Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Food/recipes

For related content, visit our food content hub.

Original poster

Wotsits/Quavers at nursery for under ones?

158 replies

JeniN · 21/06/2004 21:15

Dd's new nursery have crisps on the menu for one of their snacks once a week, I think the older kids usually get tortilla chips, and they give the babies wotsits or quavers.

OK, once a week isn't a very big deal, but I really can't see the logic in giving babies (she's 9 months) a high salt snack when general advice is to aim for a low salt diet. Is this a normal thing at nurseries? Should it be so?

BTW we've chosen to take alternative snacks in for her on that day - she hasn't had crisps yet and I don't see why she needs to start just yet. Genuinely interested in other people's views, whatever they are, on this.

OP posts:
Ixel · 22/06/2004 12:23

Sorry to butt in, but I just thought I'd mention that the mothers and toddlers near my Mum is having a Macdonalds day. The kids all put their orders in, someone is going to fetch it, and they sit and eat it in the hall.

codswallop · 22/06/2004 12:23

ho ho
very funny

CountessDracula · 22/06/2004 12:26

snigger at that cod!

Walkers make organic shake and salt crisps with little blue bags that you don't have to put in for the kids.

CountessDracula · 22/06/2004 12:26

Ixel that is a joke right?

dinosaur · 22/06/2004 12:28

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Toothache · 22/06/2004 12:30

My DS went on a Nursery trip a couple of weeks ago. It was for the 2-5 yr olds. They went to a soft play area, then to MacDonalds, then to the local park to run off the burgers. So what?

I do see the problems with under 1's being given wotsits.... but that's about it!

Blu · 22/06/2004 12:30

But Cod on the Mount: the whole point is that nurseries and the like do it all 'text book' so that we can feel all virtuous for ordering someone else to do it properley, and then do what ever it takes to keep them quite at home. get some perspective, please!

motherinferior · 22/06/2004 12:31

MI and Coddy in agreement shock horror

Ixel · 22/06/2004 12:32

Wish it was a joke. Thought it was bad enough when they started selling those little MacDonalds kitchens and ice cream makers etc...

CountessDracula · 22/06/2004 12:32

well I think you'd be better off with a tin of pedigree chum than that muck but hey ho.

Just find it hard to believe that nurseries and schools have outings to McDs. Shouldn't they be encouraging healthy eating not condoning crap junk food? Not that I have a school age child so what do I know?

Toothache · 22/06/2004 12:41

I'm sure one trip a YEAR CountessDracula doesn't really warrant 'encouraging' junk food! Every other day they are given healthy snacks and the food the parents provide. Let's put it into perspective, the Nursery encourage healthy eating.... and had a trip to MacDonalds as part of the annual trip out.

This is actually starting piss me off a bit... hormones.... best leave this be now.

Blu · 22/06/2004 12:48

Pisses me off too - that McDonalds OFFER free trips to nurseries and reception classes as a way of establishing custom. That's why they go on thses trips.

dinosaur · 22/06/2004 12:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

muddaofsuburbia · 22/06/2004 12:53

Of course things start to slide as children get older. Their bodies change as they grow up and their innards are better able to handle crap. The argument here is that under ones can't and therefore shouldn't be given junk food.

When kids are old enough to spend their pocket money on rubbish then so be it, but IMO while I have a say so over what goes on their plates, then I'm in charge and the crap will be kept to a minimum.

WideWebWitch · 22/06/2004 12:54

Hey Coddy, I'm on my second and she still won't get fed crap food as a rule. Yes, she'll have sweets sometimes and chocolate sometimes and crisps sometimes but she won't, whether she went to childcare or not, be given crisps once a week as a matter of course. Wanting your children to generally eat healthily doesn't make you neurotic. I started off with good intentions, my son is now nearly 7 and no, they haven't gone down the pan: he eats healthy food on the whole. I'm not going to get upset about the odd bit of junk food or crap at parties but neither am I going to start feeding him crap just because he's got older and I can't be bothered. A lot of healthy food is easier to cook than junk anyway imo. I quite agree CountessD, why should nurseries have outings to McDonalds? Especially since most of them have healthy eating policies.

muddaofsuburbia · 22/06/2004 12:55

And if McDonalds is ok, then why have they had to finally bow to governmental pressure and change the contents of chicken mccruddets? Remember the ads? "oooh look mum reduced salt and now made with chicken breast!" Whaton earth were they made with before then?!

dinosaur · 22/06/2004 12:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

WideWebWitch · 22/06/2004 12:58

Gosh, do they Blu? That's awful, talk about encouraging brand loyalty early on. Although McDonalds are starting to sell healthier food as a result of the changing market. Anyone seen Supersize me? I want to, think it'll be interesting.

Bagpuss30 · 22/06/2004 13:02

I agree that it isn't right for the nursery to be giving these type of snacks to under ones but see no harm in the odd packet of quavers for toddlers/pre-schoolers. My two eat them (if they can get to them before their dad eats the lot that is) but usually share a packet. They don't really fill a child up or provide energy in the same way as other snacks do so why does the nursery wish to give them? I also agree with Coddy, however, as standards in this house have dropped since having a second child . Reading this thread has made me realise that I have stopped buying things like breadsticks which my two love. Best not comment on McD's though as we occasinally have those too .

Piffleoffagus · 22/06/2004 13:03

I'm fairly militant about food, McDonalds is something other people take my son too, DD ain't been there yet and I do not intend on it. This is more a anti globalisation stance, more than a food one. In moderation it is ok as a treat, although prefer to reward my kids in other ways myself.
I was brought up this way, so it's all I know...

codswallop · 22/06/2004 13:04

blu - you are right - nurserys should do it properly.

Www yes I too monitor wha the kids get - you are right, but as everyone agrees outside of nursery, crap wont hurt them as long as they realsie it is not for breakfast lunch and tea _ as I remind the dsses

Like the mount bit btw!

But hte thread was getting a bit holier than thou !

CountessDracula · 22/06/2004 13:05

We were never taken to fast food places when growing up and guess what? I don't eat fast food!

Surely it's common sense. If kids see their teachers and parents eating and condoning junk food they won't know any better.

If dd wants to go she can go with someone else. I don't do McDs

codswallop · 22/06/2004 13:07

ah yes cd but you smoke!

codswallop · 22/06/2004 13:08

were you taken to a kipper smoking place as a child?

Bagpuss30 · 22/06/2004 13:08

Off topic but read an article on the Supersize Me thing the other week. His health really started to suffer as a result of his experiment which I think proves the point. MOS and dino, my dh said the exact same thing, needless to say we have not been there recently .