to buy them very often.
I am lucky in the fact I don't have a fussy eater, infact her favourite food in the whole world is sushi which is fabulous, but I struggle a bit finding lunch box ideas that are healthy! Dessert is a never in this house and she never asks for it either. Its mainly because we just don't buy it cause DH and I would eat it all! I have two fillings which I got at high school, but haven't had any for approx 15 years, I am not the dentists friend cause he makes no money out of me  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: _H_
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 5:17pm
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I dont have kids yet so i cant comment on what they eat
BUT I couldnt believe it when DF's cousin give his 2year old a full glass of coke!!! There is also a lady i work with that gives her daughter coke and has done since she was about a year old. She has told me that you cant even get the coke out of the fridge without her asking for some ummmmmmm she wouldnt know what coke was unless she has had it before I honestly dont understand why you would give a child that young coke or fanta (have seen this before as well)
When I was young (still would have been 5 or older) sprite was birthday treat! |
Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 5:26pm
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coke is sooo bad for kids!! ot just the amount of sugar but the amount of sodium (salt) in it is sooo bad for their kidneys.
We feed our daughter mainly healthy food (vegies/fruit/meat/cheese etc) and the odd snack of icecream and plain malt or arrowroot bickies. I did realise a couple of weeks ago just how many bickies she was getting a day (2 to 3!) so have been making an effort to think up healthier snack alternatives. ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 5:26pm
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Im quite strict on what DD eats at home. So when we are out if she has the odd treat im not as worried. Like when we go to coffee group i have cake so she has some cake. But this might be once a week, if that.
But at home im pretty strict. The odd biscuit might get eaten but i normally dont buy them so we dont have any. Things like fruit, carrots, corn, crackers, cheese, raisins, etc are snacks. I do give her juice occasionally. If out i might buy her a kids juice. But this also isnt all that often. Normally its just water. Fizzy drink never! She knows if i have fizzy its an adult drink, just like when DP drinks beer its an adult drink. Also just to add, we have veges 6/7 nights a week in some form. Sometimes just mixed into a casserole but they are still there. Iff dd just has egg/spaghetti etc she often asks for veges on the side. Its pretty easy to whip up some peas and carrot in the steamer. She is a good eater though, can eat more veges than DP or I. Although she doesnt eat meat, but im not that concerned -------------  
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 7:08pm
| Those who have spoken about moderation are winners, like i said in my post my parents banned me from all foods commercial and mass produced and take aways and as soon as i was old enough i was all over the fake food i'd been denied so long. I've always maintained if i'd been allowed the odd baggie of crisps as a kid i wouldnt have been tempted to eating a full sized bag as an adult. I guess that sounds weird. But i was never taught 'bad' things in moderation as a kid and it did have an effect. |
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 7:37pm
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Yeah we try and walk the moderation line with our kids. Sometimes we probably tip too far into treats (like with toilet training or christmas season) but we try.
Both boys eat their 3 meals a day of cereals/toast, sandwiches, meat/vege with fruit as treats at those times. Morn and pm tea is more likely to have a treat like a cookie if we in a cafe/coffee group or an iceblock for afternoon tea. That's for the toddler. IMO a 1 year old doesn't need any of that sugary stuff cos they don't know it exists. Occasionally my 1 yo will get a cookie or some cake but that's about it. Coke for a 1 yo is just frightening! I think parties are a special event and basically a free for all. Eat and drink what you like - it's a party for goodness sake. Most of our friends will have a mix of party food anyway, juice rather than fizzy, sausage rolls or savoury muffins as well. Chicken wings, sweetcorn are all good party food. And the grandparents - that is tough my mil loves to stuff them full of junk every week, but i do try and rein her in. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 7:46pm
You just tell them its got rum in it, we normally get a screwed up face and off she goes! She doesn't even know what rum tastes like (obviously), but its enough to make her think coke is yuk, cause it has rum in it lol ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 7:56pm
I got looks of horror at christmas parties last year when I wouldn't let DD have the bottles of juice that the other kids were getting. I also feel strongly about this, but unfortunately DD's dad and I are separated and he thinks she "deserves" treat food all day at his house when she is there. It makes life very difficult when I have to explain to her that we don't eat things like that at Mummy's house. I've tried talking to him about it and he agrees in theory but in practice he is lazy and its easier to pacify her with lollies and chips than to spend time with her. ETA to add that although I don't agree with treat food every day I don't have a problem with her eating it at parties - she doesn't go to that many of them and they are treats after all. The juice thing is a bit seperate to that coz I don't agree with her drinking anything other than water, mainly coz it doesn't seem to agree with her tummy but also coz of the potential to rot her teeth. I also probably give her one or two treats a week myself coz I am eating junk (a biscuit, muffin or ice cream usually) and it seems fairly hypocritical to deny her stuff that I myself eat. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:18pm
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What upsets me is seeing babies (yes babies) or 1 year olds having McDs and the like...
I too was raised on healthy, home cook meals and DD is having the same so far... Lots of fruit and veges and what meat I can get her to eat. We do have 'treat' foods like biscuits or rice cracker type things but that's about it. luckily for me all she will drink is either breast milk or water. And we have given her cake, ice cream and jelly (Xmas and her birthday). I never had McDs until I was 7 and that was a school lunch trip and I remember having no idea what any of the food was or what to get etc. A lot of kids were like 'What?!'. I'm not opposed to DD having treat foods as I know not allowing it will only make her want it and go behind our back to get it most likely when she is older (hopefully not) so in my opinion every once in a while or umm in moderation is Ok. Another reason I am watching her diet is we have diabetes running on her dad's side. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:22pm
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I think the thing that is important in all of this is that you don't tell children that food is good or bad or naughty food or whatever as this is where you create the wrong kind of "relationships" with food.
