To never buy snacks/squash/sweets etc again

[Fiera]

Every single time there is somthing remotely snackly in the house it just gets taken and eaten. The large double concentrate bottles of squash gone within 24 hours, any kind of sugary cerial gone the same day they come through the door.
I dont like to use the word 'steal' but tonight its the only word i can use because my daughter actually STOLE my can of coke.
We never usually buy coke or Fizzy anything, nut it was my eldest sons birthday and all the children had a can as a very rare treat. My daughter actualli hid my can up her sleeve (after having drank hers earlier in the evening) and went and drank it in her bedroom.
Even my toddler daughters 'treats' like 'GoGo' biscuits and 'Goodies' puffs just disapear before she even knows theyre there.
We have a full fruit bowl, two actually, every day and even they get emptied. They have hot meals every day so theyre not 'hungry' just greedy.
I just dont understand why they do it and im seriously considering just not buying again.
My toddler will happily drink water (theres hardly ever any squash left for her anyway)

Erm, because that’s exactly what your reply said teateaandmoretea?

No, @CharlotteCollinsneeLucas but teens don't exactly have great impulses - and it was a can of Coke, not £50 or a pair of diamond earrings.

I would have sent her out to buy me a replacement with her own money and left it at that. No need to generate so much angst over food.

This is an example of what happens when food becomes 'first dibs'. They think the other kids are going to eat it before they get any so take what they can. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy so to speak and a vicious cycle. Buy each their own snacks instead of communal ones as they obviously lack self control. Buy your own and bloody hide them. When they're gone, they're gone and it's on them. They dont get dibs on anyone elses. Helps them learn to barter too 😁

Even in my early 30's I still check the cupboards for snacks when I go to my Mums. I can sniff out a hidden milkway or pack of wotsits at 200yds

I see no problem with you saying "no more crisps, coke, squash or biscuits" and just not buying them, ever again. If they get enough food (meals and healthy snacks and fruit), there's no need to drink all that sugar flavoured water. It's possible to live a happy and fulfilled life without crisps and squash, no matter what some posters here tell you.

I assume you’re talking diabetes and heart disease as opposed to knives and guns? Clearly it’s not lethal as many (the majority?) of people consume sugar without issue. I don’t know where you live that everyone is obese and Diabetic by adulthood

I was actually talking about unlimited sugary snacks. Yes it is lethal, not for everyone sure but the percentage of overweight/ obese adults in the U.K. is 62%.
The medical definition of obesity is that your weight is having a detrimental effect on your health.

Just because the harm is slower and less dramatic than being shot doesn’t mean it’s not as lethal. More people will suffer from obesity related illness than harm from knives and guns.
I’ve had a 32 year old undiagnosed diabetic in my surgery having a heart attack.

I’m not saying dc should have no sugar only that kids find it hard to control so you have to do it for them.

Being overweight or obese isn’t lethal though. It’s somewhat hysterical to state it is when you mean it “can be”

sprinkles re read your original post. It is nonsense that people who don't fill a cupboard with crap treats each week will be heavier than those who do. If that isn't what your post is saying and it's just how it reads then explain what you actually mean.

There is no need to eat crap on a daily basis. Bit eating crap on a daily basis won't make people binge when they get the chance, I would suggest some people are more prone to it. And it isn't 'restriction' it is normal eating - the kids have pocket money, we buy an ice cream when we are out, they get bought sweets and chocolate regularly by grandparents.

I see what you mean about the coke and I'd be annoyed.

The rest sounds like normal teenage behaviour. The students at school will come in sometimes with a multipack of crisps, packets of biscuits, 2l bottles of coke. We discourage it, but their essential appetites seem quite large.

I wouldn't take it as personally as I think you are, to be honest.

"Would you leave all your medicines, matches or cleaning products where your kids could get them at will?" With teens? Yes! Because just as with the food you TEACH them how to use the stuff that exists in the world SAFELY!

If you really are a nurse and even more so if you have teens that's quite a worryingly extreme and unbalanced view.

Dd has been enjoying candlelit baths since she was 12/13, bit younger when I stopped worrying about medicine access but she'd still ask before taking say some paracetamol until maybe 14/15, cleaning products - do your teens do NO chores? Dd been cleaning the bath after using also from 12/13, own laundry around same time (earlier than I had planned admittedly but there was tension over EXACTLY which school jumper she wanted washed for X day so I went 'fine do your own laundry' and taught her how 😂)

So basically that's a ridiculous comment. As I and many other posters have said its TEACHING them to consume the less healthy foods in moderation. So they DON'T develop an unhealthy desire for them later.

"No-one 'owns' any snacks in our house. Just buy more of what ever is popular. Easy" aye cos everyone's made of money 🙄 not to mention as most agree on thread that WOULD be unhealthy to just provide and let them eat UNLIMITED amounts of less healthy items.

I would have made her replace the Coke and expected a sincere apology. It's as pp say it's not what the item was its the fact she knew it wasn't hers and what she was doing was wrong.

I have this problem - buy treats and they are gone within 24 hours - and not been enjoyed, just inhaled. So now I buy them less regularly,and tell my teenagers when it’s gone, it’s gone. That slows them down, slightly.

