Ice cream on holiday

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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.

Once a day seems reasonable.

Does he eat more at home than his siblings?
What/how much does he eat at school?

kids put on weight before they shoot up, especially once they start puberty

My kids get sick with sore throats if they have too many ice-creams and cold drinks. We did an all inclusive trip where they also had crepes all day long so we indulged on those and the odd ice-cream. Desserts in the restaurant was always a yes and usually not as cold.

I know this is the prevailing attitude but I think it’s a bit odd – all cultures have treat foods and things we only eat when we’re celebrating, birthday cake on birthdays and the Indian sweets exchanged at weddings for example. It follows that we have other “celebratory” food on holidays when we’re out of our normal routine and the focus is on fun and enjoyment.

OP, your husband being furious sounds like an overreaction. What exactly is he doing to address your son’s weight other than denying him food, which could lead to issues? The kid is probably gearing up for a growth spurt. Get some protein and fats in him but don’t guilt him about ice cream.

Re the weight gain, it's difficult to know at this stage whether it's just a blip before puberty. DS1 put on quite a bit of weight between 10-13, I was constantly trying "manage" it as we are a fairly healthy active family and I couldn't work out what had happened. Anyway, he hit puberty and started to lose the weight and by 16 he was completely fine with a normal weight and has stayed like that.
DS2 didn't have that problem but then DS3 (who is now 15) did exactly the same as DS1. He was really unhappy about the situation especially by the time he was 11 as he was always hungry but then felt guilty for eating. I tried to reassure him but it's fair to say he had a couple of unhappy years. Then he hit puberty and again the weight just came off. He's now pretty thin again (in the way he was before the age of 11) and eats like a horse!
Obvs I can't say your DS will have the same experience but if it's a mystery weight gain then it could be that.
Oh, and yes to ice cream on holiday!

I would. And I’d bloody enjoy their pleasure

The holiday is a ‘treat’.

With a healthy diet at home, siblings that are healthy weights (indicating you're right that the diet at home is healthy), his age and the fact that the weight issue is relatively new (so he can't be enormous), I really wouldn't be stressing on holiday.

A growth spurt will probably do most of the work for you.

He is going to give your DS an eating disorder if you’re not careful.

an ice cream a day, maybe 2 is fine, you’re on holiday. Something to address when you’re home. “Furious” is a bit concerning, is he often angry like that? Doesn’t sound very nice environment for you and the kids to me.

After reading Ultra-processed People, probably not every day. Although it would depend on what else they'd eaten that day and how good the ice-cream was.

Crappy chemical ice-cream and they've already had a massive cake? No. Maybe a couple of times a week in this scenario.

Locally made gelato with actual cream / actual fruit lolly and just had a healthy lunch? Yes. Possibly every day in this scenario.

One of the joys of holidays even fkr the children is the food. It was on holiday that our DC tried mussels and other shellfish, and liked it. They got as excited about chosing white fleshed peaches and melons, oozing scent in the warm sunshine in Southern France, as they did about an ice cream.

Holidays for us are about local produce as much as "treats" and it's why we always went the villa route. I can't think of much worse than chips on the beach.

@QuantumPanic it doesn't have to be either or. I eat lots of whole foods and plants, I also eat ice cream and cake.

You can brush your teeth.
Let's not demonise food.

You’re on holiday, which is a time for treats. Just make clear to your children (and your DH) that on holiday you can have one or two ice-creams a day, but that it stops when you get home. Now is absolutely not the time to address your DS’s weight - it’s when you get home that you take a proper look at your son’s diet and make changes accordingly. As for telling your son off for reading - words fail me!

She didn’t. She said her DH hasn’t noticed. Which presents the question ‘why not?’

He hasn’t noticed or said anything until they’re away when he decides that limiting is a great idea.

Once or twice a day...would be more lenient with locally made fruit gelato than a massive artificial thing with sprinkles.

Is it the DH who hasn't noticed or the DS himself? The wording isn't very clear.

Sorry @Perfect28 , that kind of sensible attitude isn't allowed on MN food threads I'm afraid.

Once or twice a day if some vegetables and other healthy parts of meals were eaten.

@Marchingonagain ditch all UPFs, especially seed oil but make sure DS gets enough animal fats

Sorry is this a typo? I presume you meant the opposite but I'm now questioning all my knowledge about food!

Well he's a joy isn't he?

I'm pretty strict with my 6YO dd out of holidays and have a 'one sweet thing a day' rule but on holiday all bets are off as long as she isn't wasting food. Eg she can have as many donuts/biscuits at the breakfast buffet as she wants but fetch one at a time.

I would insist on dh chilling the heck out over the holidays. 1/2 weeks is really not going to make a difference. However I'd go against some pp and say don't just bury your head about your child's weight. In your heart is he overweight? If so you have a responsibility to do something about this. There's no such thing as puppy fat and there's a lot of evidence that if we have a large amount of body fat as children then it usually persists/grows into adulthood. I do agree that shaming him about it or being overly restrictive isn't really the answer. Child eating disorder services recommend thinking in terms of 'more' instead of less. Not less sugar and less screen time but more exercise more healthy, home cooked meals

I would plead with dad to relax for the holiday but assure him that you'll work together and make changes when you get home. I would contact your school nurse or GP too. It may be he can do some gentle work with them to help

We’re not even on holiday and I think yesterday was the first day that my children didn’t have an ice cream or ice lolly!!

Every day, with probably the odd day having two!

We go to MILs apartment somewhere hot at least once per year. Our DC tend to have ice cream and crisps for lunch every day!

Can't speak for everyone of course, but yes I do. It's not difficult for me though because if I've just had a massive ice-cream I wouldn't fancy one for a few days anyway.

Most ice-creams are upf and have dodgy ingredients which encourage people to overeat so I would limit them more than I would have done. If he is about to shoot up possiby needs more meat and nuts if hungry.