In our house its about moderation, and I will usually make a plate up for DD (2) with a mixture of things on it including popcorn, a mini biscuit, sandwiches, fruit, muesli bar etc. and she will happily eat all of it (most of the time) DD has nutella on toast or on sandwiches as well as marmite or cheese, but she never drinks juice and if she has on the very odd occasion its watered down, she had had a sip of my coke when at Mc D's or Wendys because yes we do go there sometimes but of her own accord she would rather have sushi any day. I think when you refuse your children things and single them out at events (when they are old enough to understand that is) then you are creating a bigger problem in the long run, all of my friends at school who binged out at the tuck shop and snuck to the dairy after to school to binge on chips, soda and sweets were the ones who were never allowed any of that stuff at home, to me that is worse than allowing you children to have treats, one they are binge eating it to get their fix and too they are going behind your back to do it. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:41pm
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We have no choice but to not have those things cause of Cooper, he doesn't miss out at parties, I just supply his food & he is happy to eat that or not eat at all, doesn't seem bothered by it at all.
My kids never have juice, Alia was occasionally allowed fizzy but when she had it she knew that if offered she was never allowed to have lemonade (sent her hypo) Young kids only realise that they are missing out if it's made a fuss of, older kids it's a different story but you can reason with them. I have let my kids have Macca's chips from youngish, but I was horrified when I saw a 8-10month old being given a frozen coke but the pink one & they laughed at the facial reactions!!! ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:43pm
So, so agree...one of my brothers and I have had lifelong weight battles and Im sure our skewed relationships with food is due to our childhood. Moderationis the key. You can certainly tell the kids who are only allowed "treats" at birthday parties cos they are the ones going MENTAL with a bit of sugar in them...then mum goes oh thats why we never have it, it makes him like this...um, no its the opposite, love. Luckily my kids eat almost everything and will 95% of the time choose the healthy option over the non healthy option, a treat for them is blueberries or strawberries(natures lollies) but yep they get lollies. maccas etc, but in moderation and they also know it is treat/sometimes food and why it is. I am 20 kgs down on a 35 kg weight loss mission, running my first half marathon in 6 weeks (EEEEK) and now have a healthy relationship with food and I refuse to pass on any food hangups on to my kids as I don't want them to end up like me. Annnd I have a mouth full of fillings because of constand antibiotics not becasue of fizzy drink :) ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:49pm
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I'm also going to put it out there that some of you are a wee bit...precious?
Good for you for having lofty ideals however it dosen't mean that others are crap parents because of those nutrition choices..I think people who smoke in cars or around thier kids full stop or drinkand drive especially with kids in their car or expose thier kids to family violence deserve more derision.... And Im not a fan of coke etc for kids, just to be clear.  ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: pekay
Date Posted: 18 March 2011 at 9:52pm
Who are you to judge that though? You don't know what these children are eating normally! We are pretty cautious of what we feed out 20month old, limit packaged crap (ie. she might have one muesli bar a day) and the rest in sandwiches, cheese, fruit, crackers etc. She doesnt drink anything apart form water and milk. We don't feed her up on processed crap like chicken nuggets for tea, she has what we eat and we make every meal from scratch (none of those packet mixes)---However we have taken her to McD's twice this year. No, mcdonalds is not healthy, but it really doesn't hurt once in a while! Like others have said, all in moderation. |
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 12:09am
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My eldest is 8,she has coke occasionally,she eats fast foods at times and she has lollies and what not,she also has vegetables,fruit,milk and cereal,so it balances out. My son occasionally...wait for it,has biscuits,and occasionally orange juice However he mostly has water or milk,so again,im not worried,mind you im a lot more relaxed than 1) most parents anyway,and 2) I was with my first I was raised being able to eat pretty much anything and I've never had a filling in my life,and I can tell you from working as a dental assistant for 6 years,we saw plenty of people come in who did everything right,ate hardly any sweets,and only drank water...and still had heaps of fillings,sometimes its bad food choices yes,other times its simply genetics. ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 12:13am
ahhh yeah very much agree. -------------
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 1:25am
| We eat healthy at home- whole wheat, organic (from our garden), milk & water only, no packaged "food" in lunches etc, but I don't normally object to treats at parties, & have given a french fry to goober on occasion. I'm also anti-chemical sweetener for kids, 2 of mine are allergic to it. I try to teach everyday vs sometimes foods. But I do agree with OP, I get sick of fizz, sweets & chips being offered at every school occasion, why can't they think of something better? It's lazy imo. |
Posted By: tictacjunkie
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 1:38am
| ... yes, my handle is a bit hypocritical, but in my defence that was while I had morning sickness! Oh another pet hate of mine is whenever we go out & people have specifically cooked chicken nuggets etc for my kids. However I'm also pretty proud when my kids only eat one or two of the minced-up-antibiotic-raised-baby chicken nuggets & then ask politely for more veg, so there, lol. I also had to pmsl (secretly) when ds asked the in-laws why they didn't buy free range eggs, =). |
Posted By: floss
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 7:43am
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I was pretty much allowed anything when I was growing up although money was a bit tight so we didn't have takeaways often but did have chips and stuff.
With my own kids they are pretty much the same, if the main proportion of what they are eating is "good" food then I don't mind if they have "treat" food. I think it is important for them to learn that they should eat a wide variety of foods, I think that if you don't let them have the "treat" food then when they are finally allowed it they will over indulge. It does suprise me the amount of parents I see who give fruit strings etc becuase they think they are healthy, when really they are packed full of sugar. I don't feed them to my kids but thats more of a cost issue then anything else. ------------- My beautiful big girl Sienna 15.04.06 Double the trouble double the fun Noah & Lola 10/11/07 |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:00am
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McD's didn't exist when I was a child there was only fish & chips and Kentucky Fried Chicken the only choice was chicken, potato and gravy and salads (bean, potato and coleslaw).
