To think playgroups shouldn't give out junk food?

[neonyellowshoes]

I go to one may be once a fortnight. The standard snack is fruit plus juice (don't agree with the juice) but there is always other shit 'just this once'. Chocolate, cake, iced biscuits today...

This is publicly funded.

It's a nice group but the shit food is putting me off.

Am I being precious?

OP, if you know all about diabetes you should know better than to call Type 2 "childhood onset diabetes"- whilst Type 2 is on the rise in children the one more commonly developed in childhood (and usually referred to as childhood or juvenile onset) is Type 1- which has nothing to do with sugar intake or weight. Dh has T1 and has had a lifetime of "did you eat a lot of sweets as a kid?" and "why don't you just control it with diet?" The current media obsession with obesity and sugar and constant mentions of the rise of "diabetes"- without stating which type, has only worsened this.

As someone said upthread, kids (and adults) with Type 1 diabetes have enough to deal with without having to constantly dispel these misconceptions.

Ffs biscuits aren't harmful. An overconsumption of sugary fatty foods is. As is putting too much emphasis on "bad" food being the enemy and being too emotional about eating.

You're promoting an unhealthy attitude to food. The fact that you're so incensed over your child being offered a biscuit once a week demonstrates a obsessive need to control every minutiae of your child's life.

Yes, lion.

Seriously, what a fuss about nothing. As soon as he's old enough to have pocket money and go to the shop by himself, you'll have no control over the fizzy drinks and sweets he eats.

You're right to want him to eat healthily the majority of the time, but a biscuit or cake here and there really won't do any harm. Kids that are denied any sweet stuff are the ones that crave it most and go mad for it when they have the opportunity.

Or if it bothers you that much, just don't go anymore.

Bangojam Like I said, if you're talking about anecdotal experience then you're missing the point.

The fact that you were raised on healthy food and still became overweight does not really offer a justification for needlessly giving groups of toddlers sugary foods, does it?

It's just unnecessary. Of course there are other factors at play, but that doesn't mean that this one potential factor isn't worth avoiding. Especially when it's so easy to just not do it.

My MIL used to say things like “don’t eat that-you’ll get fat” to my DP when he was a small child, and this attitude from her continued throughout his childhood. He told me that they were never allowed ‘shit’ food and it was never in the house. And on the odd occasion a GP would treat them out of site of MIL, or he got some at friends party’s etc, he would go mad and want to eat the lot. As an adult DP has massive issues around food which are very unhealthy, he is constantly dieting and his weight has yo-yo’d in the past- he hasn’t also been known to binge out on all DS’s Easter eggs etc (pissing me off no end!)! He is very insecure about his image and I put this down to the way he was brought up around food and his DM’s attitude towards it.
In my own childhood there was always biscuits and crisps in our house constantly- I knew they were there when I wanted them. There was also lots of veg and salad and we ate healthy meals most nights and were treated to a takeaway now and again. I am the eldest of 3 and none of us have weight, dental or diabetic issues! We all eat balanced diets and have a healthy attitude to body image and food.
DS is 2 and I have already decided what approach to food I am taking- it break my heart to think of him growing up with the same issues as his DF.
Moderation is key and a biscuit really won’t do any harm! Relax!

Offering sugary cakes and biscuits is part of ‘normalising’ unhealthy eating. A small child probably won’t bother with a healthy lunch after a few biscuits. It’s not the same as an adult having a biscuit as that would form a much smaller proportion of the adult’s diet. It really doesn’t help parents who are trying to encourage their children to eat wholesome food if they are filled up with processed rubbish by people who refuse to accept all the evidence on obesity

Yanbu, little children don't need to eat that kind of food. Don't know if its a coincidence but my mum didn't give us any sweets or biscuits when we were really young and as adults we all have a preference for savoury over sweet

to be honest op I don't really understand the problem if he eats 1 biscuit a fortnight what do you think is going to happen ? if you feel so strongly about it then don't go. I've been to loads of playgroup as was a sahm so went to a lot I never saw any parents who had a problem with them having a biscuit some offered fruit or a mix of both. Do you never eat a biscuit op ?

The problem is that for those of us in recovery from eating disorders we know full well the whole rhetoric of healthy vs unhealthy is what gave us a dodgy relationship with food in the first place.

Wind back a minute. Publically funded - can you dig around the umbrella organisation website for a Healthy Living type policy to wave at the group leader? Change from within? Challenge them.

