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Original poster

To have thought my dcs diet was ok until I joined mumsnet?

436 replies

Meandmygirls2009 · 31/07/2015 20:56

I have always thought my dc ate ok, but since joining mumsnet and reading lots of posts I am worried that I do not feed my dc a healthy diet! Typical day consists of:
Breakfast: bagel and orange juice
Snack: grapes
Lunch: cheese sandwich, mini cheddars, raisons
Snack: 2 chocolate digestives
Dinner: home made spag Bol, strawberries

Does this sound ok? I am worried the daily mini cheddars and digestives are too much after reading what other children eat :(

OP posts:
RedDaisyRed · 02/08/2015 16:25

Yes even the NHS is tarting to realise the mistake they made in saying all fat is bad rather than distinguishing good and bad fats.

There is a wealth of recent research out there on good eating so everyone go off and read and have fun but make your own choices. I'm a libertarian although I would prefer a much smaller state.

I am sure no one on this thread disputes that 60% of British people are now over weight and that is has never been as bad so we are clearly doing something very wrong and I doubt it's eating too much veg and good fats.

Egosumquisum · 02/08/2015 16:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedDaisyRed · 02/08/2015 16:58

Yes, I often say what do the slim Japanese who eat fish, rice and veg have in common with slim carnivores or eskimo fat eaters ? That absence of added sugar. It's even added to a lot of bread particularly in the US and in so many prepared meats. My boys bought some meat roast thing the other week and couldn't eat it all because it was coated in some kind of sugar paste.

Lurkedforever1 · 02/08/2015 18:09

A lot of it isn't the actual fat/carb/sugar etc content, it's how its combined in many processed foods. Assuming normal healthy attitude to food i.e self limiting appetite, most people faced with fat or carbs eat their fill. Same with natural sugars. Mix them all together in something like a cream cake, chocolate bar, creamy curry and chips etc, they take in more than they need, because they don't trigger the full switch the same.

Lurkedforever1 · 02/08/2015 18:12

Should have added by full I don't just mean from the pov of the stomach feeling full, I mean being mentally aware you've filled your bodies requirements for calories and nutrition

StickEm · 02/08/2015 18:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedDaisyRed · 02/08/2015 18:31

Lurked, exactly. Very few people can over eat plain fish or steak but most of us could sit and eat 1000 calories of a luxury box of chocolates and still have space for more.

Gut bacteria seems to be a really interesting new area of scientific study relating to weight at present.

TaylorQuifft · 02/08/2015 18:33

Seems fine, maybe a bit more veg.

Mehitabel6 · 02/08/2015 19:20

It is a good way to see if you are really hungry. If you are not hungry for a rich tea biscuit but hungry for a chocolate biscuit then you are not really hungry!
(However I am sure someone will turn up saying rich tea are their favourite and they don't like chocolate!)

Lurkedforever1 · 02/08/2015 20:09

That's why I think junk needs to be included in moderation. So children learn they are eating the cake/biscuit/ sweets purely for the taste not for hunger, and it doesn't become a reward or treat. I can and have eaten massive tins of chocolates, or bags of doughnuts, or tube of Pringles, or whole cake in one sitting when I've felt like it. But I'm fully aware of why I'm eating it. And as I usually eat for hunger, it's not a regular habit. And with junk not being hailed as bad or a treat in our house, it's a case of eat it if you fancy the taste, there's little inclination to eat it. Much as a cake is enjoyable I can think of plenty more enjoyable activities than eating.

Mehitabel6 · 02/08/2015 21:05

And if you don't have junk in moderation it is the one thing they crave. They have to learn to self moderate- you can't do that if someone always does it for you.

Lurkedforever1 · 02/08/2015 21:46

Exactly. dd has friends now that at 10/11 if you send them to help themselves to a snack I know I'll hear 'mum, come and tell them'. Dd will have chosen something like a piece of toast and one sweet, and they'll have a Mars bar, crisps, large bag of sweets and several lollies. Because having junk within reach to help themselves to is a concept they can't deal with.

RedDaisyRed · 02/08/2015 22:25

Not for many. It's like cocaine or alcohol. If you are an addict you cannot have it in moderation and for many children and parents it's the same with sugar. In fact it works on the same bit of the brain so whilst moderation will work for some plenty it doesn't which is why we are all so far these days.

