you shouldn't eat chocolates/crisps etc if you wont let your kids eat them??

[worldgonemad72]

Hi

I probably am bu but it really gets me annoyed when parents restrict their kids treats but will happily scoff a whole pack of biscuits or a chocolate bar themselves. We all try and eat healthily(sp) in our house but do have treats at the weekend. An aquaintance of mine doesn't let their children eat anything sweet wise, just has fruit etc which is great but then she told me that the other night her and oh ate a whole box of maltesers albiet after the kids had gone bed, i just find it so hypocritical. Think im in one of those grrr moods this morning lol
ps sorry about any spelling mistakes

YABU. I don't let J drink wine or watch 'older' films or stay up past 8pm, but I do!

YABU - mean if the parents eat them all in front of the children and don't let them have any, but if they eat them without the children knowing it's ok. Most adults know their limits of food, but children are likely to just eat and eat sweets, biscuits etc until they are sick because their impulse control is not as strong.

Although I seem incapable of leaving any biscuits in a packet now that I know my mum isn't there to insist I only have 3

YABU.

There is no way I want my children to eat the rubbish that I eat.

So do you not do anything your children aren't allowed to do?

YABU.

yes i can see your point, i try and lead by example when it comes to food though. I knew i probably was.

YABU adults make a lot of mistakes/ do a lot of things they would not want their children to do.

Yabvvvu

This is why I love my utility room.

YABVU.

But good for you, if the way you do things works for your family. Each to their own.

YAB generally U - it is hypocritical to sit in front of them eating these things while saying "you're not allowed to have any" but not a problem if you do it when they are out of sight, I think.

I do allow DS a small amount of "bad" food - on the principle that he won't view it as anything special, just part of the normal diet. We don't do treats (well, not food ones anyway)

I think wine and smoking are different because it is a well proved fact that these are more dangerous to children than to adults.

But is there any research that suggests that maltesers are more of a danger to children once they are past the baby stage? In fact, isn't it likely to be the other way round: it's adults who should be watching their cholesterol etc.

Glad someone said it because you see posts about evil inlaws giving kids unhealthy food (easter eggs etc) and how the parents confiscated them and ate them later (not too unhealthy then)

The attempts to save face by comparing it with wine won't work, but nice try.

I once saw a couple of very mc mums in Peckham MacDonald's

They each had a full on burger meal with pop, while handing their toddlers bottles of water and a box each containing dried apricots, rice cakes etc etc

and lol thumbwitch. did you really mean to say that it's only hypocritical if they can see you?

In fact, given medical research, I think it is the duty of my dcs to eat any chocolate that enters this house to save my cholesterol and waist line.

I will drink the wine.

I thought it was just me that thought it was hypocritical for a moment then lol. About smoking and drinking, i know the dangers kids dont so thats why i wouldn't let them do it, if they want to when they are older having looked at the information available then that would be up to them.

I wouldn't eat crap in front of J, not if I wouldn't let him eat it, but I think bringing up kids with healthy habits keeps them healthier later...shame my parents didn't do that for me so oh well

yes but I probably should have used a better/different word than hypocritical.
If you are going to tell your DC that it is unhealthy to eat chocolate and crisps but then eat them in front of them, that is both hypocritical AND mean.

It is still hypocritical to eat them yourself having told your DC that it is unhealthy to do so but it is a choice that an informed adult knowingly makes - they have to make the decision for children, obviously.

Ah well, that's my pedant credentials down the pan then...

When it comes to sweet things, I'm pretty confident that adults are much better at cleaning their teeth than young children. Almost all the cavities I have were acquired pre-teen.

I wouldn't do it in front of them.

There are lots of things I do that I wouldn't encourage children to do - shagging would be one of them.

YANBU

The evidence base is very strong that children copy their parents. In other words, they do as you do, not as you say.

If you want your children to grow up with healthy eating habits, you need to set an example and choose healthy good yourself.

I have always let DD eat similar stuff to me. There is nothing wrong with the odd chocolate cake - esp if the cocoa solids are high and its home made. And there's not much wrong with the odd packet of maltesers here and there, but if you are overwight yourself and stuffing your face with chocolate and crisps and Maccie Ds all the time, why on earth would you expect your kdis to make different choices once they are able to?

Just to add, I think the arguments that I don't let my children shag or smoke or drink wine either are just silly.

It is perfectly possible to teach your child that some things are reserved for adults - but although you may be able to put off when the child starts that behaviour, you are stil setting an example.

I have no problem with DD see Mummy drink the odd glass of wine, but then I have no problem with her drinking a glass of wine when she is an adult either. If however, I was drinking a bottle of voddie every day, I would think I was setting her a bad example.

Same goes for smoking - I wouldn't smoke in front of her. I don't want her to smoke even when she is an adult, and the evidence is very clear, that children whose parents smoke are more likely to be smoker themselves later on.

agree with WWC. This post isn't about x-rated films, sex or driving a car, which our children will be able to enjoy as adults.

My eating habits are pretty rubbish, but the only thing that restrains me is wanting to abide by the same rules I set for my kids. If it weren't for them I'd be munching chocolates ALL THE TIME!

Nope - I drink the occasional chocolate bar/piece of cake and glass of wine in front of them as part of a healthy diet.

But I'm greedy and chubby so when they're in bed dh and I eat more because we stay up later. DD's day of eating and drinking has ended but mine and dh's hasn't because we are up 4-5 hours later than her.