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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To despair at the crap some people feed their kids

655 replies

Apotofrealcoffee · Today 09:20

Currently watching a kid who can’t be more than age 3, tuck in to a packet of ‘squashie’ sweets on the bus. No sign of a tantrum, kid seems perfectly happy looking out the window, but out come the sweets. And to pre empt the ‘snobbery’ thing, the parent seems middle class to me and certainly eloquent.

I regularly see kids tucking into chocolate bars, packets of crisps, lollies, all on the school run. Many of them toddlers in their buggies dropping off older siblings. Parents meeting kids at the school gate with full packets of Oreos, bottles of pop, doughnuts.

I’ve been trying not to judge for years and have been repeatedly told it’s ’just one snapshot of their day’ but honestly, I feel like the time for judgement has entered. I have never fed my toddlers crap like that, let alone just after breakfast. My 3 year old has never had a fizzy drink.

Why, just why! AIBU to feel there needs to be some kind of very direct public health campaign at this point? Maybe even a ‘no sweets at the school gate’ rule?

OP posts:
Cel77 · Today 23:16

Linnende · Today 19:23

This is why the country is in the state it is in. We live in a democratic society with freedom of choice. We don't need to be told, we know the risks, it's our choice!

Yes. The NHS is struggling to cope with conditions brought on by bad diets and obesity. So it's your choice but someone else will have to pay the price of your care you might need later in your life. Literally.

Mumtobabyhavoc · Today 23:35

Can I add something, please?
How about school lunch?
I'm in Vancouver, Canada.
The lunch options at our school are: hot dogs, cheeseburgers, perogies, Dominos Pizza, Subway, California rolls, choc chip cookies, mac & cheese, juice boxes and choc milk.
Great. 😥

OonaStubbs · Today 23:37

It is unhealthy to raise kids to see the consumption of junk food as a treat, something to look forward to, a reward.

Bikenutz · Today 23:38

Rather than ‘educating’ or moralising around food, I’d like to see subsidised basics - foods like fruit, veg, plain milk, plain live yoghurt, cooking oil, whole grains and flours.

The subsidy would be funded from high taxes on unhealthy food and drinks. Then if anyone eats crap regularly, they are covering the additional cost burden on the NHS.

No government so far has the balls to resist the food industry lobbyists though, so it probably won’t happen.

MapleCutie · Today 23:50

Bikenutz · Today 23:38

Rather than ‘educating’ or moralising around food, I’d like to see subsidised basics - foods like fruit, veg, plain milk, plain live yoghurt, cooking oil, whole grains and flours.

The subsidy would be funded from high taxes on unhealthy food and drinks. Then if anyone eats crap regularly, they are covering the additional cost burden on the NHS.

No government so far has the balls to resist the food industry lobbyists though, so it probably won’t happen.

Edited

Absolutely.

When I was a child, chocolates and sweets were expensive in comparison to what you could afford (a 50p mix or a chocolate bar and can of pop). They were treats you bought with your pocket money on a Saturday.

Nowadays a trolley full of crap for the oven is an easy choice, kids get sweets most days so no wonder they grow up thinking junk food and sweets is the only option

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