To not understand why most people in the UK give their toddlers and small children 'diet' drinks? Is it a fad?

[Bellarosa1234]

I have lived in the UK for several years and now have a toddler DD. I have noticed all my English friends feed their toddlers diet drinks? Like robinsons squash, supermarket no added sugar squash, no added sugar flavoured waters etc. Am I missing something? Why do toddlers and children need diet drinks? When I lived at home we would dilute fresh fruit juices at meal times for the children? I did that infront of a friend and she made me feel like a bad mother. She said fruit juice is bad and full or sugar? I went to have a look at some "squash" in the supermarket and it seems like it is a con? My friend said it was kind for children's teeth but it still has fruit juice and added acid. Am I missing something? Obviously I want to do my best by my children but I just can't understand why people think diet drinks are great for kids, can anyone enlighten me? Thanks in advance!

[mathanxiety]

Mi Wadi is an Irish brand of squash.

[Rockingaround]

Here here Python. Yes I don't know how bad artificial sweeteners are, I just don't trust em. Would much rather sugar in small amounts. I can taste the difference, I can taste a sweetener in anything. Some cake mixes even have it and there's some god awful popcorn too that you can microwave and just tastes like sweetener. "No artificial additives" should be a thing.

[Pythonesque]

Haven't read the full thread but absolutely agree that the prevalence of artificial sweeteners in the UK is very worrying. I go out of my way to try to find the drinks that don't contain them, can no longer buy suitable lemon squash at all which was a family favourite. I'd much rather see something marketed as "no artificial additives" than "no added sugar"!

[FankEweVeryMuch]

Posted too soon-
So with that in mind I stick to what I know as fact. Los of healthy food in as close to it's natural form as possible.

Sweetners are the epitome of processed so I'm not giving them to my children daily. I'd prefer a small amount of sugar. That is processed but can be traced back.

This is how I work it out in my mind. Less processed, more healthy. Might not be right but it feels so to me.

[FankEweVeryMuch]

My issue with sweeteners is that they are a processed food. A few years ago salt was the enemy, now it's sugar. I don't disspute that a huge amount of either is good for you but sugar is the current 'evil food'

[mrsvilliers]

Also thanks to pp for history of squash, v interesting!

[mrsvilliers]

Have not RTFT (10 pages on squash!) but I think is also a regional thing. We recently moved from London (where I'd forgotten squash existed) to the Midlands where it is served everywhere. Ds can't stand it so I am always that mother asking for water

However I can't stand the taste or smell of aspartame so I don't buy diet drinks for that reason. Dc have water or milk or if very hot then juice. I buy the four packs of innocent smoothies every so often and when they're gone they're gone. DPs were pretty strict on juice and sweets when I was growing up and to date I have no fillings so I am following their lead.

[IceRoadDucker]

Hahaha at all the people afraid of "chemicals". Oh, the ignorance.

[squoosh]

I can't remember when an adult last offered me a glass of squash. Possibly when I was playing in my friend's house circa 1988.

[minatiae]

of course adults drink squash

if you think adults don't and children shouldn't, who do you think squash if for?

[squoosh]

Growing evidence that the body can't tell the difference between sugar and some artificial sweeteners.

[whois]

I don't know any adult who drinks squash

Conversely, almost all of my friends drink squash or cordial. Not all the time, but almost everyone has it in.

It isn't something you crack out at a dinner party tho is it? More like something you offer "tea, coffee, water, squash" when a close friend has popped in.

[whois]

I'll take artificial sweeteners over 'natural' sugar any day... plenty of evidence sugar is the new killer. Not so much for artificial sweeteners.

Probably better to avoid both tho but I do like a pint of very weak squash after sport :-)

[squoosh]

And fruit juice is far more acidic than sparkling water.

[squoosh]

No.

Carbonated water has more of an impact on tooth enamel than still water but it's not the same as drinking sugary fizzy drinks.

[Craigie]

ALL juice is bad for kids teeth, and ANYTHING carbonated (including fizzy water) is even worse for the enamel. If you're going to use juice, make sure it's with food.

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

sorry basic. That was my pre caffeine misreading

[AppleSetsSail]

minitiae sure, kids see (and want) what their parents are drinking but I don't know any adult who drinks squash, much less a fruit shoot. It's always been easy for me to drink diet coke but not allow my children to have it (right up until my oldest turned 13 - he drinks a bit of it now and there's not much I can do about that).

[Basicbrown]

I think you've misread mine calpol I'm agreeing with you with reference to the 'sugar is better' posts elsewhere

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

Basic brown I think you've misread my post. I said there is no evidence that artificial sweeteners are harmful. You seem to be saying the same thing

[GuruDal]

Im so confused. Having just looked at Rocks Squash, it still contains sugar & acid.
Innocent Juice is £3 and has to be drunk within 3 days. So 2 a week is £24 a month. I couldnt afford that.

buries head in sand

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

The Mercola link about aspartame is bollocks

[Basicbrown]

Anyway there is no concrete evidence sweeteners are harmful.

But still its a good idea to avoid them and drink the sugared ones that we know are harmful isnt it? .

I really cba with this debate on mn, personally I prefer to stick to evidence not internet hysteria but hey ho I'm quite clearly in the minority. I don't let my children have unlimited squash, they drink water and milk as well. Just can't see the harm. And in RL other people tend to do the same I find.

[DoctorDonnaNoble]

Why all the hate for chemicals? Oxygen is one. Water is two and we're all made up of loads.
Several 'health practitioner' types have been caught out when asked if their product contains the chemical dihydrogen oxide!

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

What the frig is mi wadi squash?

Anyway there is no concrete evidence sweeteners are harmful.