McD's didn't arrive in Queen Street till I was around 8 and Mum was too tight to pay for junk food. Wasn't till I started earning my own money that I ate junk food. The first time I had BK I was 19 and thought a wopper was the best burger I'd tasted. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:01am
If encouraging a healthy diet for your child is being "a wee bit precious" then so be it. I don't think anyone on here is expecting their child never to eat a sweet, or go to a fast food outlet with a friend, but when you're the one making ALL of their food choices ie: when they are a baby, why would anyone want to offer an 8 month old McDonalds for example, or a 1 year old a glass of coke, or chips for breakfast? At that age, they don't understand the concept of what a 'treat' is and what 'everyday food' is. The other point to take into consideration is peoples interpretation of what is a 'treat'. Personally, I don't think something that is offered every day can be called a 'treat', but others will disagree. I'm all for babies exploring new tastes and textures, and yes, I've let my son try a chip (hot chip, not crisps), with no salt I might add, and yes he's had a lick of my ice lolly, but I'm not going to be offering him these foods as part of his diet any time soon. As my child get older, and can understand, I'll explain why some foods are everyday foods and why some are just for treats. I see no reason why having an understanding of good, healthy living will lead to binge eating when they're older. Quite the opposite in fact. I think 'healthy living' is also an important point to emphasise. Diet is just a part of the healthy lifestyle I want to encourage. |
Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 1:28pm
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I'm afraid I have to agree with the "precious" comment too. There is a difference between not giving a 1yr old coke (which is shocking!!) and not letting them have a chip from McDs ever or anything processed ever. Moderation is the key. Like I said before, I was really anal with just Jake but when dd came along it was really hard to maintain a "perfect" diet for her when we were out and Jake was eating things I wouldn't have given him at her age. My kids don't eat lollies or chocolate every week (hardly ever) and don't have fizzy drink ever, but the odd juice when we are out will not kill them. I let them have little packets of chips or rice crackers or a fruit bar every now and then in a lunchbox (packed with other healthy stuff too), or some chips from a packet if I'm eating them. And they have McD's once a week - cos I work 3 days and its a mad rush to get dinner so we have made it part of their routine that the last day in daycare we get it on the way home. They love it. They have a cooked meal at daycare that day and I give them a huge plate of fruit for dessert. To me, that is moderation. Chips chicken nuggets and chocolate milk once a week will not do them any serious harm people! (I'm a nutritionist too, by the way!).
Morgan gets more salt in the amount of playdough she eats at playcentre / daycare than she would from a few fries! And apart from that they are just potato and oil - just the same as a roast potato! (and kids need fat for energy too by the way!) Each to their own though. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: AbzandH
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 2:21pm
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[QUOTE=Milliemoo]
If encouraging a healthy diet for your child is being "a wee bit precious" then so be it. I don't think anyone on here is expecting their child never to eat a sweet, or go to a fast food outlet with a friend, but when you're the one making ALL of their food choices ie: when they are a baby, why would anyone want to offer an 8 month old McDonalds for example, or a 1 year old a glass of coke, or chips for breakfast? At that age, they don't understand the concept of what a 'treat' is and what 'everyday food' is. [QUOTE=Milliemoo] Totally agree. Treats are treats, we wouldn't "treat" ourselves to a holiday every week, or a dinner at an expensive restaurant every night. This would not make it special. My wee boy will be taught that with poor food choices comes consequences, as is with good food choices. I won't be able to control what he is eating for the rest of his days but I will do my best to ensure what is going into his tiny growing body is the best for him. Sure he will have "treats" from time to time but that's exactly what they will be. Not a bag of potato chips in the car every morning on the way to daycare... I'm pretty sure if anyone met the kids I was talking about they would agree with me. |
Posted By: Lexidore
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 3:28pm
Agreed Nikki, I also have to admit to my daughter having a muesli bar every day but she also has lots of fruit and vege she would have at least 5-7vegies and fruit a day, and she eates well but she is also constantly hungry, so a muesli bar once a day helps. I'm Bex and I'm a bad parent because my child has had McDonalds a couple of times, in her short wee life, and some cake, ice cream, and god knows what else. Funnily enough I don't think anyone will be calling CYFS on me in a hurry. Never had fizzy, rarely has juice because she prefers water, and there is a line. I wouldn't feed my child fizzy, chocolate, ice cream etc in quantities all day every day! Everything in moderation, alongside a healthy balanced diet! Oh and also I was not allowed any junk at all as a child, and now.... I eat so much crap and have a real issue with food. My DH was the opposite, so we sit somewhere in the middle of what our kids will be allowed. Hehe but hey thats our parenting decision, and I couldn't care less what anyone thought of that or what anyone else is doing in that regards to their kids! ------------- 
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Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 3:49pm
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I agree with 'everything in moderation too'.
When I was growing up my parents could never afford for us to eat 'junk' so we always had homemade food including cut school lunches. The only time we ate food from the canteen or tuck shop was once a month when we were given $5 each. We had fish n chips one a week on a Thursday and Maccas was rear at about once every 2 months if we were lucky. I like that this has been my up bringing and I can now pass that same sort of thing on to my children. I make everything at home and Jackson gets a cut lunch for DC with the odd fruit bar, or hot cross bun, or picklet etc. But I also think that children should be allowed a biscuit or chips from Maccas on the odd occasion. At night Jackson is given the food we are eating (we have meat and vege 6 nights out of 7). Should he choose not to eat it, then thats fine, but there is nothing else on offer (unless its something completely new to him, we will offer something else he does eat). We dont buy 'junk' food to have in the house as a norm but when we are eating treats we will offer Jackson some and he can decided if he wants to eat it or not. ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 7:34pm
Agree...I really think having a healthy attitude to food as sharing that is the biggest part of all. Knwoing where food comes form and what is a sometimes choice and an everyday choice. We have a huge vege garden which the kids have a huge part in helping with, and we only eat grained bread with high fibre content, but they have maccas once a week (after mass on a sat night, its a wee ritual to help them focus on getting through mass which is soemtimes a bit of an ask for a 5 and 4 year old) They don't drink or even like fizzy but I don't go mental if they have a taste and if they are offered it they will usually say no thanks I don't like it or can I please have water. Mind you, that said mine are old enough to make their own choices a bit more and I feel confident that we have given them the tools to make good choices. I just shudder inside when I hear people labelling stuff as bad, naughty etc... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 7:36pm
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Oh and Sorry if this comes off as b!tchy but things are way different when you have more than one child... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Turtle
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 8:20pm
Side note completley, but I think is a lovely ritual  and I wish my parents had done that when we were little too after Mass!
