Who gives a 16 month old chocolate every day?

[456FTMCoffeeDiet]

Just read a recent government statistic that HALF of toddlers in the UK between 16 and 18 months old get a treat daily (i.e. chocolate, ice cream, crisps, cake). WTF? Who does that? I have every sympathy re weaning and feeding toddlers, my toddler has dairy, egg and a few other random allergies so my head is about to explode trying to cook food and snacks for him every day. It's a gigantic pain and source of stress. And I have nothing against an ocasional treat. But cake and ice cream daily when they're under 2?

I get there will be a small number of very fussy eaters and you just need to give them some calories ? But that doesn't explain half of toddlers, no way. Anyone here who does this, why do you do it?

AIBU to be shocked?

I think dessert and pudding every day is normal. I don’t think they are a treat, just a normal part of a meal.

My kids probably have a 'treat' (biscuit / chocolate / scone / cake) every day, including the one who is under two years old.

We don't call them treats in our household because we don't distinguish between good and bad foods or make things like cake and chocolate out to be big, exciting things they only get occasionally. They eat really well, enjoy fruit and veg, eat all their meals and aren't fussy.

I truly don't care what anyone thinks about it. They're all comfortably within the healthy weight bracket for their heights, they do inordinate amounts of exercise daily and weekly, they're healthy as horses and we're all happy with the way things are.

I would also add that if you buy decent chocolate and not shit there's absolutely nothing wrong with giving your kids a little bit each day. What's so bad about chocolate? It has some nutritional benefit and teaches them to enjoy a complex flavour. If you're thinking Mars bars and not 70 % then maybe you should improve your own tastes.

It’s really not. Most people don’t have dessert everyday. Once a week on a Sunday maybe.

Thank you! Its crazy how people just read the OP and believe it is true without actually looking at the study.

What's even worse is that trying to do the right thing feels like an uphill battle. When my eldest started nursery (she's 9 now) and I asked she didn't have cake for dessert, they looked at me like I was an alien. When I asked them not to let her have multiple portions of tea in after school club (she doesn't have a stop if she likes what she's eating), they made me sign a piece of paper to say it wasn't their fault if she was hungry. Sweets are everywhere, children portions in restaurants are humongous. I want to cry when I think about my poor 9 year old, that loves all kind of food, and the amount of time I spend reatricting it....

I give my daughter the odd chocolate button here and there or a little nibble of whatever I'm having most days and it hasn't done her any harm! She also eats plenty of veg and fruit so I don't personally see an issue

sadly it's more this way of thinking than will cause eating disorders than anything else.

The simple concept of "treat" food, as opposed to food is also the worst thing you can teach your child. Why do you think adults "dieting" but including "cheat days" are failing in their weight loss?

Food should be fuel, not a reward, not a treat. Some of it you like, some less.
It's beige food, rewards, treats, snacks the issue, expecting to cater for fussy eaters you created. Not a balanced diet instead of getting excited about a carrot or a piece of chocolate.

I knew someone who gave her child chocolate buttons after evedy evening meal as a "treat" because he'd done so well. I don't think a 1 year old needed a daily chocolately treat....this was before my kids came along so I didn't really know what to say at the time but still knew it was not right!

I don't agree that kids portions here are humongous, they're usually quite small, I am more saddened that the food is shit and it's all chicken nuggets and the odd pizza.

Nothing wrong with either in your freezer for an easy playdate tea, but it's sad it's the only thing people want to buy when they go to a restaurant and they pay for someone else to do the cooking!

We are programmed to like high fat and sugar foods so you can’t just say “treat all food the same, don’t label some as treat food” will never work - we need to learn control and to restrict ourselves

Is this stat for first born babes or younger siblings who hoover up whatever is being handed out?

Such a non issue. Food should not be demonised. Poor education about food is the problem. A slice of bread can be nutritionally identical to many ‘treats’.

That’s probably it then! I never have sugary drinks so my kids have only ever had milk and water and that’s all they want. Im terrible for actual snacks though.

The thing is, as a kid I wasn’t allowed any crisps or chocolates ever, nothing. I would genuinely have dreams about other people’s lunch boxes. There was so much longing. It was ridiculous. And now my main meals are very healthy but I adore those sweet treats.

As much as I understand this logic, the reality is that humans crave fat and sugar and it really does give you that ‘hit’. And for a lot of, especially in this current climate and the stress of modern parenting (and ease of these treats compared to other niceities) it’s what gets used. Ill be honest, my chocolate gets me through the day.

That is a really unhealthy attitude. Food is much, much more than just fuel. It’s pleasure, joy, community, culture, celebration, festivals, family, friends. The whole of life has food at its centre.

Evidence for that?

I will fully let you have your win :)

I was only allowed coke twice a year as a teenager and now I drink way too much of it every day 😩😩

Mine didn't eat sweets or chocolate daily at that age 😳 I wasn't particularly anti-treats but we just didn't really have that stuff in the house and snacks tended to be slices of apple or a banana, not often though as they ate 3 decent meals a day and didn't really need anything inbetween meals. I wasn't averse to the occasional bag of chocolate buttons or an ice-cream once in a while!

no wonder if people are fat when they believe that food is "treat food".

Include it in celebrations as you want, most of us do, but food is fuel. It doesn't have to taste "celebratory" most day. It's not a big thing, and it really is not the centre of your day or life! Unless you are a chef.

isn't it both?

If you think start using food as some kind of weird reward, instead of just grabbing a banana or a piece of chicken because you are hungry, you end up with a very unhealthy life.

You can easily "deprogram"yourself, remove most of the sugar and you will soon find it very unappealing. Eat healthy food and you soon will have no interest in junk food and cheap takeaways.

Put 4 or 5 sugar in your tea. Some people might love it, but most will find it undrinkable. I honestly do. Same thing with junk food, it's genuinely not appealing to everyone.

there’s a middle ground though personally I wouldn’t bother introducing until they’re old enough to be aware they’re missing out on what other kids are doing so no chocolate as a baby but no making them an outcast by demanding they don’t eat the party food at another kid’s birthday and have a carrot instead.

The same way I wouldn’t give a toddler an iPad but there’s a middle ground between that and those who don’t let their 17 and 3/4 year old have a phone

At that age my son didn't have snacks or sweet treats of any sort because if I did give him them he wouldn't eat his meals. And I wanted him to eat nutritious things and not rubbish.

Food should be fuel, not a reward, not a treat.

Yeah, and sex is for procreation, but it's fun, so people like it for more than that. With both food and sex, surely healthy moderation is possible?

I don't know about you, but procreation is the very last thing I use sex for 😂

Depends, while I don't understand why having a pudding at the end of every meal is such a big deal - who cares if you finish with a yogurt or a fruit salad or a slice of cake?, I also don't understand why people must reward themselves with food, and the most unhealthy and processed the better.

I get booking a Michelin star restaurant as a treat, but having "cheat days" and demolishing a bag of crisps or a box of Krispy Kreme is weird.