To think your child doesn't need a snack in a 30-minute toddler class?

[Mummyreindeerlegz]

Sorry for the long title.

Why is it some parents give their one year old snacks during really short classes (or at all during classes!)? A one year old wandering around with a soggy rice cake, dropping bits is grim. Wait half an hour or give them a snack before you come.

Please tell me why people think this is ok? Fully prepared to be told I am being unreasonable.

YANBU young kids these days are constantly grazing on snacks with parents offering food at the slightest whinge or often when they don't even ask for it. It's such a bad habit for kids think every time they go any where they should be constantly snacking to keep them quiet. I always left the house with something to eat and drink in case of an emergency but unless my DCs really kicked off or were genuinely hungry because we were out longer than planned they didn't get the snack.

@Niskayuna

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Some of these things are aimed at children from 6m onwards.

Between the 3/4/5 + bottles/bf a day. Allowing for nap times and of course 2/3 meals a day. Maybe even "supper"

How the hell do they fit in all these "snacks"

They must spend literally hours a day eating

I think possibly the word "snack" makes people think it's unhealthy or something? A piece of fruit/cheese/toast or whatever is fine if they're hungry between meals as long as it's all part of a balanced diet surely? I always have water and a couple of snacks for ds, usually a banana and something like mini breadsticks or whatever just in case. 9/10 times the snacks aren't required but I'd rather have it and not need it tbh.

I'll get my coat, Dixie

I just don't know why bananas are always held up as the ultimate healthy snack.
As you were.

Last went to a toddler group in around 2002 or thereabouts.

Nobody, to my memory, used to give their children a snack but it was an hour and a half session and in the middle of those hours there was a break where tables were joined together and juice and biscuits put out for all toddlers. Parents could have a tea or coffee all for a nominal fee . Strangely I miss those days , though some days I wished I'd been anywhere but toddler group . it was a nice one.

It's not the healthiest snack; around 18g of sugar

Yes, but it's an emergency! They rarely get eaten anyway.
Just turn black in your handbag.

I've never heard anyone call a banana the ultimate healthy snack. They just taste good and fill you up for a while and come in convenient packaging!

I'm with DixieNormas about people banging on about the sugar in fruit. There's a lot of good stuff in it. Natural sugars are found in lots of food tbh!

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties I think I've read somewhere that they are quite filling? I could be wrong, I love bananas but they don't fill me. I believe they're good for on the go breakfastes to put them on until lunch. I'm probably wrong.

Emergency Banana could always be used to beat off potential muggers/ used as a small neck pillow on long journeys.
If nothing else, it's peace of mind knowing it's there turning to mush in your bag.

There really ought to be stickers on them "In case of emergency, eat banana" [being silly face]

YANBU rice cakes are vile and have no nutritional value that would make them worth eating.

You could Dixie ( if it was an emergency )

This thread has gone a bit sanctimonious anyway. Where are all these parents forcing snacks on their toddlers every 30 mins? Do they exist?

I must admit I've used a snack as bribery to sit in the supermarket trolley, get them in the buggy or occasionally to stop them tantrumming.
My kids are teenagers now and aren't obese or addicted to rice cakes.

I do not understand why older (school age) children need to eat crisps etc when in a theatre or cinema -during the performance/film.
Surely they at least should wait till the interval out of respect to the actors and rest of audience and not rustle bags etc.

I'm not being sanctimonious - I think that rice cakes are horrible and would much rather give my kids some chocolate digestives instead.

Emergency bananas. The word is spreading. My work is done.

frankley, this is a major bugbear of mine and it sits in the back of the snacking+entitled culture. I've stopped going to the theatre for this reason. I'd rather pay £2 a ticket extra for a food-free performance.

I must admit I've used a snack as bribery to sit in the supermarket trolley, get them in the buggy or occasionally to stop them tantrumming.

Judging by the many threads I've seen on here you'd have been judged just as harshly if you'd let them tantrum.

Parenting... You're damned if you do, damned if you dont

America invented snacking as a way to get consumers to buy more food. I don't understand why everyone has to constantly eat all the time. And no I'm not a slim food nazi, I'm fat but still hate it as it also happens in the office.

catsize I went as a helper accompanying a school class to the theatre. I was surprised the children had not been told not to snack throughout the show. What a missed chance to teach good manners. Surely they would have better concentrated on what was happening on stage if were not fiddling about with bags and stuff
I hate it too.
.

You are so on the money OP !

I loathe this habit.

I see people in CHURCH with a big bag full of little plastic plastic tubs with all manner of snacks to feed their kid

Really pisses me off.

I'm really surprised to see several people saying that they hate to see children having a snack in church. It is SO difficult to get very young children to be quiet in church, especially before the age where they even understand instructions. Would you seriously prefer the children to cry through the sermon? Or maybe families with young children shouldn't be welcome at your church at all?