to not understand the fuss about FruitShoots

[chaostrulyreindeers]

I would always rather my DCs had water or fruit juice.

i do let them have squash (well-diluted). surely Fruit shoot is just squash.

Why does everyone on MN treat it like the plague. Please tell me so I can make some parenting decisions.

My DS has had them occasionally but not for ages - when I found out about the aspartame (?spelling?).

We now give full sugar high juice, teeny weeny amount per pint of water. As I discovered all the other no added sugar had the nasty artificial sugars etc in them as well (I am obviously a little slow on the up take ).

I don't think YABU actually. I also think people make too much fuss about what their children eat.

Provided a child has a generally healthy, balanced diet, the odd fruit shoot, or even packet of crisps or sweets won't hurt them.

I have to laugh at my friend who won't let her childrne have a fruit shoot with their happy meal at Mcdonalds, but wil let them have a milkshake (usually the bright pink Strawverry flavour) or icecream there, I dread to think how much sugar/additives are in those... must be at least as bad a fruit shoot...

My boys have orange juice with a Happy Meal. Damage limitation

But surely a fruit shoot is one of your five a day to go along with another five a day veg/fruit - chips ?

my children count a Kellogg's Winder as one of their five-a-day

Does Juicy Fruit chewing gum count?

My mil keeps a stock of fruit shoots for the grandchildren and forces it inot their hands from the momnent we walk throught the door! She also has an enless supply of skips and onion rings and always cooks them chicken nuggets and chips even though I tell her they will eat what we are eating!!

They are really healthy girls who eat plenty of good stuff at home so I try to turn a blind eye to the odd time we are at pils!

I think it is a generational thing. They never thought about e-numbers and sugar content when their children were small so do not think to now.

Argggh sorry about the typos, pressed post instead of preview!

They make DD1 go loopy (hyper etc) - she is 6 and has one occasionally if we're out at a party or cafe. DD2 (2.9) has yet to encounter them!

I'm reading all these posts with great interest thanks and will stick to my policy of eating heathily at home so I don't have to be too cautious when out.

But am now debating batchelor's Savoury Rice with their supper.

Hangs head in MN shame.

I'm hoping that you all must have some awful things you give them in times of desperation (am soso behind with my Christmas chores and trying to ubermulti-task. Boohoo).

Please help me feel less awful by telling me that you all ignore the food labels occasionally. Please.

My daughter cannot tolerate aspartamine etc. It makes her moody and also makes her wet the bed so we avoid the hideous, chemical filled things. I only give her fresh juice or water. I am not a food nazi but do not think kids need chemicals in food or drinks if can be avoided.

I give mine packet noodles occasionally when we have to eat and run. They love them.

Did you know the ones with green caps contain sugar and the ones with blue caps contain aspartamane?
Still nastily strong and unnecessary whatever they contain IMO though!

Sorry to 'threadjack' but is flavoured water any good? DD drinks baby juice diluted, but a friend of mine swears by perfectly clear for her DS.

Or am I being just stupid and ignorant, and probably should get my coat..

Don't they add sweetener to flavoured water?

Chaos - errrm, afraid not. . Boiling up some basmati rice takes 10 mins, 4 mins for some frozen veg, jobs a good un.

But let DS grow up a little, throw a few more into the mix (so I lose the inevitable PFB syndrome I still have) and I am sure I will ignore the labels.

From Perfectly Clear review:

"The main ingredient is spring water but it also contains citric acid, sweeteners, flavours and preservatives.
As with most drinks it "contains a source of phenylalanine" which I have now found out is an amino acid and when you have too much of it, it excites the neutrons in your brain to the point of cellular death.
The phenylalanine is contained in the sweetener so don't drink vat-loads or you'll lose brain cells, not good!"

I don't really understand juices aimed at babies either, and seems a waste of money too.. If I really wanted to perk up their water I'd just add a splash of juice from the fridge. It's still all my son aged three mostly drinks. Or sometimes a carton of pressed apple juice if we're out.

My 9 month old baby drinks water or milk. Although might start adding a splash of apple juice to her water when she's eating meat..

Well, I am very relaxed about my dc diet, they have good food at home but I let them try all sorts. With the exception of aspartame, re-heated rice and Mr Whippy icecreams.

I have very few food rules so I feel no guilt or qualms about imposing them.

Actually must confess to treating older one to a Mr Whippy here and there in the summer, but only becase I like them too!

Its the food poisoning I object to there Lotster, not the chemicals .

They've gone downhill anyway now, taste quite fake, not creamy like they used to..

Ah well, we're not missing anything then .

My Dad was hospitalised for 2 days after eating one of those. Go for the strawberry mivvi instead .

I work in paediatric dentistry and regularly see children under 3 having all their baby teeth extracted under general anaesthetic. Generally it's due to a diet of drinks containing sugar, especially when they are given it in a bottle.

With DD I figured if she had only milk and water she would only have a taste for milk and water. She was never given any juice.
People told me she would crave sugary drinks!
At home and at nursery DD still refuses all sugary drinks including fruit juice of any kind!