To not understand why some parents make such poor food choices for their kids?

[Quit4me]

I was standing behind a mum with 2 children in a queue the other day. One child was a baby laying almost flat in a pram aged about 3 months. The other was around 6. The baby was really sweet smiling out of the pram which is what drew my attention to them. Then she grizzled and the mum said ‘whopps sorry I took away the milk buttons didn’t I. She was feeding her (the baby) milkybar buttons. Quite a lot of them.
I then noticed that that the mum was overweight, the nan who was also with them was overweight and most sadly the 6 year old was very overweight /obese.
Why would any mum be feeding their 3 month old chocolate? Obviously the whole family and little girl could have had a medical condition but Barring that why don’t parents see that feeding them sugar and too many processed foods early on is creating so many health problems for their children?
It makes me actually quite angry and sad for the children and I cringe seeing it.
Yes I know it’s none of my business directly, but this is everyone’s business because it’s a huge problem for the UK and is going to increase multi fold in the coming years.

[TakeMe2Insanity]

It’ll probably be the grandma saying ,”I weaned you at 3 months, you’re fine”.

I agree it’s wrong but also we have no idea what is going on their lives.

[MessAllOver]

is it really worth your children’s health to save a few quid

If you don't have the few quid, it probably is.

An orange or apple is around 20p, a banana around 25p, a pear around 30p. Meanwhile, you can get a Tesco biscuit variety pack with 4 different packs of biscuits for £1 or a chocolate multipack with 8 chocolate bars for £2 - the kids will probably be happier with them and they won't go off. Healthy "treat" items (for example, strawberries, watermelons, grapes, pineapple etc.) are probably out of your reach if you're on a low income so the options are either to have a boring healthy diet or buy unhealthy snacks and make your kids happy.

[Bagamoyo1]

I agree OP. It's disgusting. And people really can't use lack of knowledge as a defence these days. We're not back in the 50s/60s/70s - there is so much information and publicity out there now.

But you'll find that on MN it's considered OK to do what you like, even murder your children in broad daylight, if you're stressed and having a bad day. And anyone who steps in or complains is being horribly judgemental.

[MsMarch]

The reason you don't understand is because it's just so far out of your experience. It's almost impossible to put yourself into someone else's shoes. As a parent of a child who was significantly overweight, I can tell you that it was and is complicated. He's lost all the weight now and looks amazing and is super healthy. The point though, is that I am an educated, middle class woman who prepares lots of healthy food etc and still had a child who landed up significantly overweight so while I feel desperately sad when I see other overweight children, I do not judge the parents.

[Loopyloututu2]

I doubt the baby was 3 months old, it wouldn’t even be weaned?

She Probably does it to keep them quiet while she’s shopping. I used to give mine a packet of baby crisps or a rusk whilst I was shopping.

Giving them chocolate at such a young age isn’t ideal of course but if it’s only occasionally it’s fine as long as they brush their teeth. You don’t know the circumstances, maybe she doesn’t know better.

I agree I feel sad too when I see a fat child - it’s tantamount to abuse.

[SooMoony]

I've got a friend who is very overweight and her 3 little sons are also overweight. She says it's genetics, then posts Facebook updates of them baking pies and making doughnuts. The problem is, everyone knows what causes weight gain and everyone knows the solution - eat less and move more. But when it's ingrained from early childhood then it's more of an eating disorder than something that can be fixed by a healthy diet and exercise.

[Bagamoyo1]

@Dagnabit

I doubt you actually give a shit but just wanted to come on here and express outrage at the fat people. What is the point of this thread? You want us to pat you on the head because you’re so amazing?

I don't see that in the OP at all. Where did you get that from?

[whatsthestory123]

whether people like it or not when i see an overweight child eating (at the shops etc) they are eating rubbish and drinking soda's

them poor kids are heading for so much misery in their adult lives that a few changes could change their future into a better one but im not optimistic

[BrumBoo]

That's nothing, last time I went to a playgroup someone was feeding their 2 month old Maccies chicken nuggets, whilst washing it down with two fruit shoots! Not even the brand one, the Aldi ones . The baby had 13 piercings in each ear, and was wearing a Peppa Pig tutu, but no socks . And the mother was on her phone the whole time, something about wanting to claim single parents benefits but I know she lives in a polygamous relationship with two blokes called Dave and a third that identifies as a Muslim cat who likes shitting in old people's gardens..... have I overdone it on the goady shite yet

[Usagi12]

You sound delightful 🙄🙄

[FrostyChocolateMilkshake]

Makes me cringe too OP.

Adults can choose what to put into their body. Babies don't have this ability. They eat what we give them.

Whyever a responsible, loving parent would feed their child sugary, fatty foods is beyond me. Who wants an unhealthy, overweight child? (Before I get piled on I mean overweight by Mcdonalds and the like, NOT by an illness).

[NuniaBeeswax]

"have I overdone it on the goady shite yet"

You forgot to mention the MASSIVE FLAT SCREEN TV and LATEST MOBILE PHONE but still a good offer.

[WeIcomeToGilead]

I very much doubt a three months old was chowing down chocolate buttons

[NuniaBeeswax]

Offer? Effort!