I think it’s nothing more than a change in how society views these foods. Snacks were a treat when we were growing up, but teenagers think crisps and sugar are food-group now.

Sometimes I hide my own treats in the boot of the car.

Thats insane!
Here, a squash bottle lasts for ages, we have fizzy drink once a week - on weekends - but the teens buy or drink it when out - that’s fine. I don’t ‘forbid’ any food when we are out but I don’t buy coke for the house - ever.
There’s always kitkats, crisps, nuts, fruit, cereal bars available which do go quickly but not ridiculously so. They are aware that crisps and biscuits aren’t healthy, although I try to buy ‘light’ crisps etc. and they will have fruit with their biscuit!
Your dd was def out of order. She knew it wasn’t hers and deliberately took it, whether she’s ‘deprived’ of snacks or not.

That’s loads OP and to people saying that getting through that amount of squash in 24 hours is normal, what planet do you live on? I have one gannet (15 year old boy) living with us and he eats for England. The other day, he had three dinners! 2 x 10inch pizzas and sausage and chips from the chip shop. I know the annoyance of buying an 8 pack of coke and only getting one because he’s guzzled the rest!

Just stop drinking coke at home op. Be a healthy role model

The real problem with snacking is the reasons why it takes place. Why do people eat snacks? As I see it, these are the reasons:

1. Because the snacks are there. The snacker isn't hungry, but knows that snacks are readily available and so just fancies eating them.
2. Because they're hungry. The snacker starts to feel hungry before the next meal is due. Again, as the snacks are available, they're the easiest thing to reach for - and even more irresistible when the person is hungry.
3. Because they're easy. There is no preparation required, apart from opening a packet. It's quicker and easier to eat a snack than prepare a meal.

So, what's the answer?
The first thing is to have meals that are more satisfying and will "keep you going" for longer. This may mean eating more fat and fewer carbohydrates, cutting down on rice, potatoes and bread and replacing them with cheese, avocado, yogurt and so on. Only have wholegrain rice, pasta, bread etc - it's more filling and more nutritious than the refined type.

Then, in addition:
Don't have snack foods in the house, to minimise the temptation.
If you're genuinely hungry, get the next meal ready - or wait until the next meal and try to have a more satisfying meal the next time. It's OK to feel hungry for a while.

You missed the most obvious reason people eat snacks/treats. Because they taste nice and we like them.

@tawny but that sort of attitude of just mindlessly doing something because you like it is silly. I like to lie in bed for most of the day. Does that mean I should do that instead of go to work just because I enjoy it?
I enjoy junk food but I try and keep control of how much I’m having. If I want a bar of chocolate then i’ll have one and enjoy it. but i’ll Stick to just the one and will make healthier choices throughout the day.

You missed the most obvious reason people eat snacks/treats. Because they taste nice and we like them

You're right! That's weird, I was sure I had put that in.

@tawny but that sort of attitude of just mindlessly doing something because you like it is silly

It's neither mindless nor silly. I eat snacks and treats, because I like them. Not mindlessly though, if I eat treats and snacks I eat less at meal times, I don't eat too much, I don't eat any more than any other day. I enjoy them very much and gain pleasure from it.

It's the epitome of sensible eating. It's what I teach my children, all of whom are slim and healthy and able to self regulate. We enjoy a healthy balanced diet, which includes regular but small treats and snacks.

To all those saying your kids won’t drink water... well if you have the alternatives of juice or pop or squash available, of course they won’t.

I was that kid who refused water and inhaled snacks. My mother eventually got me out of the habit by not providing anything other than still and fizzy water and lemon juice or fruit slices to add to my water. When I got thirsty enough, I drank it!

As for inhaling snack food - in my case it was laziness (and of course those things are yummy). Healthier snack options pre-prepared and left in the fridge, and just not having the crap in the house, helped

I think the point people are making is that it’s not particularly harmful for them to have squash (no added sugar) if that is what makes them drink fluid in the first place.

As opposed to arguing many times a day about them drinking their recommend amount of water (and with teenagers you’re really going to lose anyway)

I never buy my grandchildren sweets. They get so many treats and snacks daily I refuse to add to it.

TigerTown not necessarily. My DD ended up in hospital on a drip because i was told.i 'had to stop giving her anything other than water' - if the choice is dilute squash or repeating that experience, the choice is bloody easy!

Mustbemad17 - that sounds like a horrible experience for you all :( I think your DD is likely an exception though. I’ll also caveat that I was referring to neurotypical kids, as I’m aware kids who aren’t neurotypical or perhaps have any SN could respond totally differently

Tiger town, how on earth can you make that (somewhat rude) assumption that the pps child must have special needs or something? Just to try and back up your view? Unbelievable.

Yes, people who don’t like water may drink it when “desperate” but that is not going to amount to the fluid intake they should be having. And that’s got nothing to do with being a “normal” child or not.

No SN or any issues here, just a very stubborn small person who knows what she wants. The fault for her drinking squash firmly lies with me, that i know, but to suddenly try & remove that & dictate that it is water or nothing all of a sudden is pointless. It made me feel very cruel & actually the a&e staff were very firm in that squash is absolutely fine for fluid intake, especially if the alternative is dehydration.