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Original poster

Ice cream on holiday

300 replies

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 01/08/2024 22:50

If you were on a sun holiday how often would you allow your kids have an ice cream or treat? Just curious, am having a disagreement with DH here.

OP posts:
PeriIsKickingMyButt · 02/08/2024 07:43

Every day :)

edit I've just seen your replies saying he's overweight. In that case I'd be more cautious and no wouldn't have allowed two in a day.

Sprogonthetyne · 02/08/2024 07:45

If the first ice cream was "too big for a child" I probably wouldn't have allowed a second the same day. If it's to try and cool them down, would ice lollys be a lower calorie option. Encouraging activity is also good, but should be done in a 'lets go have fun swimming together' not just 'go and be active'.

WickedSerious · 02/08/2024 07:46

ShanequaAndWhat · 01/08/2024 22:55

Every meal and every snack! Why the fuck not! You've not lived until you've had ice cream for breakfast because you wanted to!

In all seriousness, at least daily. The world wouldn't end if they have one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Coffee with Baileys and two scoops of ice cream.the only way to start the day.

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General food
Genevieva · 02/08/2024 07:47

The hang ups your husband could give him are far more damaging than a few extra pounds at this stage.

He’s old enough for a sensible conversation about food choices, portion control, the importance of exercise and the fact some people (your side of the family) struggle more to remain a healthy weight than others (your husband’s side). He should not be harangued for reading a book on holiday, prevented from having an ice-cream when his siblings do or guilt tripped about his current weight. You can probably achieve a lot invisibly at home through portion control and scheduling activities, with a no snacks between meals rule.

pgtips2 · 02/08/2024 07:48

Gosh, I don't think we'd ever quibble about treats like this on holiday.

I love ice cream myself so if we had more than one or even three one day on hols, so be it. I mean, ice cream is not that bad anyway, is it?

Kids would also have fizzy drinks and sweets.

I always find that families that worry about food all the time are often the ones that are always ill. I think anxiety around things as much as a problem than holiday treats!

pgtips2 · 02/08/2024 07:49

Sorry just seen he's overweight. In that case maybe I would go a bit easy on these treats but it would have to be the same for everyone.

sanogo · 02/08/2024 07:50

At least twice an hour

Sitdownrosa · 02/08/2024 07:51

I can see why your dh is pissed off at you - he's worried about your son's size and health, and you've agreed that you'll collectively do something about it and then you've gone ahead and encouraged him to eat more ice cream.

Either get on the same page, or don't, but i don't know why you're confused as to why he pissed off with you. It seems obvious.

RosesAndHellebores · 02/08/2024 07:51

It isn't something we ever particularly thought about. Probably one as a treat but they could also have it as pud after lunch or dinner.

I can't stand food counters.

OldTinHat · 02/08/2024 07:55

You're on holiday. Normal rules don't apply.

I took my DC on an AI when they were about 11 and I let them have as much ice cream as they wanted. And drinks, chips, cake...

And, for the record, I'm not on holiday but have just polished off a Magnum ice cream.

TooTiredOfThisShit · 02/08/2024 07:58

My husband is totally relaxed about this, and literally doesn't care what goes into the kids. I'll be honest - it really pains me to see my kids eating chips and ice cream every single day, even on holiday. My kids are also overweight, and I have a lot of obesity on my side of the family (although I'm just within a "healthy BMI" myself)

But I'm also very aware that arguing over food ruins a holiday. As a compromise, I actually sit down with my husband in advance and agree what our boundaries are going to be. Our usual compromise is a single scoop ice cream every day, but only do two/three meals out (we only ever do UK self catering cottage holidays).

My husband would be happy to get chips on the beach every single lunchtime, and go out for nuggets and chips every evening, but I just can't bear it!

Sitdownrosa · 02/08/2024 07:59

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 02/08/2024 07:23

@Mongrelsrbeautiful it's true about the reading, many parents would be moaning their kids never do. He is on a screen a bit too but mostly animating, he is working on a project. Dh is quite fit in fairness, he goes for a run most days.

We were both aware of Ds weight gain and talked about it a few times since Christmas but he went from a roundy belly to a roll of fat recently, I thought we had been encouraging healthy eating since becoming aware but obviously we missed something. I genuinely feel ashamed of allowing a problem develop, I'm not in denial and I understand the importance of addressing it.

Also the siblings are an issue. Do I tell them they also can't have ice cream? I'm not going to say no DS you can't but they can cos you are the only fat kid.

