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AnnMumsnet · 09/12/2013 11:32

We've been asked by the team at Organix to find out your views on food at Christmas.

Are you the sort of parent who allows your children to have more foodie treats at Christmas-time or do you attempt to spread out/avoid the scoffing of selection boxes? What about offering healthy alternatives? Any tips you can share on managing this? What sort of foods have you found work well as healthy alternatives?

If you have a child aged 3 or under, how (if at all) would you adapt your Christmas dinner for them? Do you have any general food tips for Christmas with a little one?

What's your favourite memory of your DCs first Christmas meal?

Everyone who adds a comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £50 Love2Shop voucher.

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MNHQ

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kateandme · 13/12/2013 20:49

i think you have to know your child and the situation surrounding them and food.some can stop some will eat choc till their sick and i like to think the parents can teach them how to manage this time of year.
treats are a must.its chrismtas.they dont do this all year round so let them go have some choc filled fun.
dont adapt meals its only start presedint for everything.its a larger version of a roast dinner at the end of the ay what could be better!!
we would only cut it smaller or more managble for the,.they love it anyways.

AlyssInAManger · 13/12/2013 22:46

DS will be 23 months this Christmas and he will have a normal dinner like everyone else. He will probably have the veggie pie instead of the turkey because he doesn't really like meat though.
He will have a bit more chocolate than usual, but not much more because he isn't too keen on it, he prefers crisps and biscuits.

shoom · 13/12/2013 22:52

Under 3yo gets everything in a traditional Christmas dinner, but avoiding chipolata sausages with bacon (due to nitrates and salt.) No extra treats, sane reason as every other day, I don't like the effect that refined sugar has on him.

Letitsnow9 · 13/12/2013 22:54

No child under three but Christmas is the one time of year to forget sugar worries and enjoy what ever is your 'treat'

shoom · 13/12/2013 22:54

Just to add, I avoid treating foods as treats or punishments because it sets children up as emotional eaters.

ILoveAFullFridge · 14/12/2013 07:27

Mostly we don't do anything differently. We don't adapt the food, except that if there's something we know someone doesn't like (eg Cmas pudding) we provide an equally festive alternative. There are more treats, but they are eaten in the same way as usual: mostly as puddings.

BlackeyedShepherdswatchsheep · 14/12/2013 11:13

given that we still have easter eggs and they have not finished the gold coins from 2 years ago and there is still chocolate in last years advent calendar...

however, he does get one jellybaby for sleeping in his room. it is followed by a crumpet or toast or hotcross bun and banana as a snack after school.

chocolate, jelly babies and computer time are his currency. (which is why chocolate is a rare treat)

CrewElla · 14/12/2013 22:14

I don't like the way this is worded, are you the sort of parent who... It comes across as judgmental.

We do allow our son occasional treats. He's very good at eating his fruit, dairy, and grains/carbs and will often choose the fruit over a biscuit. We're not concerned about healthy alternatives as he eats quite well.

Christmas dinner will be same for him, under 3, as for the rest of the family. He'll be able to eat what he likes.

HappySunflower · 16/12/2013 00:10

My daughter is a good eater so usually eats everything that is served up on Christmas Day.
I do allow more treats, but stick to the you need to eat x more spoonfuls before you can have pudding rule that we have every other day of the year!!

Kefybaby · 16/12/2013 03:31

Christmas is about sharing the same meal (minus the salt for DDs) and having treats we do not have on a daily basis. A few biscuits and chocolates will be fine for us on this particular day (although I would try and limit any sweets given as presents as they offer nothing nutritionally). I look forward DD2's first Christmas and I have fond memories of DD1's first Christmas, all dressed in a little Santa costume and tucking into her roast.

DinoSnores · 16/12/2013 13:46

I have two children in that bracket. I've done BLW from the start so other than not cooking with salt, I don't change much. Roast potatoes don't work quite so well without salt on them, but I can add some at the table.

In terms of general food tips, I think not being too worried about food over Christmas is important. It is all a bit exciting for them, food is at all the 'wrong' times, but don't fret too much about what is being eaten or not eaten. It is one day and it will all be fine!

tinypumpkin · 16/12/2013 19:04

Another one not adapting the dinner for my LO aged under three years. She will eat the same as the rest of us.

I do struggle with the treats this time of year. Not so much on the day (not bothered about one day) but throughout Dec. I keep telling myself it evens out over the year. Choc/biscuits/cakes are just everywhere.

I can't say about memories. Christmas is always tricky as it is a family time and we don't have DD1 with us. I am feeling better in terms of engaging with it this year but it is always so bittersweet.

NettleTea · 16/12/2013 19:57

As many have said the food would be the same, just chopped or mashed for ease the smaller they get.
I like that now we have kids we can adapt Christmas to suit ourselves and have a great excuse to stay in PJs, open presents messily and noisily in the morning, and have roast beef instead of turkey!!!

loubielou31 · 16/12/2013 23:53

The children eat more treats on Christmas day, there's no point trying to completely stop them. If I think they've really had too much then the sweets and chocolate just get put away for a while. Out of sight is out of mind, they (and I ) definitely eat less rubbish if it's not right there in front of them. having tasty fruit especially tangerines around does mean your more inclined to snack on that than on Mince pies.

Christmas dinner is suitable for the whole family. When DDs were very small it was just the meat and veg puree'd up.

My favourite memory is them both wearing the Christmas bib. It's a sleeved bib that looks like a santa suit. Because it's only been worn a couple of times by each child they could both wear it when they were babies. Very cute. I love the photo's of their first Christmas Dinners.

Workberk · 17/12/2013 07:54

DS will be 1 by Christmas Day - I'm so excited about seeing him at the table eating Christmas dinner! I will ask if no salt can be added to veg but that's it. We don't eat turkey so he'll just have the veg.

I'll let him try some Christmas pud but I don't think he'll like it... I might give him his first taste of chocolate though.

LonelyShepherd · 18/12/2013 09:43

DC are 2 and 1, so probably not too many selection boxes around - will make sure there are some healthy snacks in for them to nibble while I devour chocolate! They are allowed a bit of chocolate - and they love satsumas!

We won't give them gravy, but otherwise, they'll get the same Christmas dinner as us. DS will eat it with his fingers...

Loved seeing DD at the table with everyone, and excited that this year DS will be able to join us too.

asuwere · 18/12/2013 16:31

We have never adapted any meals for our DC. Generally christmas dinner is just a normal sunday roast so they're used to it anyway.

I do find that there are a lot of extra treats available at christmas but that's usually just because the DC see more family at this time of year and so many of them think that the only possible thing they can give a child is chocolate. I do try to make sure they're not having too much but generally, the older DC know their limits anyway. (DD2 (1) however needs more watching as she would eat anything and everything!)

MrsRedWhite214 · 19/12/2013 10:21

This year is our first Xmas with our baby. We won't be adapting our meal. Just mashing it up for him to enjoy too. I can imagine in the future we will let him have more treats at Christmas to help make it feel special. We don't get much chance to indulge the rest of the year so he will need something to look forward to!

Fairylea · 19/12/2013 10:29

Ds is 18 months so he will just be having Christmas dinner like everyone else, minus the salt of course.

I will be giving him a few treats and he has a tiny milkybar egg thing from santa, mainly because his older sister will be getting one and will be confused if ds doesn't! But I do try to offer healthy snacks over Christmas too.

AnnMumsnet · 20/12/2013 11:05

Thanks for all the comments: am pleased to say WowOoo wins the £50 Love2Shop voucher. Well done!

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