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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to give my children a treat everyday?

119 replies

Flossyknicks · 28/05/2026 07:00

I’m wondering what other parents do when it comes to giving their children treats. They are 8 and 4 and will have a biscuit like a digestive or a custard cream, or a Mr Kipling Angel Slice, every day. At the weekends, it might be two treats.

YABU one treat a day is too much
YANBU one treat a day is ok

OP posts:
tiramisugelato · 28/05/2026 18:02

Dinosaurhearmeroar · 28/05/2026 18:00

In this hot weather I’ve done ice creams every day.

God, me too - I had three the other day! Some people on here would have a fit 😂

tiramisugelato · 28/05/2026 18:01

thisisyoursign · 28/05/2026 17:53

Let’s not pretend the majority of biscuits consumed by society are not ultra processed. If they’re shop bought (and it’s more likely that people are referring to shop bought rather than homemade) they’re highly likely to be ultra processed with little nutritional value.

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Not everything needs to have nutritional value. Food is about more than fuel.

Dinosaurhearmeroar · 28/05/2026 18:00

In this hot weather I’ve done ice creams every day.

Nogimachi · 28/05/2026 18:00

Indianajet · 28/05/2026 17:11

I don't think one biscuit a day will rot their teeth or make them 'podgy' (horrible word).

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One won’t but two might, as might Angel slices!!
Agree, podgy is a really horrible word. It’s quite a useful one though when it comes to children’s health.

takealettermsjones · 28/05/2026 17:58

thisisyoursign · 28/05/2026 17:53

Let’s not pretend the majority of biscuits consumed by society are not ultra processed. If they’re shop bought (and it’s more likely that people are referring to shop bought rather than homemade) they’re highly likely to be ultra processed with little nutritional value.

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As long as we also don't pretend that it's healthy to have the kind of extreme, dramatic attitudes to food that are often peddled on this website.

thisisyoursign · 28/05/2026 17:53

takealettermsjones · 28/05/2026 17:14

No, some biscuits are ultra processed foods with very little nutritional value.

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Let’s not pretend the majority of biscuits consumed by society are not ultra processed. If they’re shop bought (and it’s more likely that people are referring to shop bought rather than homemade) they’re highly likely to be ultra processed with little nutritional value.

Wynter25 · 28/05/2026 17:49

Of course its okay

BippityBopper · 28/05/2026 17:48

Nogimachi · 28/05/2026 17:07

I try not to do this every day, primarily so their teeth don’t rot. Some days they have to have toast after school.
If your children start to look a little podgy, definitely stop this.

It's not just about looking podgy. UPFs can affect cognitive development, particularly for young children. Poor dental health can also lead to poor physical health.

I'm by no means saying one digetsive biscuit a day can cause the above issues Im definednot saying that. But , separately, I think people should be mindful of focusing purely on weight gain as a factor when it comes to considering "treats" or whatever people want to call sugary UPFs.

BippityBopper · 28/05/2026 17:40

takealettermsjones · 28/05/2026 17:14

No, some biscuits are ultra processed foods with very little nutritional value.

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The OP specified digestives. Digestives are classed as UPFs, aswell as most other mainstream biscuits, unless homemade.

Familyandmore · 28/05/2026 17:31

Doublebubblegum · 28/05/2026 13:08

I think my standards are different to many others on this thread 🤣

We don't restrict 'treats' really at all. I certainly don't keep track of how many biscuits my kids eat each day. They know what's healthy and what isn't. Mine are older than yours now but even when we were younger I really tried to not make food about what you can eat and what you should restrict. Appreciate that approach isn't for everyone.

I can often tell the kids whose 'treats' are heavily restricted as they go absolutely wild at the fact we have always had sweets and biscuits in easily accessible areas. They aren't kept out of the way. Like stuffing them into their pockets wild, or putting a handful in their bag for later!

I never restricted biscuits/ cake etc and my adult children are very healthy without any weight issues.
They never had fizzy drinks or squash though .
They regularly chose fruit over chocolate.
Interestingly a friend whose children were denied any’ treats ‘ used to pinch food from our house ! They are all very overweight as adults .

tiramisugelato · 28/05/2026 17:22

Enigma54 · 28/05/2026 17:20

My thoughts exactly!
I’m starting to hate the word “ treat” and my kids are young adults!

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People are getting pedantic because labelling food as good/bad/treat often leads to disordered thinking around eating.

tiramisugelato · 28/05/2026 17:21

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:15

Of course it's a treat.

No wonder obesity is at such an all time high, if people are classing biscuits as a normal everyday food.

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Biscuits are a normal everyday food. Like bread, baked beans, bananas, porridge, flapjacks, chocolate, fish and broccoli.