I love McDonalds. nom nom nom |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 8:53pm
I'm no one to judge and I wasn't judging just saying it upset me which is my opinion but I'm not judging as I am guilty of letting my Daughter have the odd chip but I certainly wouldn't be buying her a bloody Happy Meal which is more what I was meaning. I agree it doesn't hurt once in a while but going to the local mall which is pretty small here you do come to recognise a few people and when it appears to be weekly... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BayGirl
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 9:36pm
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TO clarify this vent is not aimed at anyone's comments on here. I have only read a few. This vent is aimed at what i have heard about schools banning all packaged foods from lunchboxes and any other food they term "unhealthy".
The world is getting too PC. And while the days of Stay at home mums being a requirement for all women are over, the stresses of parenting and the ideas of society on what is "appropriate" and not for other peoples children are far worse than ever. AKA this means that as parents we have more responsibilities, ie careers as well as families and more media and society in general judging our every parenting decision. In my grandparents day people would not dream of trying to tell others how to raise and FEED their kids. Now don't get me wrong it is one thing to educate and guide clueless people who are nelegent or down right ignorant parents to the point that their kids are in real tangiable danger. It is another entirely for schools and busy bodies to poke their noses into what parents feed their children. AS many have said, seeing a kid in public once, or one lunch box on one day is not always a good representation of what the child in question eats every day. One or two sips of juice or a MCD's fry here and there are (sorry for the pun) "small fries" compared to many other issues we often choose to ignore. Perhaps the day you saw the bad lunch box with the horror of all evils (a small chippie packet) was the first and last time that item was in the lunch box. Perhaps the Parent of the child, through no fault of their own, had a cold/divorce/family death/trying work commitments that for this one day meant they gave in and made a quick lunch because they hadn't had time to get to the super market. We can not be perfect parents %100 of the time. It is not up to school to make parents lives considerably harder by taking a condesending veiw on what is and is not appropriate food to eat. ! One little packet of chips in a lunch box with sandwiches and fruit etc is a lot better that mince pies/fish and chips etc. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for schools who think they know best to ensure that they provide fresh fruit and healthy snacks for their children. It will get very expensive very quickly for them and i garatee most school can not afford it. Why then do they think all parents should! Yes fruit is important but not the point that kids only come to school with fruit. Some people tell me even sandwiches are not healthy for children. Lets all just stop feeding our kids all together or keep them on the boob forever. This idea of being Judge so harshly for our food choices we make for our own children is getting so out of hand !! This is all far to PC for me. Yes Childhood obessity is an issue but so is povety in NZ! SO is family violence. As long as kids are not turning up to school with Fast food and fizzy every day I say leave parents to use their own initiative and parenting choices to give their children whatever food they like. -------------   
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Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 9:37pm
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I've bought my ds a happy meal. I got 3 chicken nuggets, a fruit bag and a pump water. He still eats some of my chips. And I mean some not a. I'm not going to lie and say I don't let him eat chips, ice cream and biscuts etc coz I do. My plunket nurse told me to let him have ice cream whenever because he likes it and he's having some eating and weight issues..
I don't ONLY let him eat this food and he eats healthily 9 times out of 10 but i'm not ashamed to say I let him eat 'bad food' sometimes.. |
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 9:50pm
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Baygirl I so agree the PC nature of this country and others has gone way too far! And the whole I am going to tell you how to parent and I am such a better parent than you because blah blah blah...... is getting really old really fast, I think parents should focus more on their own kids and not others and keep their noses out! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 9:57pm
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I agree BeLoved
I have one REALLY good eater, she will eat veges, fruit sammies etc, which is awesome, and I have one fussy eater and he WILL NOT touch a vege! he will eat tinned peaches and pears which is good, he eats sammies and stuff, but dinner is a battle, he wont most of what I make him, but he will eat fish fingers and cheerio sausages etc, and even though he wont eat them I still stick mixed vege on his plate, hoping he will. When we go out I treat the kids too a happy meal or a cake or something, and yeah they are allowed juice sometimes! My 2 1/2 year old is allowed lollypops when hes a good boy and they are allowed chocolate when we are having it, Im not going to deprive them of treats, but I dont give them everyday. I dont give a rats what anyone thinks of me, Im raising my kids the best I can, and you CANT force a toddler or small child to eat something they dont want to eat, you can only try and thats what I do. So for now Im just happy that my boy eats, I cant give him nothing for dinner, so I give him what I know he will eat. |
Posted By: _H_
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:02pm
Im not saying you are wrong but i would like to say that in our grandparents day there wasnt the food that there is today. And even when i was a kid coke wasnt cheaper then milk!!! Edit- but the world is to PC
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:15pm
Ughh see this annoys me! Its not my fault he wont eat the bloody things, he got them every night and he just flatly refused to eat them! You cant go and blame the parent all the time. Ive been trying for months and months now and he wont eat them, but Im not worried as he will eat them when he is ready. All kids are different. |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:19pm
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hmmm interesting , My big girl eats whatever she wants, I ask her what she wants for dinner, she usually says nothing. Still drinks 600 mls of milk a day, hates meat and potatoes
I choose mealtimes not to be a stressful for either of us, and sometimes she will just eat a whole plate of peas and rice with pepper  or tomatoes with pepper or cucumber with sprinkle cheese (parmesan) and pepper
She would just live on grapes, melons and rice crackers if I let her - possibly all with pepper Im sure lots of you will all gasp - but she is my child and why I think its sad some kids are being taught horid dietary habits its no one elses business Im not sure that precious is the right word - good on you for having a child that isnt difficult with food, and lovely and healthy - but its a bit patronising that you think your way is best for everyone People can only work with the resources they have and some peoples resources are very limited just saying ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 10:49pm
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Nice! Well said ladies who posted after me. PC gone bloody mad...and competitive mummy-ing at its worst. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 19 March 2011 at 11:06pm
I'm not getting into the whole argument, but want to say to Sheza, my older 2 sound very similar to yours! My girl will eat pretty much anything but my son was VERY fussy. Like you we gave him veges on his plate and encouraged (not forced) him to eat them but he wouldn't. In the past year though he has been getting better and most nights will eat them without much encouragement needed. So keep at it, you're right, he will get there when he is ready ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 12:42am
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Re Baygirls post,at my daughter's school they don't throw out chips etc,but I HAVE heard of some schools being like that,would annoy me if they did that at C's school, those 12 pack of chips aren't cheap!
