To what extent do you worry about fat intake for a toddler?

[Pruneau]

eg Do you buy low-fat yogurt for them?
Semi-skimmed milk?
Do you worry about cholesterol intake?
Limit butter, that sort of thing?

[NannyL]

dont forget also that full fat milk is in itself a low fat product

with only 4% (ie

[nooka]

I only just moved from full fat milk myself! My mother encouraged us to drink lots of milk as kids, and it was always full fat (on holiday we had it straight from the local farm, so especially high in fat) none of us have any weight problems, but then we never ate any refined foods, and that's where the nastiest fats (hydrogenated etc) come from. I think the low fat thing is a bit of a con really, and go for the fewest ingredients on a packet as my general rule of thumb. I'd rather have butter rarely than spreads ever, for example.

[FrannyQuiMangeLaQuinoa]

I pour olive oil onto ds's meals Pruni, and stir in ground almonds and cashew butter, because some of our food is probably a bit low fat otherwise. They really need the calories.

[elliott]

Ermmm, my two are 2 and 4 and both have semi skimmed milk now (but full fat yoghurts). I read that if they are eating a good varied diet, you can switch at age 2, and that they SHOULD switch to semi skimmed at age 5ish.
On the whole I don't worry much about their fat intake, but since we eat much the same as them, I do try to keep it reasonably unlardy!

[LIZS]

Never considered it - have skinny 8 yr old and 4 1/2 yr old who both have full fat milk , cheese etc However they have lower fat stuff if that is what is left in the fridge, but not consciously bought for them iyswim.

[expatinscotland]

OMG, our Sainsbury's now carries Mori-nu tofu. HEAVEN! I'm in heaven. If Silk brand soya milk shows up I'm going to have an orgasm in the shop.

[Bedshaped]

I give my 3yo semi skimmed milk, but full fat cheese, yoghurts and butter. No spreads made with lord know what in them. they eat well, a balanced diet, plus are active so I don't worry about cholesterol etc. I also give them fish oils as they will only eat white fish and turn their noses up at salmon and trout. Might try mackerel again in the summer with salad.

[Pruneau]

fish oils (the Japanese)
calcium from tofu etc

[FrannyQuiMangeLaQuinoa]

Nuts, beans, seeds, oils, avocado, coconut - there are plenty of ways to get healthy fats in your diet. Plus breastmilk as mentioned earlier.

[bluejelly]

Totally agree with the principle of giving toddlers full-fat products, but what about societies where milk is pretty rare (Japan, Korea etc)... where do they get all their full quota of fat from?

[expatinscotland]

Boak. I don't even like to eat packaged salad dressing. Yuk. It's so easy to make yourself - just dissolve some salt in vinegar and add mustard and olive oil. Easy peasy.

[Pruneau]

FZ I am the same
Cannot do messed around with food
BUT do crave certain Items
so eat them
I'm not pure.

[Socci]

Not at all. Apparently you should only give full fat milk to the age of at least 2 and you should not give skimmed milk to a child under 5. Toddlers need lots of calories - I wouldn't even think about limiting my children's fat intake (they are 4 and 2).

[Yafta]

They need the vitamin D to absorb calcium from milk. Otherwise it's pointless.

[expatinscotland]

Exactly! That fake food stuff tastes rank.

Everything in moderation.

[expatinscotland]

Oh, it's so attactive, too, my Lactaline. DD1 comes in and cries, 'Boobies!' Thanks for teaching her that, DH!

[FrannyQuiMangeLaQuinoa]

[FrannyQuiMangeLaQuinoa]

I am a weirdy food freak and I eat full fat stuff. It's buggered around with food you want to avoid, nothing else.

[expatinscotland]

Franny, I pump EBM using a dual pump b/c it gives fuller fat milk, for some reason. At least, that's what the NCT counsellors told me.

[Pruneau]

Rachel's farm (full-fat) dessert yogurts
god they're good

[Pruneau]

FZ I guess I could try to relactate?
Right back on the full-fat for us
So glad you're all here

[Pruneau]

Nope, she is underweight but seriously smug and control-freaky about food
She eats like a horse but omg fat will kill

[jane313]

ths food standards agency says semi skimmed is fine after 2 if they are eating a fairly good diet as it does contain all the vitamins needed juts less fat. I wouldn't buy low fat yoghurts (And some other low fat products) though as they are often stuffed full of sugar. I give my 2 year old semi as he eats tons of cheese and would eat butter like cheese if I let him (have found him dipping his fingers in saying "delicious").

[FrannyQuiMangeLaQuinoa]

They need saturated fat Pruni, breastmilk is full of it. I expect Dr Gillian implanted the fear when she took over your brain for a while earlier.

[expatinscotland]

Is your friend overweight, Pruneau? B/c just about every American I know who has a fear of fat is . . . fat.

I have a pal who was like, 'You're giving whole milk to your daughter?' Um, yeah, she's TWO, ffs, and thin as a rake.