Generally speaking if you make a big issue out of something and refuse to allow your child things like biscuits or cake, they will rebel against you as soon as they get the chance.

I agree Bango no food should be seen as out of bounds or "naughty". That's quite damaging.

Normalise a healthy diet at home and model good eating habits to your child. And healthy can include an occasional sugary snack.
It's as simple as that. Stop blaming a bloody playgroup offering a biscuit and take responsibility for your child's well being yourself.

I really don't understand the rage here. Will you be equally as irate if shops stock biscuits in full view , adverts on the tele? ..families eating ice cream on the beach? I mean you can't shelter your child from the world.

Just noticed a thread on why British kids are fat! Nuff said.

Bit of a jump from 1 biscuit a fortnight.....

GOing back to the 60s, we had a bisuit at playgroup, yet none of my siblings nor I are fat. My dc then had he odd biscuit at toddler groups etc., and once again none are fat. All of us and all of our dc have a normal, healthy relationship with food.

Just noticed a thread on why British kids are fat! Nuff said

Wow. You’ve solved the entire issue.

I have a friend with DC similar ages to mine. She's quite strict about controlling their diet and has 'banned' certain types of foods. As a result of these bans her DC now binge on the 'banned' foods whenever they can get hold of them, to the point where they'll make themselves unwell. I'm less strict with my DCs diet and accept that there'll be days they eat a 'perfect' diet and days when McDonalds saves our skin.

I appreciate that children need a healthy diet but part of raising them to be healthy, strong adults is teaching them about what their body needs and how to eat a balanced diet, not smacking party rings out of their little hands once a month at playgroup.

Go to a different food?

Raise the issue to the organisers?

Set up your own playgroup?

Group not food

Start your own playgroup then ...

I attended playgroups in another country where it was fruit for the kids (cut up and shared) with water to drink, and tea or coffee for the adults. I don't understand why parents or playgroup organisers would offer juice or squash for under 5s, if they aren't used to it then they don't miss it!

It's your attitude to food Op. Should we all applaud you for being disgusted by a chocolate biscuit.

My kids have good teeth, so the dentist says anyway.
A good BMi, as the reception class height and weight checks said (not that I think that says a lot about children's eating habits)
And childhood diabetes isn't caused by over eating, so I would suggest you do your research.

Also, my kids drink mostly water, we don't have squash in the house because I don't drink it. And they didn't have chocolate until they were 1. But they get bribed ridiculous amounts these days they are older and it's nice to give them a treat.

Your disgusted attitude is what worries me. It's an unhealthy way to view food. Everything in moderation and make sure they get plenty of exercise, hydration and a balanced diet.

I agree with you and also disagree with you

Snacking is really not a great habit to get into and it drives me potty too that toddlers and children are constantly encouraged to snack. I genuinely think there is no need if you are eating proper meals, I'm not sure why toddlers need to be any different tbh. However I think that about 'healthy' and 'non-healthy' snacks alike!

Generally I feel like if you model good eating habits at home, but don't stress too much about treat foods at social occasions then you can't go too far wrong! And honestly whether people like it or not we live in a society when we all have to regulate 'treat' foods and it's extremely rare for someone never to eat them ever. So although you are correct that no one needs them, it honestly will do your children more good to learn how to regulate them and make good choices as a child and maybe allowing your child the odd biscuit in a playgroup is a good way to do that.

there is no need (to snack) if you're eating proper meals

I see your point if "snacks" are always sugary/fatty treats. However, 3 square meals and nothing in between is not suitable for a toddler. Their stomach is about the size of the palm of their hand. Eating smaller more frequent meals is ideal for small children.

It could be a banana at 11 am, it could be toast, ham and bread, cheese, cereal, Hell once in a while it could be a biscuit.

My point being that small children do benefit from snacks and shouldn't have to be forced to stick to 3 larger meals with nothing in between because they're not adults.

Jesus fucking christ, so much angst over a digestive. It's a biscuit for crying out loud!! They're not exactly fattening the kids up for Christmas are they?

Fair enough maybe toddlers need more than 3 'meals' a day, but honestly no one, not even a toddler needs to graze constantly.

I guess though we are actually talking about the same thing if you are suggesting set 'snack' times like a morning and afternoon snack as well as breakfast lunch and dinner. I guess I would probably class them as meals rather than snacks. That's me being unclear sorry. I didn't mean toddlers need to stick to adult meal times, I meant more that they don't need a snack in hand constantly all day long.