Why would you give your child unhealthy foods?

[RBBMummy]

At easter my son tried some unhealthy foods for the first time I don't like it but i thought he had come to a good age for his first taste. He didn't really care for it and much preferred the healthy treats. Now im struggling to see why i would offer unhealthy foods ever again. But i would hate to see him become an adult and make bad food choices because he hadnt had any exposure to bad foods. Why would you give your child unhealthy foods? Ive been overthinking this for days

A fruit leather is a homemade Fruit Winder. Very American.

My point was that we just see sugar as the sucrose that you can buy in bags

Who's we? It's fairly obvious from this thread that "we" don't.

This is comedy gold...

Fruit leather, dried fruit and an excess of fresh fruit is NOT heathy.

CuntingPlan my DC do the same. They stop eating the Easter eggs when they're full, until the next pudding.

Maybe everyone who thinks fruit leathers and fruit are healthier options should talk to thier dentist.
My friend was told to cut back on the fruit especially dried fruit as it was ruining her dds teeth and to give it in moderation along with other snacks like cubes of cheese and veg. She was adamant that fruit couldnt do anything like that as it was 'natural' sugar!

Actually upside I would consider a dried fruit snack and a custard cream the same. Both full of sugar, both not really filling.

I do let my dc have raisins but I don't buy any other dried fruit because I think it's terrible, not least because it's seen by so many as a healthy option. It's not. It's shocking for your teeth. I do let dc have biscuits but I think it's much clearer what you're giving with them. They're a treat, they know that, they enjoy it. They don't go around munching on dried apricots thinking that they're a food they can have loads of.

I prefer my raisins covered in chocolate.

Where is the thread about the vegan and old Macdonald please?

Thank you @chocolatewombat, I have always had an unhealthy relationship with food. I would say I was addicted to sugar and recently stopped, I have been stressing over my sons diet not wanting him to make the same mistakes as me and wanting him to be a healthy eater unlike me! Your post has reassured me to relax and have balance in our lives x

I'm dying to know what the DS's first taste of unhealthy food was but now OP has flounced, don't suppose I'll find out.

I'll bet it was a ....................babybel

OP it's because we don't have fruit leather in the UK.

Yes OP but fructose, the sugar in fruit, is a SUGAR. And in a fruit leather, it's concentrated.

OP it's because we don't have fruit leather in the UK

yeah you do.

Because every child I have ever met that was constantly given healthy and not allowed sweets ended up in eating loads of junk and very overweight as an adult. It’s actually been discussed in ds school by senior staff that some children are stealing sweets from other kids lunches as they are not allows any sweets or chocolates at all. I personally feel that’s a sign it’s gone to far when other kids are getting food taken from there lunch boxes by kids who are desperate for sweets but never allowed them.

Because its in my house, because they see me eating it?

Does anyone else have ads for Frutina and Yoyos at the bottom of their screen now?

"Where do you think sugar comes from?"

What do you mean?
Not from fruit.
It comes from sugar cane or sugar beet? Doesn't it?

@Oblomov18 there are lots of different ways in which sugars occur. You're not wrong! Or entirely right

Sunlight. Which gets converted into sugar by plants. It's called photosynthesis. OK, that's me used up all my knowledge on the subject! Thanks biology teacher!

I think it's about moderation and as long as the diet is mostly healthy I think it's fine but what are you cladding as unhealthy ? is it just chocolate/ sweets you are avoiding ? . Do you never have a treat op a cake, chocolate bar, ice cream ECT. Has he never been to a party before and been given pizza or a sausage roll or a cupcake ? or a toddler group and been given a digestive? It's up to you what you want to give him until he's older obviously and of he gets offered and party's ECT and doesn't like it then don't give it at home. I do think when he gets older he will want to try other things and get a taste for them but as long as you are happy to let him try and have some less healthy things sometimes I think he would be ok

The ol' 'children who are exposed won't gorge on junk later' is always trotted out here but treats were plentiful in our overall v healthy house growing up and I'm still massively addicted to sugary comfort foods. Wish it wasn't part of my norm.

Personally I don't call them treats or make a big deal at parties etc, and I agree they're nice and often join them if eating a cake we've baked etc but generally I dont provide bought treats at home and that helps. Ybh between parties and Christmas, Easter etc, they have more than their fair share.

You can get fruit leather in uk. Its vile😝

Fake healthy, I'm sure Jamie Oliver had a rant about this not that long ago. Fruit leather is classed as a sweetie in our house as it's processed.

Although I think I may be a bit late to the party and OP has flounced. 😂

This fruit leather business reminds me of a bunfight of yore, when it was pointed out that that most middle class of children’s meals, pasta with pesto, was basically the same in nutrition terms as a plate of oven chips and ketchup.