And nowadays at a lot of schools,they can only order subway,or sushi....I know its healthier,but I loved being a kid and getting to order my mince pie and crisps... ...I agree with you btw,I probably haven't made that very clear,just wanted to give examples of what i've encountered -------------
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 8:37am
I can't really chime in on feeding my own kids, because Jacob is at the stage where pureed spinach gets gulped down and watermelon is the bees knees. Although he did have a taste of fizzy the other day so we could laugh at his reaction (bad mummy  )
But this thread made me think back to growing up, and I know my parents weren't half as strict about what we ate as a lot of people on here are talking. My brothers and sisters always have healthy cereal or toast for breakfast (nutella on toast is only for birthdays, but I'm not sure jam and peanut butter are a lot better). They'll have nice healthy sammies and fruit in their lunch box, and usually something 'nicer' too; most often that's a home-made bikkie, but it's definitely sometimes a packet of chips or a muesli bar. They're allowed afternoon tea when they get home from school - usually home baking, sometimes a packet of chips for a treat. Mum's regular teas are always homemade and very healthy (heaps and heaps of veges) and they always have pudding (homemade, not that that really makes it healthier). There's always fruit in the house, and they eat a LOT of it, and Mum is very consistant about being allowed so much for afternoon tea and if you're still hungry it's fruit. Mum takes each kid for a day shopping in Hamilton once a month or so, and on that day you get to get KFC or whatever for lunch. They'll get fish and chips in town from time to time too (and by time to time, I don't mean 'once a year'... perhaps every third week?) And heck, I know they're my brothers and sisters so I'm a bit biased, but I honestly reckon you could hardly get healthier kids. They're all a VERY normal weight, all seven of my brothers and sisters were they ones who were competing for the first or second places in cross country etc (not me, I missed that gene dammit). We did have one health scare when my little sister was losing a ridiculous amount of weight at 11, but that was a medical problem (no, she wasn't anorexic, although she looked it!) They're all very active (living on a farm would help that), so I guess they do need a lot of energy in a day. We have our share of Drs visits, but they're usually for accidents like a broken arm or something. ETA the word 'healthy' in front of the cereal, because there are so many kinds that aren't... the stuff the kids eat is, except in school holidays when they're allowed to chose a box themselves. -------------   
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 10:03am
Thanks mummydee :)Thats what Im hoping he will do aswell just eventually get better with it I wouldnt eat peas for years, but now I do
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 10:09am
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isnt it funny what some people consider healthy!?
i have given all my kids McD's chips when younger and the other week i baked some choc muffins and they had one in their lunch boxes every day at school! Shock horror - you should see how fat they are now! i agree that parents who give their kids junk if they refuse the "healthier home cooked" option are setting themelves up to fail and not helping their kids at all. I hate seeing the kids going to school with a big bag of orange coloured flavoured "cheese" snacks as lunch and hope they dont decide to steal my kids lunch as a consequence. Sometimes letting your kid drink milk can be bad for their teeth so i dont worry about juice - of course when they were little i diluted it so much it probably tasted like water anyway lol! My oldest boy drives me nuts - always asking whats healthy - every time i have to explain to him moderation! and i agree that some are "precious". and yes i agree too that food choices now are a lot different than when i was a child! (maybe not so much for some of you who are a bit younger than this old dinosaur!) but i too remember getting a pie and cream filled donut from the tuck shop! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 12:08pm
ooh, cream filled donuts from the tuck shop  I also remember highly processed hot dogs and chips and 1 cent coke lollies from the dairy
DD1 has had maccas and juice and lollies and biscuits and chocolate (the good dairy-free dark stuff!) and not just as treats.... but she also eats almost anything we place in front of her (she scoffed down a huge raw portobello mushroom yesterday while waiting for her dinner to cook), and most of the time that includes a decent amount of meat and veges. However, because she's still not eating dairy (allergies) I figure she's missing out on all the fat that comes with milk and cheese. Because I have a baby that won't sleep for more than 20 minutes by herself during the day, some days maccas is an excellent dinner choice for all of us! Do I think that fast food and junk food is the best food we could eat? Of course not, but that doesn't mean that we can't include it in our diets. Both DH and I are healthy weights and know the importance of eating healthily, and we will pass that onto our daughters.
The issue with junk/fast food is in households where the parents don't know any better, and the kids only eat crap. -------------  
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 12:52pm
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*puts up hand for bad mother award* The girls and I had KFC for lunch today. I was just getting the cheese and tomato toasted sammies ready when I realised that the bread was mouldy. After having had a crappy week with Sophie down with a chest infection and DH working until 9pm most nights and all weekend, KFC was the option for us.
Yes I could have gone to the supermarket but I think that I would have had a melt down in the middle of shop with how this week is going. After cooking roast chicken, chicken pie, casserole, soup and pasta with vegies this week I deserved a break too. I believe in all things in moderation. It leads to a much healthier balanced person that just the good and no treats/bad stuff. -------------   
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Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 2:32pm
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I'm going to admit I give DD maccas, she's not quite 2yet! Meh I must be terrible, but you know what I can have days when I am SO busy I don't have time to cook, and on some of those days I actually give her mince rissoles stuffed with grated vege I have frozen and boil up another potato. The days she gets maccas is normally the days I haven't eaten!
