About what I feed my child

[Sunshineonacloud]

So at a recent 2 year olds party I noticed other kids eating and drinking stuff that my dc doesn't. I've noticed it a lot on playdates recently too..

My dc is 2.5 years old. We just give him milk and water to drink and veg puffs lentil chips and baby oat bars as snacks lots of fruit and veg. Occasionally chips or a slice of margarita pizza. The odd mini milk or lick or bite of our ice cream.

I've noticed children same age snacking on walkers crisps, drinking strong ribena, eating cupcakes, grown up biscuits like bourbons and nice's, midget gems etc.

I've also noticed my 2 year old being offered sugary biscuits and mini Cheddar at playgroups and when I decline I can tell people think I'm snooty. I'm not, I just thought I was supposed to follow guidelines. I'm a first time mum so enlighten me.. do most people let their kids eat whatever? Tbh it would make my life a lot easier 😂

Your feed your child, and let others feed their children.

We feed Ds age 2 a fairly healthy and unprocessed diet at home

At parties or others houses though anything is fair game.

Your child, you can feed him whatever you wish. My ds went to parties and always refused coke/squash. He only drinks water because he only likes water. He still does. He's 14.

Having said that, if he was at someone else's house, he could choose to eat whatever was offered. I don't want to restrict him or make him different to other kids. He got a wider experience, I got some fresh ideas for food.

It's a healthy relaxed mix.

It's all about moderation. Crisps and biscuits are fine in small quantities if they're also active, not fine in excess.

I was pretty strict for ages but found he would then make a beeline for the sweeter stuff. Now he has biscuits, sometimes cake, custard with his pudding etc…

he mainly drinks water or milk, a fruit shoot occasionally and eats a decent amount of veg, lots of fruit and a decent breakfast and dinner plus a hot meal at nursery so I don’t worry so much.

he doesn’t eat sweets, rarely eats chocolate so I can’t get her up about the other stuff to be honest.

lentil crisps aren’t really any better than other crisps

my cousin was stricter and will freely admit now that she wishes she wasn’t as her kid is an absolute junk food demon. He now refuses fruit and veg completely since being allowed a taste of the sweeter stuff. Not saying every child is going to be like that but I think there’s a balance to be had where no food groups are demonised tbh.

I try to look at it as an overall week now. Sometimes DS will have lots of treat foods such as biscuits and snacks but other days barely any.

@Stickmansmum thanks 😊

@Caspianberg good idea! We are pretty relaxed for a special occasion. I just didn't know if was being too strict generally..

Do you think those dried fruit bear winder things are healthy just because they’re marketed that way?

Theyre bloody awful for teeth, might as well give a mini packer of haribo, more fun anyway.

According to Google there's 8.1g of sugar in an Organix Oaty Bar.

There's 3.6g in a Bourbon biscuit.

@CheezePleeze love that you googled this 😂

Many parents say they don't give their child sweet food, but do give them raisins. Raisins are 60% sugar - no cake I've ever made has been that sugary, and I've made a good range of cakes in my time! Have you fallen into the same trap, OP?

I think being strict is a recipe for disaster for most kids and ‘healthier’ foods are usually still full of crap anyway.

I was bought up like this- really strict. I'm afraid it backfired for me and my brothers and sisters. We all have such an obsession with treats and sweet things. People who were bought up differently dont seem to have the same obsession.

I'm somewhere in the middle I think. DS was fairly healthy day to day but I would have allowed anything going at a party.

He's 8 and we still don't have squash at home though!

Bourbons and custard cremes remind me of my childhood at mothers and toddlers and Sunday school. They are definitely kiddy busicuits especially as you can get supermarket brand ones in large packs for cheap price so great for parties.

#humblebrag #sanctimoniousmummy #bestparentever #holierthanthou

A lot of the gimmicky ‘healthy’ toddler food is actually higher in sugar, preservatives etc than normal adult food.

Feed your kid what you want, others will feed theres as they want but try avoid labelling food good and bad, it’s not healthy.

Let him see there is no good and bad foods.don’t even make it a thing.
start from the off that foods are neutral.ye some have really great benefits for making him strong or helping him run around but don’t be subjecting him to society’s diet culture issues.he will pick up on it.
how you put certain foods on pedastools or say good or bad or restrict him will start his beliefs about them.
allow him all foods.
let him find what tastes he likes.
but also keep doing what your doing regarding giving him the good stuff.giving him balance though is key.
there is zero wrong with ribena or biscuits or crisps.or pizza or fats or sugar or carbs.

Just be sure you don't ask for the Adult Section.

Kids eat junk food at a party, what a shocker!

YABU

Adult crisps and adult biscuits!? I'm just imaging them all being Penis shaped or something 😂

...the approach of feeding them highly processed and high sugar foods, whilst imagining that they're feeding them a 'better' diet than others??

At 2 my children didn’t eat those things often, but they did at parties or if we were having a day out.

I wouldn’t worry about anyone thinking you’re snobby though, if they do, they’re an arsehole, but I’d maybe relax a bit for things like parties as it’s easier for you and won’t cause any harm. As long as your child is mostly eating a good diet, not eating lots of highly processed foods every day, it’s fine.

I'm confused by the question
They're obviously not missing out on anything good for them by not eating these foods
It's like saying 'I'm under the weekly alcohol allowance, should I up my intake?'

Always given mine pom bears, quavers or skips instead of gimicky 'baby crisps'. A bourbon biscuit is absolutely fine. I'm really laid back about food and mine will eat anything pretty much. Currently eating ham salad sarnies with a bag of walkers each and they've got a custard doughnut for pudding. All very slim, active kids with good teeth (ages 4, 7 and 10)

We really are starting the screwing up peoples views on foods younger and younger aren’t we.