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Original poster

Did anyone see the OFM article - "running on empty carbs"?

62 replies

ShyTalk · 22/03/2009 22:27

It does reinforce everything that I have always thought about child nutrition. (And adult nutrition, FWIW). But, it is just one opinion. Let's throw some other views into the mix?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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janeite · 22/03/2009 22:29

I read it. It just made me wonder what the point was when it was alongside recipes using white rice and lots of chocolate (all of which looked lovely!).

Original poster
ShyTalk · 22/03/2009 22:31

Yes, they didn't help with the general message. did they?

OP posts:
sheilatakeabow · 22/03/2009 22:38

I read it, and it seemed pretty unrealistic. If I only offered DS steamed veg and brown rice, he;d starve, and I couldn't blame him. However, it was a bit of stating the obvious too - Coco Pops are full of sugar - who knew? It's the same as everything isn't it - moderation, and this just seemed like another guilt trip, esp after that dummy mummy piece the other week.

janeite · 22/03/2009 22:39

Fab name!

sheilatakeabow · 22/03/2009 22:41

Me? Why thank you!

janeite · 22/03/2009 22:43

Yes you!

I did agree with the bit about many parents refusing to accept when children's weight is a real concern though. I used to have a friend whose 9 year old dd couldn't fit into my size 12 lothes and friend used to think the girl was just 'big boned' - that is a worry.

janeite · 22/03/2009 22:43

Clothes - I do not, as far as I know, own any lothes.

cornsilk · 22/03/2009 22:44

Can you link to the article?

sheilatakeabow · 22/03/2009 22:53

I have no idea how do such a thing, sorry.

Twinklemegan · 22/03/2009 22:54

Sorry to be dim - what's the OFM?

Original poster
ShyTalk · 22/03/2009 22:54

Here is link:
www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/22/obesity-children-eating-habits

OP posts:
janeite · 22/03/2009 22:55

here

Tinker · 22/03/2009 22:56

Running on empty carbs here

Tinker · 22/03/2009 22:56

at all the x posts

Original poster
ShyTalk · 22/03/2009 22:59

Twinklemegan, you're not dim, it just the Observer Food Magazine

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Pawslikepaddington · 22/03/2009 23:02

Actually, there aren't any large children in dd's playground either-a couple of v v thin ones but don't know any overweight ones at all (hides the three batches of white choc chunk biscuits, four batches of crispy buns and one batch of buns I've just made-they are in lock-tites-they will keep for weeks and it is bun day in school on Friday!). If we're broke we live off weetabix-a KFC/burger king etc is at least £6 for both of us-way too much £!!

Original poster
ShyTalk · 22/03/2009 23:03

janeite - I personally own loads of lothes, except they are spelled "loathes", ie horrid garments.

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Twinklemegan · 22/03/2009 23:05

Lol - I realised as soon as the link went to the Guardian website.

But honestly, has the author of the article ever tried feeding a toddler? Some days I'm grateful he eats anything at all. He has far too much cereal IMO, but at least it has vitamins in it and it's not crisps or sweets (neither of which are kept in the house). And what happened to advice to not give young children too much wholegrain?

How you wean your child has sod all to do with IMO. DS loved pureed vegetables. He used to like eating broccoli in his fingers. No more.

FAQinglovely · 22/03/2009 23:08

I'm sorry I failed to be able to take any of the article seriously after I read

"weaned on Happy Meals" PMSL

sheilatakeabow · 22/03/2009 23:09

IMVHO, it's the same as everything in recent years, there's just so much conflicting advice. Just a few pages later, in Andrew Flintoff's diary, they were saying how good eggs are for you, yet, no so long ago, food of the devil. And why pick on that Jamie Oliver pasta sauce? Why use the worst as an example?

cornsilk · 22/03/2009 23:10

Thanks for the link. I want to wake my ds's up and force feed them carrots after reading that.

Original poster
ShyTalk · 22/03/2009 23:12

I do a bit of helping out in Reception. One day, approaching lunchtime, the only erm, large child in the class asked if it was nearly lunchtime. Yes, it is nearly lunch. "I have been saving some breakfast in my cheek - if it's nearly lunch, had I better eat it now?"
Eeuw. The imagination kicks in - none of us want to ask, but we all wonder what on earth it was that he was saving in there? Any (probably hideous) ideas?

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Pawslikepaddington · 22/03/2009 23:12

It's just scare-mongering. My grandma used to give me three bowls of ice cream for pudding and doled out sweets like they were going out of fashion. At home we used to have fish and chips on a Thursday, sausage, chips and beans on a Monday, cheese on toast on a Tuesday, lasagne and a roast at the weekends-all white pasta/white bread. Penguin biscuits all over the place, and crisps, and we were skinny little whippets because we exercised! (Bet I die of a heart attack next week now!!)

Dd won't eat potato, rice or pasta, so I'm just so glad when she will eat a "complete" meal (i.e. meat and two veg, a ham sandwich with salad, whatever) that I don't give a monkey's if it is white bread!

FAQinglovely · 22/03/2009 23:14

Shy - Bacon - that sits nicely in the mouth

AitchTwoOh · 22/03/2009 23:17

hmmm. i'd read it and mentally vowed to go over to wholemeal pasta. and then i told dh and he said 'oh ffs not again'. it's hard when you've got everyone to feed...