Mehitabel6 · 02/08/2015 22:39

Of course you can have it in moderation! If you are brought up that way and get used to self moderation it isn't a problem.
You see it as the norm.
Problem relationships with food start early and parents either being strict and unbending - or allowing any old junk all the time- or not eating a healthy diet themselves- sets up problems for later.

Mehitabel6 · 02/08/2015 22:40

If you get out of control and addicted then it will be a problem- but there is no need to get to that point.

StellaAlpina · 02/08/2015 22:44

Ljkk - I think it's around 60% of Italians that eat pasta everyday, but it would be just the once and in smaller portions than in England because you'd have more things after. But still, then there'd probably be wheat at breakfast (brioche, toast) and maybe another bread roll with dinner. (The food in Montalbano always looks great. My mum went and visited Montalbano's house in Sicily)

Italians are starting to get weight problems now with more packaged 'snacks' and convenience foods.

imwithspud · 02/08/2015 23:18

It doesn't seem to bad. I would probably give either the cheddars or the biscuits rather than both but there are definitely worse children's diets out there.

LilQueenie · 02/08/2015 23:45

fgs there are kids in the world surviving on dirty water and a few grains of rice a day. So long as its healthy ie not drenched in fat all the time or really high in sugar or salt then go for it if the kid eats it. Its not like their legs will drop off if not fed a !00% organic veg-fest as mumsnet would like us to believe.

Nettymaniaa · 03/08/2015 00:00

Don't agree on the rich tea test. I don't eat many biscuits so if I am going to have one its going to be the one I want and that wouldn't be rich tea. They are nice but not as nice as other types. This thread is very erm interesting. Still don't think OP should be feeling bad.

Toadinthehole · 03/08/2015 04:58

So, to sum up.

Dried fruit is bad because it contains lots of sugar.
Fresh fruit is bad for the same reason.
Pasta is bad because it contains wheat.
Carrots are bad because they remove enamel from your teeth.
Sweetcorn is bad becuase it's got "sweet" in it.
Cabbage is bad because it's cabbagy.
Spuds are bad because they're carby. So is rice.
Milk is bad because it's got lactose in it.
Cheese is bad because it's got fat in it.

And so on.

But never fear! All the following are just fine because they count towards your magical Five a Day! Tins of beans, tinned spaghetti hoops, fruit juices, fruit chews and fruit bars. And... what the hell.. also doughnuts (if you need a carb injection) wine (it's got fruit in it), chocolate (contains vegetables).

Mehitabel6 · 03/08/2015 06:58

But if you were really hungry would would eat a rich tea biscuit and be pleased to have it. Generally you don't eat biscuits because you don't need to- you can wait for a meal.

RedDaisyRed · 03/08/2015 07:56

Toad, I think it's very simple. Eat foods in their natural state and you'll be fine. Eat the normal foods we all ate during WWII when my father bred rabbits for food and people grew lots of veg on the land. If instead you eat processed junk and particularly sugary drinks then that's not great.

atticusclaw · 03/08/2015 08:07

I think this type of thread is part of the problem.

The messages we are given about food are so confusing. Pure fruit smoothie good or bad? Well good in terms of getting vitamins into your child, bad if they have it on top of a jumbo bag of haribo.

People come away from thread like this with buzz phrases - "dried fruit is bad because it has double the amount of sugar as a percentage than normal fruit", when in actual fact it only has more sugar as a percentage because it has less water.

I'm working on my DC's diet at the moment because it's slipped and become too carb heavy (DS2 would happily live on bread). I am really struggling to get a clear picture of what is the best way to feed my children. I am just going for balance; limited highly processed food, a good mixture of protein, grain based carbs, dairy and fruit/veg and extra vitamin/cod liver oil supplements. Add in lots of water with juice/smoothie once a day only and with a meal and I'm hoping they'll be ok.

Mehitabel6 · 03/08/2015 08:11

The problem is that whatever OP had put for a day's food someone would have criticised it!

Toadinthehole · 03/08/2015 09:17

RedDaisy

I agree. I prefer my turnip as God intended it.