Am I the only mum of 3 & 5 yr olds NOT to feed them a constant stream of cakes/ biscuits/ crisps between school and evening meal?

[FGM]

I offer a drink and a snack: one (kiddie) gingerbread man, some fruit or a couple of breadsticks once we get home from school. The journey home is literally 3 minutes walk. Then it's play etc for about an hour and a half until evening meal.

My friends dole out multiple sugary biscuits (custard cream anyone?) then moan that their kids don't eat their veg.

Left to their own devices my kids would love to eat loads of sugary snacks but it's my choice to say "no" and that "one is enough" knowing that dinner is on the way. And I cook lovely fresh food for their meals.

I've even had one mum try to give me a packet of choccy biscuits "in case my child felt left out" If I'd had my wits about me I might have offered to cook her kids a decent lasagne (from a treasured family recipe) to compensate for all the quorn crap that she tries to feed her anaemic looking kids!

I honestly feel judged by this woman as a bad mum for not providing endless munchies.

FWIW my kids are above average height and weight and full of beans. They also love eating out and trying new foods. it is a pleasure to cook for them and to take them out to eat. My philosophy wrt food is to enjoy good quality food and to respect the source of your food as well as respecting one's body and health.

Am I really so alone?
Anyone else say "no" to the sugar monsters for the sake of good health of their kids?

Well bully for you perfect mum

Fruit is offered as a snack in this house. Or carrot batons to dip in houmous.

HTH

OK I get the message.

Another I am a saint thread......... Pass the chocolate please

You have my support FGM. Giving your children biscuits, crisps, and general crap on a regular basis, is child abuse as far as I'm concerned. And normally supplied by overweight mothers who are using their kids as an excuse to pig out themselves !

Op

You are obviously a very good parent

Have a

I feel very far from being a good parent. I get a lot of stuff wrong. And I'm just trying to do the right thing some of the time.

I am shocked at some of the responses.

Either you honestly believe you ARE the only parent who does this, in which case, you should expect replies that are at odds with your post...or you don't actually think you are the only one, and are trying to get a bitchfest going...

A few years ago before the influx I think you would have got a more sympathetic response OP.

I learnt a lot from MN when dd1 was weaning re. healthy snacks and many people had the same view as you re. the overfeeding of junk, and the pressure to give biscuits etc. Certainly no one ever jumped down my throat when I posted asking for advice on how best to feed a hungry child without resorting to high sugary foods.

My children have good eating habits, I teach all things in moderation, and that is mainly down to the fantastic advice I received here. I learnt how not to pass on the bad eating habits I formed as a child.

It's threads like these that realise how far MN has changed.

FGM, i bet every negative response you've had, has come from a size 16 + !

Moonlight, the OP isn't asking for advice. She's gloating.

I sometimes give my kids chocolate or a biscuit after school. But they an apple each for break time. They get yoghurt after dinner. They eat sausage and chips once a week for tea. They also eat dhal, all fruit, some veg etc

I don't expect to be judged by another parent for giving my DC sweets and crisps when I judge it's appropriate. They are very active, they are correct weight.

I agree with you. I offer cheese and crackers on a Tuesday only (because that is the night that she goes to kids club after school, comes home and has 10 minutes before going out to swimming lessons) as we don't eat until nearly 7pm.
The other nights she might get a small something out of the fruit bowl or not depending on what is for dinner and what time we are going to have it.

I am not 16+

If I didn't feed my kids before dinner (3.20 to 6pm) they would feast on each other...
They have fruit, oatcakes, biscuits, cheese... But there is almost always a biscuit (Oreo anyone?)
And fuckme I am overweight, they are underweight! I give them the biscuits so I don't eat them

my DS (5) is really hungry when he comes out of school. He will have a banana, a cereal bar and an apple. He pesters for food when we get home but I send him off to play while I make dinner which he has 2.5 hrs after he finishes school. He eats it all (unless he doesn't like it!).

His friends seem to have snack of fruit or a crumpet or a little sandwich but I never see constant grazing.

So you are not unusual in my limited experience of 5 year olds!

(The problem with your OP was that it sounded very judgey and there was a whopper of a boast about what good eaters your kids are!)

FGM- no you aren't alone in being surprised at the availability of constant food.

However your OP comes across as being a bit judgy. Which is somewhat ironic as you said you felt judged.

Don't take it too much to heart, but look at your OP as though it was written by someone else and you might see why you are having the piss taken. In my opinion it does come across as a bit sanctimoneous. sorry

You go girl, deep down you know you are better than them.

FGM re-read your OP. You judge and you boast. Perhaps you could have worded it better?

My children eat for Britain. DS is nearly 6 and incredibly energetic, always on the go. To be honest, despite having a full hot dinner at school, he comes out and is absolutely starving.

Yesterday at the park at 3:30 he had two hot cross buns, when we got in he had a slice of malt loaf, then he ate two massive (adult portions) of couscous with broccoli, peas and chicken, then a yoghurt and a banana and was still asking for toast before bedtime.

He would take one look at your kiddie sizes gingerbread man and laugh in your face.

So yes - you can keep your treasured family lasagne recipe (honestly, how hard is it?) and your judgements to yourself. Because really, you know nothing about the children you see after school or what they eat for the rest of their diet.

Well done

I always give mine sack straight after school.

A ham sandwich, a donut, some fruit or a biscuit.

I don t make a big fuss about good food and bad food, just that a snack is nice and variation s good.

A donut is a treat here , but so is a mango.

It s all about NICE food, am not panicky about sugar, neither shoud you be OP....do what you think is right.

Thanks for the constructive criticism. I didn't mean to boast. I really do love food and I do get excited really about good food.

I get that I sounded a bit judgemental and I feel like I've had my fingers well and truly burnt.

SNack, not sack....goodness