"oh no I am never allowed chocolate it is ^really^ bad for you and rots your teeth and makes you fat"

[CrushWithEyeliner]

I am a TA and this was said to me by a 4 yo girl when discussing favorite foods and trying new things.

I really felt sad for her to have been indoctrinated so negatively about a food that in moderation can be really enjoyable. I honestly believe this attitude causes eating disorders and I don't understand why some parents feel the need to drum in things like this. Are they scared their children are going to get obese or what?

I don't like the fact that DTDs teacher has todl them that they should have juice instead of wa=ter.

I choose to give them juice as they do not like stale water in bottles.

I choose to give them water as they do not drink a large enough volume of water to prevent dehydration.

All very well teaching them that water is better than juice. But lets not make them embaressed about taking juice.

Chocolate is quite good for you isn't it? I think its got lots of magnesium in it or something.
I think that lots of people (esp women) have almost forgotton that they need food to survive as they have spent so long dieting.
When McDonalds brought out salads, they were slated because the dressing made them higher fat than burgers. People seemed to forget that they had other advantages such as fibre and folic acid from the 'leafy green veg' and that sometime you want to eat a salad and shouldn't obsess about every gram of fat you eat.

They will only drink water fresh from the tap.

They do have a water cooler thing at school which they use in addition to there bottled juice. But I as a parent have decided that it is not suitable for my children to rely upon water during the day as they just don't drink enough of it.

Last years teacher wasn't quite as forceful about this issue. I don't think it got mentioned in the same context.

The never and the really are a bit extreme but too much chocolate is bad for you and will make you fat.

We tell DS that while some foods are yummy, they are not great for us and that too much of them will make him feel unwell and he will not be able to run and play as much.

It's true.

there isn;t any such thing as fresh or stale water is there?

Chocolate is good for you! PMSL. All in favour of children not being make to feel awkward about eating a little choclate occasionally but please don;t pretend that its good for you, far healthier ways to get magnesium if you're short... Brazil nut or banana anyone?

I do think that the whole "healthy eatibg" thing in school needs a bit of a look at TBH. I think sometimes teachers/TAs are giving the same message to children as they would to adults re fats, carbs etc.

Ds2 was talking about being fat the other day - he isn't but something had been said at school about some foods making you fat.

OP's pupil is going to be one big obese rebel when she gets going isn't she?!

Water tastes horrid out of the soft plasic bottles that most schools insist on. I encourage DS to use the water fountain as much as possible, but many parents think it's unhiegenic.

I'm not trying to pretend that chocolate is better for you than other foods but its bad press isn't entirely deserved. It is a food whereas boiled sugar and artifical colours aren't and aspartame definatly isn't. I am just as happy to give my dcs my (homemade) hazelnut chocolate spread than butter and jam which is considered to be more 'virtuous' but probably is nutritionally more empty.
I am controlling with sweets in general and don't allow any artificial sweeteners or lollys that stick to your teeth. They only have cordial at parties and have fruit juice a few times a month but they have cocoa every day.

Crush: Are they scared their children are going to get obese or what?
Well, yes, that's what the government (with good reason) is constantly warning us against. We have to find the balance between obesity and anorexia, while avoiding carcinogens, chemicals, and all the rest of the over-marketed and unecessary additives.
I'm not sure it's a good idea for schools to teach children that chocolate is "yummy" (as in our Easter song), without also mentioning that sweet stuff will cause tooth decay if you don't brush properly, and explaining the other constituents of a balanced diet.
Though, they might be overdoing it at DS school with the balanced diet information. I gave him a pasta dish the other day, and he looked appalled, wailing "But Mummy, where's my PROTEIN?"

Ah - I ban some foods. Totally .
I have 'no fucking way' stuff. 'Not in my house' stuff.

I don't ban fats or sugars or carbs though. And my children eat a very broad range of foods including sweets and treats.
But I had to start reading labels in detail and realised what goes into some of the stuff on the shelves. I think it makes you draw a line .

I agree everything in moderation. Yes a bar of dairy milk in your packed lunch is perhaps a bit much but the look of horror on this tiny (may I add) little girls face when I asked if she likes Chocolate was just ridiculous. Someone had obviously told her it was awful awful food which is incorrect and a bloody good way to cause an eating disorder (guilt surrounding foods) in your child.

Hammertime, do you have a recipe for the homemade hazlenut spread? I have tried but mine always comes out quite gritty? I do buy a posh one that has less sugar, but it is still way too sweet for my taste buds.

but choccypig if they are worried about obesity, putting fear in children with regard to food is a great way to ensure that. You have to be pretty relaxed yet controlled and sensible when educating children about food.

RubyRubyRuby... I'm with you on not banning any food. But I don't consider most sweets (or lollies, or the majority of ice-cream) to be "food". I do feel chocolate is better thatn the stick-to-your-teeth stuff.

What are on your lists pagwatch?

theses are mine

No Fucking Way
Aspartame
Fizzy drinks (will move to Not In My House when they are older prob)

Not In My House
Non chocolate sweets (although I will let them buy sweets with their own money)
Crisps
Cordial 'juice' type drinks
General crappy quality foods like cheap ice cream made from water and gum. (because I don't want to eat it rather than because its inherently bad)

Re the OP, poor little blighter.

My own no fucking way would probably be

Human beings
Excreta
Road kill

mine are similar to yours hammertime but also include hydrogenated fats and high salt foods (generally snack foods)

juice, chocolate and crisps aren't banned as such but are limited to when we go out as a way of self moderating them.

PS like the idea about freezin the water in the bottle.

oh and I'd like to add MB's list to mine too.

Yep MB. I think that's more or less my list too.

I might add pate de foie gras and veal but as those things rarely appear on our table I don't need to bother