Labelling food as "good" or "bad" or "treats" is not a good thing.

Enigma54 · 28/05/2026 17:20

TheThunderRolls · 28/05/2026 07:21

Why is everyone being so pedantic over the word "treat". My goodness! And who cares about a biscuit a day? Why would that even factor in as a concern?

My thoughts exactly!
I’m starting to hate the word “ treat” and my kids are young adults!

SandwichSuperstar · 28/05/2026 17:15

VIII · 28/05/2026 16:51

It's a biscuit. There's no need to use terms like treat over a biscuit. It's food in the same way fruit is food.

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Of course it's a treat.

No wonder obesity is at such an all time high, if people are classing biscuits as a normal everyday food.

takealettermsjones · 28/05/2026 17:14

thisisyoursign · 28/05/2026 17:05

I agree with you. Something being normalised doesn’t make it right. Biscuits are considered ultra processed foods with no/very little nutritional value and should be limited

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No, some biscuits are ultra processed foods with very little nutritional value.

Nogimachi · 28/05/2026 17:11

PicknStick · 28/05/2026 09:58

Normalising all food and drinks is best. It’s a snack.

I am completely hooked on Diet Coke and I do believe it was because I was never ever allowed fizzy drinks as a child. In fact until I was 18, moved out, and could buy it for myself!

I’m the opposite though. I was never allowed fizzy drinks as a child and I rarely drink them now. Likewise crisps, just not something I ever want because we never had them.

Indianajet · 28/05/2026 17:11

Nogimachi · 28/05/2026 17:07

I try not to do this every day, primarily so their teeth don’t rot. Some days they have to have toast after school.
If your children start to look a little podgy, definitely stop this.

I don't think one biscuit a day will rot their teeth or make them 'podgy' (horrible word).

Nogimachi · 28/05/2026 17:07

I try not to do this every day, primarily so their teeth don’t rot. Some days they have to have toast after school.
If your children start to look a little podgy, definitely stop this.

Mumsntfan1 · 28/05/2026 17:06

takealettermsjones · 28/05/2026 08:21

You let your kids have treats every week?!

Mine have a single chocolate button once a year, on their birthday.

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Shared with siblings I hope. My kids couldn't manage a whole one.

thisisyoursign · 28/05/2026 17:05

Pippletoe · 28/05/2026 13:40

I actually wouldn’t let my children have those things every day, but I think I’m quite unusual in that respect (reading through the replies to the thread kind of confirms I’m an outlier).

Appreciate they’ll probably mainline Haribo when they get the chance, but I wouldn’t have shop bought cakes and biscuits in the house so I wouldn’t give it to them. I just don’t think it has any nutritional value and wouldn’t want anyone to eat it habitually. But I’m happy to let them have a bit of cake if we go out to a cafe, or an ice cream on a hot day. It’s hard to get the balance right and I might be too restrictive.

I agree with you. Something being normalised doesn’t make it right. Biscuits are considered ultra processed foods with no/very little nutritional value and should be limited

Iwannaeatapasty · 28/05/2026 17:03

VIII · 28/05/2026 16:51

It's a biscuit. There's no need to use terms like treat over a biscuit. It's food in the same way fruit is food.

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Yeah my sister was very restrictive over her children’s diet. as young adults, one has anorexia and one is obese. Both blame her.

So hey, she did manage to cover both ends of the ED spectrum with her batshittery over food. Yet my children, who I didn’t give a shit if they ate sweets and didn’t think any food was bad or a treat, are all healthy, mentally and physically.

tiramisugelato · 28/05/2026 17:02

MustTryHarderAndHarder · 28/05/2026 08:02

It really isn't for small kids.

Treats should be once a week including parties.

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Once every two years, surely. Not every birthday anyway, you don't want them getting greedy.

jinglejanglescarecat · 28/05/2026 17:01

Totally fine to have a biscuit, small cake or ice cream etc each day.

Glitchymn1 · 28/05/2026 17:00

I don’t every day, DD knows where the junk cupboard is and can help herself but the problem is one biscuit is ok now, but when you get older you want the whole pack. I can’t be trusted with crisps, DH can’t be trusted with cakes.
I can remember the dentist telling me what you give the child now, means they’ll always crave it. I don’t know anyone craving a salad- it’s not that I have anything against treats, but they’re all so over processed now. High quality treats, chocs etc can be expensive too.
But a biscuit a day is also fine.

Iwannaeatapasty · 28/05/2026 16:58

Mate, feed them on a diet of mars bars if you like. They are your children, it’s none of everyone else’s business.

(“But the NHS is everyone’s business if they get so fat they have to be cut out of the r house and carted off in a jumbulance get ill” there, saved some one of you typing it).