But at 2 she has never eaten a whole happy meal, she takes a few bites out of the cheeseburger and eats some fries and never ever has fizzy, she took a sip of DP's fanta one day and spat it out. Fine by me kid! I tend to opt for things for myself now that she is able to eat when we're out. She can also choose for herself what she wants. We gave her maccas she wanted to eat my fried rice and vege instead. As I said in my previous post she will choose fruit over most things and demands it about 5times a day ontop of what we give her anyway. Gone are the days we can trick her with what we're eating, when she was about 8mths mum and I were eating chips and she wanted some, we had a bowl of brocolli and cauli sitting infront of the bowl we were eating from and she ate those happily haha. What pisses me off is when DD was only 6-7mths and her family were offering her chips, she didn't eat them at the time and was happy with her krispa crackers and marmite and sandwiches. We told her that and they still offered. Who are you to offer my young child food when I've already told you not to! I think I've gone off track haha. I too think some people can be abit precious about food. But I also saw the example of my godson who wouldn't eat dinner, would say he wasn't hungry, yet if he was offered choc or lollies in the next sentence he would be eating them! Hence why DD has no idea what lollies are, and we make no great effort to offer her chips, choc etc its more if she sees us eating them and asks for some. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 3:16pm
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I'd love to be a mung bean mama and my kids eat all the food I lovingly prepare from fresh but having a child has got to have been the biggest wake up call ever in terms of my expectations (home made purees) and the reality (rejected!).
At the very least as parents we should be educated on nutrition to make sensible choices for our children. Moderation is key I reckon. I can't use the smug emoticon at all - we had maccas for lunch and it was good! ------------- 
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Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 4:47pm
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Wow...you make one small comment and go away for two days...
Interesting reading. I don't know how it will pan out with two kids, I can't see much change, as it just simply isn't on my radar to grab multi bags of little chippes, and as I haven't visted KFC in 15 years I can't see us starting now, but yeah who knows. I'm basically lazy, so to be honest I usually chuck a few bits of fruit on plate do a 5 minute pasta job, because its easy and I don't have to stop read the labels and decide if its a good option or not. My DD has had chips, ice cream, pizza, marshmellows, juice and the odd bit of chocolate, and yes, a lollipop, while in a plane landing. I think she'd obsess more about stuff if on the odd occassion that didn't happen - but its not the norm. What started me thinking was shared morning tea at Playcentre this week, when DD, who is 19 months was given Cheezels and some popcorn (which generally I don't mind) which was brightly coloured with some food colouring. I took it off her. How the heck do you explain to someone that age that, no they can't have it? Personally I don't want to see this as an everyday occurrance, and I don't think this is "precious" and heaps of kids have allegeries. We don't swear, hit kids or smoke at playcentre, because generally most people think these aren't good ideas,so why are we serving 1-4 year olds chezzels. If its a birthday party, fine, but what if was 3 sessions a week? |
Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 5:16pm
Yep - that annoys me too Millymollymandy - sorry, I was just having a wee rant of my own as it has been a long week  I am not a fan of that sort of food as shared morning teas every week-------------
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 5:35pm
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See I wouldnt mind my 18 month old having that popcorn and cheezles if it was just a once a week thing, and she would have a mental if I took it off her and to me, its just not worth the battle for one little meal lol, but hey thats just me, plus I know my kids are well fed and have healthy food all the time so a wee treat does them no harm.
However, if it was 3 times a week I wouldnt want her having it that much. I take my kids a packed lunch of sammies a banana and raisons to playgroup on fridays now. |
Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 5:44pm
Same same Sheza, once a week with playgroup DD has popcorn, just the supposedly natural popped stuff (we all know its not) not the coloured one. I don't understand why someone would buy the coloured crap anyway its disgusting. The cheezles again don't mind DD would try to have a lot of them, and I quite often have to take them off the table (this goes with any food though as she is the kid that sits at the table eating the whole of playgroup) but we always always have fruit, and vegemite on bread. If we have a shared lunch I'm more likely to take a spinach and feta wrap then chips, we don't do shared lunch often though as we are MoE funded. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 6:34pm
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When we did Mainly Music we had morning tea. For the kids it was always marmite sandwiches and chopped up apple. For the grown ups there was usually baking. It was a strict rule that the kids would only have the kids stuff (to make it easier for the allergy kids). There was only one or two kids that had a problem with it. One was a friends DD and she was a pain about trying to eat what her mum was having. Strangely she was the mother who was the most strict about what her kids could/couldn't eat -------------
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Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 7:40pm
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My daughter ended up in hospital being tube fed for 5 days because she wouldn't eat or drink anything (and we spent a number of weeks last year being borderline for hospitalisation for the same reason) so on medical advice I offered a huge variety of things including juice, jelly, icecream, lemonade (and she was under a year old) etc. She wouldn't take them either but some of these comments make me wonder how many parents observed me and judged my actions at the time. We all judge people - it is human nature - but unless we are with someone all the time we really have no context for the decisions that they make. In public places you might well see my children have a McD's chip, a muffin, a biscuit or a fluffy...but you don't get to see the fact that my son can name and will eat most of the things grown in my vege garden or that my daughter would eat cherry tomatoes and blueberries all day if you let her. I believe in healthy eating - but to me that means growing up having experienced a variety of food / drink and understanding where it comes from and what it is made of. It also means growing an understanding of what foods give you what benefits - rather than what foods are 'bad' or 'good'. ETA - I must admit I'm not a huge fan of foods like chips being routinely offered at playgroup / music because I think there are loads of other great options that are just as easy and much better nutritionally. But I'm not opposed to the odd one being offered when they are around. |
Posted By: BayGirl
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 8:43pm
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I still stand by my earlier rant but need to own up that i am not in the boat of having to make luches my self yet. DD is only 8months old.