[MissBaskinIfYoureNasty]

Its so depressing to see parents doing this to their kids. We know a 5 year old who is grossly overweight. Can't run, can't fit into the clothes she wants, only likes absolute junk because that's what she has become used to. She kicks off if she isn't allowed a 2nd or 3rd bag of crisps in a row and her parents just give her what she wants. Its mind-boggling to see. There's no additional needs at all in that case. It's pure laziness and they're literally killing their child.

[BlackBucketOfCheese]

How can I claw the Easter egg back out of the hands of my 6 day old twins? Please tell me it won’t interfere with watching ITV2 on my massive telly.

[GirlInterruptedAgain]

Your assuming that she always feeds her face with buttons. It could have been a one off treat. As the whole family were, as you say, overweight, perhaps it is food =love as some have said, or, there could be some dodgy genetics going on there. Also many people are struggling right now financially and will be buying cheaper and perhaps unhealthier food as a result. It’s not easy for many people right now. Not everyone can afford the healthier, lighter, good for you options right now. I do agree that parents who willingly without cause or reason, shove high fat high sugar Hugh calorie content food into their kids mouths need some sort of educating. But they shouldn’t make it out of reach for people to afford.

[CovidCrow]

Poverty and education is always given as an excuse about these people. It's rubbish. In this case a packet of buttons = around 60p, a banana = around 20p 🤷‍♀️ And I'm sure the mother knows what makes her fat, most people do.
No one can just admit some people are lazy, shit parents.

[Whatwouldscullydo]

But when it's ingrained from early childhood then it's more of an eating disorder than something that can be fixed by a healthy diet and exercise

There's alot of competitive eating on MN. One look in most school playgrounds will tell you it has to be bullshit. But MN is full of kids who eat huge meals and drink several pints of milk a day who are all "beanpoles" and " really tall" , anyone who posts their kid had half a cheese sandwich some carrot sticks and a handful of popcorn is asked " wheres the rest of it". I dont think it helps anyone new who's posting for advice to be accused of starving their child when its a perfectly average lunch.

Its a very MN thing to do to turn up up the school gates with piles of food citing the excuse the school meals are tiny and they are starving , I mean ( for those who are paying fir the lunches, it obviously doesn't apply to those who get them.free ) if you are bringing a second lunch if wraps, sausage rolls and bananas to the play ground on top of paying for school dinners why not just pay for a lunch that will fill them up instead..

Mn is really strange, those with kids who eat three meals a day, don't snack and who don't have a junk.jar are the weird ones, yet its impossible for all these kids to be as skinny as they make out amd need all this food cos one look out the window debunks it.

[HarrietM87]

My in laws aren’t low income, or overweight, and they are both intelligent, yet they are absolutely desperate to stuff chocolate into babies. It baffles me. I refused to let them give DS chocolate as a baby and they reacted as if I was cruel to deprive him, but to their credit never tried it again. They now look after SIL’s baby though and have been giving her chocolate since she was weaned (at 6 months, at least not 3). I think they just want the babies to love them and think that chocolate will help. They are lovely so really don’t need to use bribes. It’s weird.

[ThePlantsitter]

@CovidCrow

Poverty and education is always given as an excuse about these people. It's rubbish. In this case a packet of buttons = around 60p, a banana = around 20p 🤷‍♀️ And I'm sure the mother knows what makes her fat, most people do.
No one can just admit some people are lazy, shit parents.

Right well if that is the case then what do we do about it? Does posting on mumsnet make people stop being lazy, shit parents (clue: no.).

[naptune]

It’s all they knew as children. Lack of education as although they can access information it’s something they’ve never been told to do. Healthier food is expensive in the shops near me it’s about £2.50 for a fruit pot and it’s £1 for a 6 pack of crisps. £2.50 may not sound like much but it is if you don’t have it especially as a 6 pack of crisps would last longer.

[BrumBoo]

@NuniaBeeswax

"have I overdone it on the goady shite yet"

You forgot to mention the MASSIVE FLAT SCREEN TV and LATEST MOBILE PHONE but still a good offer.

Damn, so close

[user127819]

Milkybar buttons are far more likely to quiet a grizzling child than carrot or bread sticks, and who wants to drag a miserable child round a supermarket? Not saying it's healthy or a good choice, but that's the reality. Nobody wants to make their child obese.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe]

@Itsjustaride8w737

DM fed me a load of shit food, we were skint. I had mash and beans for tea most evenings and a chip buttie with 3 chocolate bars for lunch when home for dinner (secondary school)

Despite this, i was always a slim child, no one ever made comments. My best friend on the other hand was cooked lovely healthy meals but struggled with her weight.

I often heard people whisper behind her back about her parents overfeeding her. It made me sad as it was far from the truth.

My point is you shouldn't judge people. The baby could of just had her immunisations and the parents trying to soothe her.

Milkybar buttons aren't ideal but they're not exactly heroin.

This is a great post, it really illustrates the picture beautifully.

Sadly though, posters like Quit4me and other goady posters just want to talk and berate endlessly. There is no 'discussion needed', what does that even mean? It's just nonsense bollocks spouted by a few who want an audience for their mean twattery. If they get pulled up on it they deflect, 'fat-shaming' and the like.

OP, if you are actually genuine, what do you think your thread is achieving today? Do you think you're offering some sort of public service here or just venting your spleen. I believe it's the latter, whether it's true or not, it's what you want to talk about - fat people - and you want people to listen to you.

I wish these threads would just stop, but they won't. Are you planning a 'greedy husband' one soon? There's no milkybutton emoji but there is a biscuit one