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Original poster

WTF is all this shite food being given to kids? It's everywhere!

53 replies

dinny · 02/07/2006 22:48

I know this has been done in many ways here but I was talking to my mil today about how much crap kids are given ALL THE TIME. It's so sad - am thinking Fruit Shoots as dd managed to get hold of one today at bbq party and was a wreck for the rest of the day. Coincidence? I think not......
But I seriously think some legislation needs to be put in place - these additive-ridden products should be banned.

OP posts:
misdee · 02/07/2006 23:06

chandra, thats why i give dd1 the cheaper colour free paracetamol suspension.

Original poster
dinny · 02/07/2006 23:08

Amber - my dd is 4 and starts school on full-time in Sept. She's at the nursery bit of her school and they are v strict about fruit snack and water in bottles only. They also have homemade (well, school-made) nice school lunch. As for when she's older and goes to places without me - I hope I will have taught her that healthy, simple, fresh food makes her feel happy and well and junk food makes her fel awful, so she'll choose an apple over a bag of Skittles.

OP posts:
misdee · 02/07/2006 23:09

dinny read about dd1 reaction to food colurings

Carmenere · 02/07/2006 23:09

Unless you child has allergies a little bit of processed sugary crap occasionally is ok. It's just when a child has a diet that consists of only processed sugary crap that he/she begins to miss out on essential nutrients and will find concentration/learning difficult and may intake more calories that he/she are using on a daily basis. Everything in moderation, even smugness

Chandra · 02/07/2006 23:10

Tartrazine or Carmoisine is used to give calpol its pink colour which I think is totally unnecessary. So, yes, sugar free version has it.

misdee · 02/07/2006 23:11

chandra i get the UniChem version. its colour-free.

NannyL · 02/07/2006 23:12

i AGREE that fruit shoots are horrible, taste REVOLTING and should be banned...

whats the point in them? there is always water (surely the best drink in this hot weather) fruit juice... or if you must have squah the organic ones are soooo yummy.... like home made.... NO crap in them at all and you can dilute them loads to make the bottle go a LONG way

I refuse to buy fruit shoots EVER... or any other 'kids junk'.... IMO food is food.... for ALL human beings to consume.... ok toddler may need theres chopping up a bit more but its all the same FOOD at the end of the day! even babies.... pureed REAL food is SO much nicer.... and not many babies weaned on "real" food then refuse 'adult' food.... cause its what theyve always had a known!

I only feed children food i would eat myself.... which does NOT include reconstituted crap, meat thats been 'messed with' in a factory, or things with the word "fruit" on them that actually means water.... chemicals.... sugar... aspartane.... other crap and 1% concentrated apple juice

Chandra · 02/07/2006 23:13

thanks Misdee, I will write the name down, I have been avoiding it where possible but I'm sure the Ibuprofen he is getting in exchange is not sin free either.

NotAnOtter · 02/07/2006 23:13

i loathe fruit shoots -socially acceptable mind altering crap

Original poster
dinny · 02/07/2006 23:14

Carmenere, I'm not one for no treats at all. thinking of the sort of things my kids have and they are: chocolate buttons, Mini-milk lolly, apple juice, Goodie crisps, Baby Bels.

I'm mainly talking about the brightly-coloured highly-flavoured pretend food.

good tip about Calpol - thanks.

OP posts:
Chandra · 02/07/2006 23:15

So no petit filous for your charges, NannyL?

sallystrawberry · 02/07/2006 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Carmenere · 02/07/2006 23:18

Dinny those treats are almost exactly the ones my dd has great minds lol

Original poster
dinny · 02/07/2006 23:20

Sally, dd is also 4 and totally fab about food, generally - a total fruitbat, thanks goodness. said party was at a dear friend's (who is one of the most wholesome-food-type person I know). But dd somehow procured Fruit Shoot there (have feeling friend's mil had brought them as a misguided treat). Will tell dd tomorrow that some drinks aren't nice to have.....

OP posts:
Carmenere · 02/07/2006 23:21

She also occasionally has sweets from The Natural Confectionary Company. They contain no artificial colourings or flavourings, lots of sugar though, but she only has one at a time. Have never seen them in the UK though and just bring them back from Ireland.

Original poster
dinny · 02/07/2006 23:22

Carmenere

Forgot to add the ubiquitous fig roll

OP posts:
Original poster
dinny · 02/07/2006 23:23

Carmenere - where in Ireland?

OP posts:
Carmenere · 02/07/2006 23:25

I got them in the airport last time. But I've bought them in Tesco over there before. Don't think they sell them here

Original poster
dinny · 02/07/2006 23:26

meant where are you from in Ireland (only ask cos went to Queen's in Belfast)

OP posts:
Carmenere · 02/07/2006 23:27

Oh right parents live in Wexford but I grew up between Wicklow and Dublin.

ginmummy · 02/07/2006 23:33

It is possible for kids to be perfectly healthy with a balanced diet including fresh fruit and veg (organic or not), complex carbohydrates, fresh fish etc with the occasional Fruit Shoot. My ds loves water, milk and fresh fruit smoothies and milkshakes, but he also likes blackcurrant cordial too. His teeth are cleaned well at night and he doesn't drink it to excess and it's so weak when I dilute it that it doesn't send him hyper at all, so I don't have a problem with it.

(I am a bad mother and will now be reported to the police and NSPCC for allowing ds to imbibe such a vile drink! Guess I should own up to not buying organic veg and fruit now before they slap the handcuffs on me.)

Chandra · 02/07/2006 23:44

I would be jumping on my feet if DS could have some of that "crap", that would mean I don't have to worry about allergic reactions all the time, its no longer about "healthyness" (he gets enough of that from home) but about "safety".

NannyL · 03/07/2006 10:33

Thats right.... no petit filoux for my charges...

we much prefer the yeo valley yogurts... (either the childrens ones or the full fat adult smoothie ones.... YUM) and any of Rachels yogurts.... either a big tub to share... or individual pots. yum yum yum!

when they are babies i do fresh fruit puree mixed with natural yogurt.... it tastes SOOO yummy!

NannyL · 03/07/2006 10:40

thought i would add that while we dont have petit filoux... my personal opinion is that they are not THAT bad (as some people think... they do conatin SOME rubbish but hey, not the end of thw world copmared to other junky stuff)...

just that the organic yogurts which contain yogurt fruit and sugar are just a bit better. and tastier.... and better for the cows who produce the milk etc, better for the environment etc etc

Am fortunate enough to work for families who can afford that.

Wouldnt frown upon a petit filoux yogurt in the same way that i would a fruit shoot!

lunarx · 03/07/2006 13:49

good thread read... banning food is a bit harsh, dont like it, dont buy it easy