BUt i won't to know how some of you do it. Aurora (DD) wants to eat whatever we have. So if that means i give her half a bicky to gum/such AFTER a heathy lunch of avocardo mashed up and fruit etc i don't think i am a bad parent. I am exposing her to many flavours and textures and letting her enjoy eating what we eat. The other day a friend brought Cream Filled Donughts aroung for lunch at the time i was eating my own sandwich and feeding A her mashed up banana followed by a cracker and slice of cheese. I told my friend thanks for bringing the donought but we'd have to wait til A went down for her sleep to eat them because i knew the second A saw it she would want it, reach for it, cry for it and melt my heart until i gave in. Sorry off topic but my point is that as parents anything we eat we should be prepared to share with our kids OR we can wait to eat it (guiltily) at a later time away from the kids. It is simply not fair to sit their with McDs and/or Donught/icecream etc and expect the kids to be happy with their fruit!!!! -------------
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Posted By: mothermercury
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 9:40pm
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My parents were not that strict about what we ate. We had home cooked meals, but we also ate a lot of sweets, chips, etc. I still have a real problem with junk food (well, I have a really sweet tooth - somehow I remain scrawny!) but I don't think this is only because of what we ate as kids. My sister really loves her fruits and salads and stuff and we have the same parents.
I don't really want Chloe to end up like me, so I plan to let these sweets, chips, etc, be treat foods. I'm not going to be that parent who doesn't let her kid eat lollies at a birthday party, but hopefully I'm not going to have a lolly stash in the kitchen cupboard at all times! While she's still little I don't think I'm going to feed her cakes, lollies, etc... not until she knows what they are and can ask for them. I just need to make myself a better example for her! I don't want to be a hypocrite.
The thing that used to get to me was when I worked at McDonalds (I was still at school) and people would bring in their little kids and order them a full-sized adult meal. And you'd see some of them in there quite often, too. When I was a kid, McDonalds was really, really rare! I think I only went a couple of times, for birthdays, and it was always a Happy Meal for me! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 10:20pm
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i brought my kids candy floss today for the first time and thought about this thread today as i watched them eat all that sugar... gabriel said he felt sick pretty quickly, eden didnt like the sticky fingers but toby loved it! think i better watch that one! Oh and gabriel sounded pathetic walking round the market going "i've never had candy floss before" it was so funny, poor deprived child he is! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 10:38pm
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dont they have healthy options at maccas these days? you dont have to feed you kid rubbish when you run out of time - I think its easier to throw a healthy plate together too - but what would childhood be with out junk food!!
my girl had cupcakes for brunch today - complete with bright red icing and pebbles - talk about additives followed by a huge sugar rush - and then yes a grumpy comedown and a sleep Think I might have to help her out by eating a few myself mmm vanilla cupcake junky rubbish food with loads of colouring goodness------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 20 March 2011 at 10:48pm
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Im sorry,this is quite offtopic but...feck this thread makes me hungry.... -------------
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Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 7:26am
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I guess at the heart of this there's a bit of a conflict between the personal and the public. On the one hand I'd I don't care what anyone has to eat and if the they want to go and give themselves diabetes or whatever its their own stupid fault. But...them again who funds the cost of these actions...all of us, in just the same way as we fund the cost of smoking and alcohol related disease.
And from what I understand obesity in childhood is more likley to lead to problems in later life. Small children's diet are to large extent directed by what the family chooses, its not like they can take all the information and make their own decisions. I made some shocking diet choices when I was first out on my own. Basically I ate Mc D every day for lunch for summer...1 stone later I had to make some changes. I had the good habits and cooking skills from my childhood to fall back on. And I suppose that yeah I'm still shocked that parents of very young why children would think it was OK to give a juice to children on a daily basis. Maybe I'm wrong but isn't there a ton of information about what that does to teeth? I'm in no way the perfect parent and am sure I do some dumb things (and yep I have to resort to hiding vegies in stuff too), but I still still don't get why they do it. Why the heck would you put a small person at risk of having to have their teeth filled full of fillings. |
Posted By: MrsMc
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 8:09am
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I don't have kids yet but it amazes me what some of the children come to daycare with. chips, buiscuts (at 7:30am!), juice, milo in bottles, and even chocolate bars.
And these children are 1 and 2 yrs old. I find it appalling! then we have the job of trying to pry the chocolate bar from the childs hand after mums gone, as we dont allow that at the centre and its unfair to the other children who are there full time and get fed healthy food from the centre. I know kids eat these thing but for some it's every day! I know i'll give my kids treats but damn there is no way i would send my kids to daycare with them, thats just embarrassing ETA: by the way i find my grocery bill skyrockets when i buy the processed stuff as apposed to just buying fruit, veges, yoghurt etc |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 8:20am
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well Millymollymandy, I guess we cant all be perfect, but like I said earlier, alot of these parents have limited resources, their own parents havent taught them good habits, Id imagine their is a cultural element to some obesity issues and some people dont think about it the way you do. I dont know how people afford to feed their children this kind of food day in day out, but I guess some dont have budgeting skills either
I do find that quite appaling too MrsMc - especially if your centre gives good food In the end Its personal choice isnt it - I dont feed my babies rubbish often, but Im certainly not going to feed them according to someones elses opinion ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: AbzandH
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 8:38am
*LIKE* It really irks me that said friends (sorry had another encounter over the weekend and can't get it out of my head) complain they are broke, have a $25k car on loan, smoke a pack EACH a day, eat take aways 4/5 nights a week plus lunches in weekend and say it's just quicker and cheaper... seriously!!!! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 8:44am
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its all about priorities though. some people think that cigies and fizzy drink and chocolate is far more important than healthy food! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 8:45am
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Re: the teeth thing, thats what toothpaste and a toothbrush is for I have no fillings at 28 and I ate my fare share if junk as a kid and an adult, but I brush my teeth, and I brush my kids teeth.
My 2 1/2 year old has had juice, and my kids went to bed with bottles, but he just had his forst dentist visit, and he has beautiful teeth, because we brush them! |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 1:04pm
ditto and drink lots of water ------------- http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 1:47pm
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Most adults don't eat healthy food. Most think what they eat is ok, so how would they know to feed their kids anything different?