The thin kids don't need a second ice cream either if they already had one that you describe as being far too big for a child.

My children are a normal weight and they understand that too much sugar is not healthy - i might allow them 2x normal size ice creams a day on holiday but not every day, and if they had already had a massive one they would understand perfectly well that the huge ice cream they had earlier meant they couldn't have a second one because it's something we've talked about as part of a healthy lifestyle - everything in moderation.

OlympicsFanGirl · 02/08/2024 07:59

Cantfindthewordsddstruggling · 01/08/2024 22:53

Couple of times a day as long as meals were being eaten. It’s a holiday!

This

Waterbaby41 · 02/08/2024 08:00

You really should have mentioned the problem with your son's weight to give context to your husband's concerns about ice creams and treats. So far from getting a grip on his weight, he is still gaining which does need to be addressed. Agree with hubby for the rest of the holiday one treat for all a day, and when you are home agree a strategy to help your son shift the excess - something you both need to do together. Good luck.

Lovelynames123 · 02/08/2024 08:01

AI, as many as they want! It's a week, if they live on ice cream, chips and cucumber for a week but have the best time, that's fine by me

Funkyslippers · 02/08/2024 08:02

I'd let them have a treat of their choice every day, just like they would at home

QuantumPanic · 02/08/2024 08:02

Perfect28 · 02/08/2024 06:35

@QuantumPanic what's the problem with the sugar?

I'm team every day, and not just on holiday.

Not good for teeth or slow energy release. And having so much alters your taste buds - you get used to it and start preferring it over complex flavours. But I'm one of those crazy 'whole foods, textures, 30 plants a week people' so YMMV.

Theoldlife · 02/08/2024 08:04

Whenever they want.

Heatwavenotify · 02/08/2024 08:05

I think you’re both wrong sorry. I agree with@MoobyMoo. the ice cream isn’t the problem as such. It’s the treat element. You need to change the relationship with food and being active. Holiday is actually a great place to start because it doesn’t have to be obvious.

Theres a pool, everyone gets in and has fun. It’s an active distraction. Reading and chilling out isn’t a problem but it is if he’s using it to avoid being active for large parts of the day. This is a family issue so don’t butt heads with DH. He’s concerned for your son’s health but not addressing it positively. You are not addressing it at all. So make a plan and you can get active, make healthier choices with the odd ice cream for the whole family.

You don't need to single him out. Do it together and everyone benefits. It doesn’t need to ruin the holiday. No better time to start. Get in the pool with DH and the kids and make it fun.

GoFigure235 · 02/08/2024 08:05

I don't think holidays are the time to introduce a new regime.

When you get home, I'd be looking to up the activity levels and get him out of the house as much as possible for the rest of the holidays. Ime it's when we're spending lots of time in the house, it's much harder to control snacking.

What's the plan until September? Are you both working? Is your DC at home or in camps? If at home and you're working, I'd try to get him to do camps as much as possible because otherwise I suspect based on the average child his age, screens and snacks will feature quite heavily.

time2changeCharlieBrown · 02/08/2024 08:09

From reading all your updates I’d only allow one a day
i I probably would anyway as one if my dds is starting to become overweight and has had teeth problems with soft enamel ,so I need to watch sugar intake anyway and it’s unfair if they are only one missing out

fiorentina · 02/08/2024 08:10

Ice cream aside, at that age my DC started buying their own snacks and so whilst we gave them healthy food they were buying rubbish when out with friends, there was a novelty of going into town and buying a Greggs or sweets etc - could this be an issue? Don’t beat yourself up whilst away but maybe consider this when home as it may not be portion size that’s the issue, however obviously that’s a consideration.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 02/08/2024 08:11

Once a day for an ice cream and one or two watery ice pop type lollies.
Only on holiday though as special treats.

Marchingonagain · 02/08/2024 08:14

One ice cream a day. I was going to say yanbu to having it twice a day on one occasion then read about your son’s weight issues. Can’t believe you think DH is being unreasonable. Once you get home ditch all UPFs, especially seed oil but make sure DS gets enough animal fats

reluctantbrit · 02/08/2024 08:14

At an AI resort - DD was quick to learn how to get drinks and snacks herself. When she was younger we restricted Fanta etc to daytime as she would have trouble sleeping.

If we buy it - a bit less often, she understands costs and while we do have treats, we may not have them every day. She has pocket money and may get herself a cone or sweets.

There was no problem when we came home.