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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think CBeebies should have a "healthy eating policy"

29 replies

medoitmama · 28/01/2011 17:07

Today a little girl on CBeebies made breakfast for her mummy. So far so good! But it was Cornflakes with sugar and white toast with jam. Now, I know I'm a bit anal when it comes to feeding my DDs - really I do - but sugar on cereal? Seriously, the longer they don't know that that's an option the better!

They both have honey or jam on toast now, but it was a long time before I let on that this was an option. Jam's like 40% sugar!

Mind you, DD1 (4yo) has been eating porriage with nothing else on it all her life and loving it. The other day she came back from school and announced that they made porriage and put sugar and honey in it, so now obviously that's what she wants at home. . . and of course so does her 2yo sister. I'd never say no as don't want to make an issue of food.

But CBeebies, sort it out!

OP posts:
MarioandLuigi · 28/01/2011 17:09

You should switch to Nick Jr - they are full of holier than thou healthy parents that makes smoothies with thier children.

usualsuspect · 28/01/2011 17:09

YABU and a tiny bit mad

TheCrackFox · 28/01/2011 17:10

you are being completely ridiculous.

Dancergirl · 28/01/2011 17:14

YABU

Too many bloody 'healthy eating' policies as it is.

Now go and eat some cake.

Original poster
medoitmama · 28/01/2011 17:14

Oh OK! Will take your views on board!

OP posts:
Rannaldini · 28/01/2011 17:15

you sound as though you should be dipped in jam and then rolled in a wasps nest

only sayin

TabithaTwitchet · 28/01/2011 17:15

Lol. I think you might be demonising sugar a bit too much.

saffy85 · 28/01/2011 17:17

Would a big, greasy fry up have been better?

Chil1234 · 28/01/2011 17:18

YABU... Cbeebies is already painfully politically correct, educational and prescriptive as it is. Whatever happened to TV as entertainment? Jammy Dodger anyone?

bubblewrapped · 28/01/2011 17:20

I always had sugar on cereal when I was a kid.. and hated brown bread too.. always had white. I am 40 now, and perfectly healthy, with all my own nice strong teeth :)

McHobbes · 28/01/2011 17:23

YABU!

It's not up to the telly to decide what our kids eat, it's up to us!

Everything is fine in moderation anyway. Stop worrying so much!

Hulababy · 28/01/2011 17:24

So, yabu. We have so many rules on what we can and can't do with regards to our children's "healthy" eating. Bad enough our children being told by schools - especially when half of it is not put across properly so not quite accurate - let alone from TV too.

Nothing wrong with a bit of sugar now and then.

mommmmyof2 · 28/01/2011 17:27

My kids don't have sugar on their cereal but that is because I don't so never thought about giving it them, I would not watch that and think 'oh my children have to have sugar on their cereal'

DurhamDurham · 28/01/2011 17:29

I think a healthy eating policy would suggest not being totally anal about children eating cornflakes with sugar. What do you think will happen?

It's important to have a balanced diet. Banning sugar can only lead to an obsession later on. My ex-neighbour didn't allow her children any treats. You should have seen them at parties when she wasn't around. They used to stuff as much crap in their mouths as possible. The other children used to just eat as they normally did. It was quite sad to see actually.

ThingOne · 28/01/2011 17:36

Small children shouldn't have only wholegrain bread/cereal/rice/pasta anyway. They are better off with a mixture. It's not necessarily pap.

McHobbes · 28/01/2011 17:36

I have a 'no sugar here' pal, and my God though I love her to bits, I can't help but feel she is very anal about it....she turns up to tots group with a bag of hazelnuts that her dd is to have, while the others are enjoying a few crisps and a biscuit (they put grapes and orange segments out as well).

I can't help but feel a bit sorry for her wee one as she reaches out for a biccie only to have her mum move the plate away from her and offer her a yummy hazelnut.

Crikey, if that biscuit was the only biscuit she has all week, what's the biggy?

You can be too pushy about these things i think, and moaning about seeing jam on toast on kids tv is right up there with my mate and her stupid nuts.

DurhamDurham · 28/01/2011 17:41

McHobbes so she's your nutty friend!! Grin

bullet234 · 28/01/2011 17:41

If you're really fussed about it, then Holland and Barrett used to sell a pear spread which was just concentrated pear juice, so very sweet and full of fructose probably, but no added sugar. Not sure if they still do, but it might be goggleable elsewhere.
Mine don't have sugar on their cereal, but they have sugar at other times. Eg today they both had a bakewell tart after their tea.

McHobbes · 28/01/2011 17:49

Durham she certainly is! Grin

I could tell you more, but I like her loads and would feel disloyal. She has her odd fussy ways, but is a star!

expatinscotland · 28/01/2011 17:53

I've had CBeebies on for over 7 years now, as I now have three children.

Can't say I ever noticed what they are serving to eat beyond 'It's time for lunch,' and a couple of shows because mostly, I don't care!

It keeps 'em quiet.

But I'm one of those lazy mums who's happy they're eating at all after having two very fussy eaters.

Original poster
medoitmama · 28/01/2011 17:54

Ok, the "healthy eating policy" comment was slightly tongue in cheek.

You raise a serious point DurhamDurham. I would never ban any food. My children don't think there is any food that they are not allowed. At parties they eat whatever they want and I do not comment or care very much because it's a party. I just try not to make stuff available at home so they eat well there. OK, I accept that I am a bit OTT sometimes, but my kids are not obsessed with food at all as I try not to make an issue of it. They eat lots and pretty well most of the time.

I had sugar on my cereal as a kid too and I'm fine. Just feel like cereal is something they have most days and if I can cut down on their sugar intake then that's a good thing?? People are statistically getting fatter!

Don't want my DDs to be struggling with their weight as grown ups and being addicted to sugary things. I've got friends who are complete chocoholics and desperate to loose weight. I really feel bad for them That must be really tough.

mchobbes and mommmmyof2 I know I can dictate what they eat. My kids my choice and all that, but if they ask for things that we obviously have in the house and I say no, that's when it does become an issue imo.

usualsuspect yes, perhaps aI am a bit mad, thanks for that!

OP posts:
FreudianSlippery · 28/01/2011 17:59

Random useful info for the OP - about jam.

A company called St Dalfour make a no added sugar or sweetener jam. It's in tall thin jars and it's delicious! It's sweetened with grape juice. More expensive but as we don't get use jam that often it's definitely worth it. HTH :)

As for your OP, I'm not really sure what I think TBH!

expatinscotland · 28/01/2011 18:02

If you're in Scotland, SuperJam is no sugar added fruit spread and really, really nice. Also locally produced.

strandedpolarbear · 28/01/2011 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KayHarker · 28/01/2011 18:05

The section where the little girl made breakfast was on Teletubbies, which is donkeys years old now. Far too late to do anything about it now.

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