Change4life advise giving children two snacks a day of 100 cals each. What is everyone's thoughts?

[topsyandtimison]

It's just been on breakfast tv. They say children should only eat fruit salad or a plain rice cake as a snack. So 200 cals a day of snacks. This would be fab but my little one (age 4) would not want a plain rice cake as a snack. She likes a few crackers and cheese or homemade biscuits etc. Is that bad?

[BrownTurkey]

One size doesn’t fit all. Underweight or low weight children need 3 snacks a day, of considerably more than 100 calories, or they won’t grow properly or go through puberty (I work with underweight children who are often much shorter than peers, delayed in growing, and I feel so relieved when they start to gain a few cm when they gain weight, or for girls, they start their periods.) And teens have high calorie requirements too. Of course if you can eat a big enough portion at mealtime thats fine - didn’t families on lower incomes used to use bulk things like yorkshire puddings to fill up the family. I get a bit fed up about ‘health’ advice assuming everyone eats too much or is overweight. But the general message of reducing sugar I am fully on board with, just not calories.

I meet a lot of parents who are generally very anxious about feeding their children - of course there is room for some choice of diet, but if you start avoiding sugar, carbs, fats, meat, dairy, processed foods in a wholesale manner, there is not a lot left, especially for kids who have different tastes to adults.

[Sirzy]

Underweight children are very much in the minority though and if a child is underweight then really the family should be being supported to Find why and what help is needed.

For the vast majority of children snacks, especially calorific ones aren’t needed regularly throughout the day

[MsHomeSlice]

This isn't about underweight children, or anyone with specific issues, it is about the huge obesity crisis and imo the horrendous lack of basic nutritional knowledge in the general public

for example, people who don't know that fruit is sugar and are horrified that their children are having teeth removed (Woman on Breakfast TV a couple of years ago)

Constant snacking is just not required either, I actually don't think I can recall the last time I saw a child just sitting down waiting anywhere without a drink and/or raisins/crisps/rice cake/chocolate buttons ...it's as if parents imagine the child might actually waste away before their very eyes if they are not constantly refuelled.

A huge change in attitudes and knowledge is required and it has to start much much sooner, there is a vital need to get proper cooking back into schools and not class it as the poor relation to other subjects which is presumably why it was ditched all those years ago.

[Vitalogy]

I avoided the change 4 life campaign after they started sending me vouchers for Pepsi Max and similar, they're sponsored by them and the likes. Awful campaign, waste of money the whole thing.

[BeyondWW]

Change4life has existed for how long now?
And how much of a reduce in obesity has their been?

[BeyondWW]

*there

[Vitalogy]

Well it's had a stonking effect on the obesity rates of dodgily animated plasticine figures. Morph's now rocking a six pack

[BrownTurkey]

Yes but the children and families with underweight children are getting bombarded with this same incorrect (for them) message and are often highly sensitive to it. I don't disagree with the advice to reduce sugary snacks to a maximum of 2 X 100 cals, but the message is getting mixed up with cutting total snacks by calories, regardless of need.

[Lweji]

It depends on what they consider snacks.

I'd certainly want my young child to eat something mid morning if he got in school at 8-9 and had to wait until 12-13 for lunch.

The same in the middle of the afternoon, and more substancial, as we'd only have dinner by 8.

It doesn't mean eating every half hour.

But then, I don't like to overfeed children at the main meals. I prefer more substantial snacks than one rice cake. And a fruit salad is full of sugar, plus acids. The key for teeth care, is that it's not all the time, but more spaced.

[Lweji]

The problem with these guidelines is that those who already care can easily become confused or will adhere too strictly. Whereas those who never cared won't pay any attention anyway. And those who know how to make judgement calls and weigh in all information will continue to do so regardless.
So, basically useless.

[Lweji]

However, you end up having schools and pre-schools arguing with parents that their child should only have a rice cake as a mid morning snack instead of that cheese cube. Or something like that.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Hmm, my kids 100 cal snacks tended to be things like bananas, cheese or little kitkats. We're not a snacky family though: I'd give snacks if asked but I wouldn't offer.

I don't ever buy low fat, low sugar crap either. Butter, full fat yoghurt, proper crisps, we eat all that kind of stuff in moderation.

[PenelopeFlintstone]

Rice cakes are lovely if you add butter and Vegemite/Marmite or honey....

[PenelopeFlintstone]

Or maybe the flavoured ones: salt and vinegar, sour cream and chives.

[rightknockered]

I have banned all snacking in my house, unless any of my dc has been ill, when they can eat and drink when they feel able.
It has made a big difference, they now finish their actual meals, eat more veg and choose fruit over crisps. We did have a family discussion (cringe I know) about it first though, so they made the effort themselves. Snacking is unnecessary and largely just a habit

[ppeatfruit]

rightknockered Why cringe about a family discussion? It's the right thing to do, the whole family should be involved in changes to eating patterns

If we all were taught to eat when we are hungry and stop when we are full (so we don't eat so many, huge meals, with 3 courses etc. and stretch our stomach's capacity) there wouldn't need to be a 'stop snacking' campaign. If the snacks are nutritious then they're fine.

[Catsize]

The snacking thing has been one of my most perplexing areas of parenting. Never really given them to my children - now 6 and 3. Other parents went to everything armed with snacks and seemed to be permanently feeding their children.

I also cannot fathom why nurseries give children puddings, but that’s a whole other thread.

[ppeatfruit]

I can't fathom why anyone thinks that fruit is unhealthy and is just 'sugar' . Fresh organic fruit is fantastic for your health; it has fibre, minerals and vitamins in it. Especially eaten as a snack when you're hungry. That's better for your digestion than eating it as a dessert.

I've got fantastic teeth as has my dm (who is nearly 90) and we both eat fruit as a snack. I've lost 3 stone eating a fresh fruit\almond and linseed smoothie every day for breakfast.

[Lweji]

Other parents went to everything armed with snacks and seemed to be permanently feeding their children.

There's a middle ground. I always took some food, because the last thing I wanted was a tired hungry child. A small snack sometimes works wonders, particularly if there are delays. Feeding all the time, no.

Similarly, nursery mid morning/afternoon snacks don't have to be just fruit. Some protein, fat and more complex sugars, such as starch (that fruit doesn't really have), is fine for children. Fruit can be part of it, and should, but as part of a more varied meal or snack.
For example, cheese, bread and fruit.

[ppeatfruit]

I remember ex dil sitting next to our gd when she was 2 to 3 yrs old and literally forcing food into her , it was horrible. She thinks that dcs have to eat till they burst for some reason. GD is 11 now and still eats too much because that way she gets approval. Luckily atm she is very active but it could possibly lead to obesity problems.

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

That Change 4 life thing is almost frightening in it's complete misinformation; considering it's government funded. It's actually shocking.

[ppeatfruit]

lamagreyhound i've taken all the 'information' that the govt. give out with a huge grain of salt for many years.!

[ppeatfruit]

The only thing one say about it is that it may make SOME people stop and think about the crap they and their children eat all the time!