You just have to look at the rate of obesity in this country to see that the parents dont know what they eat is crap. There is new weight loss programme on TV that shows kiwi families and they see nothing wrong with having take aways and fizzy every night (if not three times a day). ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 2:08pm
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Hmmm I think actually having something wrong with you healthwise that requires dietary care can be the best thing in the world sometimes. At least you learn the basics about nutrition. Which basically is eat lots of fruit and vegies, drink lots of water! and then of course add in meat/cheese/eggs for protein, and then everything else in moderation.
Sugar, in itself, is not "bad" for you, its just like everything else, too much is not good for you. Same as fat, if you had none in your diet (very hard to do btw) you would get pretty sick, it is actually necessary for your body to work, but again in moderation. I think something that might work is compulsory nutrition classes added into Science at school, I know they do some basics at primary school but perhaps a bit more detail in High School as to why we should eat "healthily" the majority of the time, and how the body works might do something about obesity. In saying that, its always very personal about how much sinks in lol! ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 2:28pm
Do you drink alcohol in front of your children? Your not going to share that with them either. Same as I have no interest in eating baby food that's for babies. Most people wouldn't know a healthy diet if it hit them in the head, many adults don't know how to cook a basic meal let alone a healthy one. Just as many kids think milk comes from a plastic carton at the supermarket and have never seen a cow. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 2:47pm
i dont think we can compare alcohol and food! but if you did drink alcohol then you shouldnt be surprised if your child makes that choice later in life too - same sort of thing. and as for giving babies especially designed baby mush, that is just another step in the pre packaged must be good for you crap that is constantly being marketed to us. there is so much food out there marketed as being healthy and look at the healthy food tick - that tells people its "healthy" but it doesnt say the company paid for the tick! more families have 2 working parents and sometimes easy is all they can do. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 3:10pm
 ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 6:40pm
I have takeaways on occasion,and I either have to have them really late,or put up with my 8 year old daughter complaining about how unfair it is. No,it doesn't mean I give in and let her have takeaways everytime as well, but I can definitely sympathise with Baygirl, sometimes I do think it would be easier to give in and let her have some than listen to her whinge the whole time about how I get "everything" -------------
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 7:29pm
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Just an aside, about education...I saw one fat lady telling her fat late teen/early 20's daughter at the supermarket bread asile that "white bread is actually better than brown bread"... And anyone with half an ounce of nutritional nous willknow that yes there isn't much difference fibre wise between white and brown bread but brown wholegrain is (usually) better and higher in fibre..something both those fatties could have used... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: blossombaby
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 7:30pm
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Havnt read all this thread but to be honest .... I COULDNT care less what someone was feeding there kids .. least it was been feed.
Many kids so to school with no lunch and very little dinner. My mum wants at a low delice school and they supply lunch to about 40kids on a given day .. almost 25% of the total school roll. I know a piece of fruit and a sandwich ISNT all that expensive but for some people they just dont have the money or they spend it elsewere (which is the case at mums school!) We have a6month old my partner works long hours and i work parttime and we regular have 'take out foods' not McDonalds/ Bk etc. Mostly things we would cook if we had time. Tho will try our hardest from now to be more organized since baby seems to want our food not hers! |
Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 7:47pm
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This thread has totally made me take notice of what i eat. When i go for the bad things i can feel it looming, judging (its a great diet!)
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Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 7:55pm
LOL
I eat pretty healthy. DD scored her first bit of chocolate today, found my box of roses chocolates and managed to suck on one so much it squished out the side! I wondered why she had gone rather quiet around the corner..... I havn't read the whole thread, but skimmed. Yes people that give kids junk food ALL the time are stupid, however occasionally and in moderation is okay. I dont like the fact that junk food is used as a 'reward' for when kids do well/behave- to me that is just wrong. DD wont be getting much junk food from me as its crap and so horribly expensive. I can do so much more with $5 from a happy meal. ------------- 
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 8:05pm
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I must admit, it is a LOT harder to not give in than I thought before I had kids when they are whingeing, whineing and throwing a tantrum cause they want what you are eating (iceblock, chocolate biscuit, etc) and mine is too young to really explain that this is Mummy food and you can have this or that instead. Especially when Daddy and Granddad give her everything she wants whether or not its good for her! ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: kandk
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 9:50pm
But high schools already DO teach nutrition!! It's often as part of the PE course, or it's in the compulsory Health/Hauora module, or in the equally compulsory Food and Nutrition from Year 7 to Year 8 or 10! It's not like the information isn't being given to them!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 9:54pm
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Thats why I added the last line :P
It depends how much sinks in! And in my school I didn't have to do PE (and a lot opted out) after yr 9 and 10 and they only started on nutrition in yr 11 (and beyond I presume). Food and nutrition wasn't compulsory either, I do remember having to do a form of cooking class but there was never time to do an in depth study on nutrition, it was writing up recipes and cooking muffins etc. ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 10:36pm
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Ditto kali, food and nutrition wasn't an option untill year 11 and even then it was a choice. I took it right thru til year 13 but hundreds of girls didn't..pe didn't teach nutrition unless yiu took it again in year 11 as an option.
I think it needs to be taught at school WELL before highschool if it's going to help but you also need parents to follow thru. Mcdz happy meals don't have to be 100% bad food, they do fruit bags, bottles of water etc |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 21 March 2011 at 11:35pm
OMG WTF??!! I find this just sad and unfortunate for the child/ren. This is a total set up to fail your child IMO. All that spells to me is obesity, bad teeth issues, diabetes and other health related issues (possibly not even known until adulthood). Yeah I agree that brushing teeth helps to prevent teeth issues but it makes me wonder that if a parent is sending their child to DC with this type of food if they even brush their teeth at all.
I dont have any thing against this type of food when its used as a treat but it does piss me off when its a childs staple diet. Sadly it then becomes a problem for the rest of society/the tax payer to deal with. Eta Just wanted to add about behaviour. Surely if a child is fed all this sugar and additives their behaviour is crazy. ADD/ADHD is commonly caused by poor diet. ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived
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