Well my "style" seems to be rare... or those of you like me are too shy to say it?

[velcrobott]

In the past few weeks I have posted on topics such as food, Mc Donald and TV....
Now Am I the only one who always cooks from fresh for her kids (because they enjoy the quality of the food and I like cooking), does not go to McD (they wouldn't like it as there is no way I am buying the "gift") and who thinks they have a far better time playing then watching tele.

I was quite surprised to read that several people (and I am sure thousands more) feel it's a treat to feed your kids occasional junk food... what has our society come to??? For those who have the desire, time and interest to not feed junk, allow much/any tele... is it normal that we are considered the odd ones out, the weird ones? It use to be like this (generations ago), it was the norm... now we're called all sorts of things but made to feel that we are too puritanical.

I am sure some of you are going to take this as a controversial thread, it isn't meant like that I want to know if anyone feels like this too.... I feel very lonely on Mumsnet with my more "puritanic" stance

You surely bring your children in the world, you can guide them, but you cannot dictate to them.
They will be their own people in their own right one day.
Let them be children a little, Healthy lifestyle is good, so is a little give and take.

agree bought cakes are full of mad rubbish.

velcrobott are you pupuce????

lol at Pizza Express being 'better' and 'healthier' than Pizza Hut - that is a bit of a middle-class angst giveaway

Americscot, I'm a big label reader and a lot of processed food contains this stuff. Hula, what could be quicker than beans on toast? A fish? A tray of roast veg? REALLY got to go now!

Hulababy, the more you cook from scratch the easier/quicker it is, as you get used to it. eg if we get home at 6 I will still make the kids a quick chicken risotto with peas, takes about 25 mins (the same time as cooking nuggets etc in the oven) or a homemade tomato sauce to have with a tin of tuna and pasta.

And I always put a pan of water on to boil the second I get in the house, even if I haven't decided what to make - it means by the time they've decided they want pasta you can chuck it straight in, or do some veg, great time saver.

Beans??? Yuk! I hate them. And I can't imagine DH being impressed with beans on toast for his main meal of the day!

I will knock togther quickie meals at times, and if I am organised I may well have done an extra portion of something at the weekend to freeze. But I can still see NOTHING wrong with the odd cheat.

Tray of roast veg takes a fair bit longer though!

omelettes also good with a bit of cold ham and some chopped up veg - give them cucumber tomatoes and carrots while they are waiting for the omelette to cook.

oh. we (dh and I) eat AGAIN later when the kids are in bed.

I almost never leave my blinking kitchen!

That is fine but don't any of you have that odd day where you just can't be bothered. As I said before I love cooking, and I do cook a fair bit. But I also admit to cheating too.

I also feel very fortunate as there is very little DD can't/won't eat. She loves all of her food - healthy and naughty - and is a very happy and healthy little girl.

yes of course, then its enid's nuggets or fish fingers or leftover roast dinner or something homemade out of the freezer or hummus, felafels and pitta bread.

I used to love omlettess.. could even manage to cook one.... then I saw Jackass

or I have a great big hurrumph and go and sit on the sofa with a coffee and let dh sort it out

Hulababy, I think that is a very healthy balance.. and very realistic considering that sometimes children need to be able to eat food that isn't cooked by mummy (or daddy!) We eat in a similar fashion (mainly homecooked usually from scratch, altho by DH and also some more convenience stuff). The kids prefer Dad's cooking (as do I) but I wouldn't want them to be such 'food snobs' that they would turn their nose up at all else! Bit embarassing when invited out to tea.. after all, kids so often say what they think!

lol at pizza express being healthy - agree that is so middle class PMSL

so where else do you perfect parents go for meals out with the children? or dont you?

im so sorry, this is all a bit ridiculous to me, home cooked food is not always healthy. veg sitting for days in a shop on a shelf is not healthier that freshly frozen veg, and what about how it is treated, even if it is organic

unless you live the Goode Life you DO NOT know where, when or what you are feeding your kids. does anyone here raise their own pigs, have their own fish farm or grow their own fruit and veg

Must go to work....
Enid - I think you'd fine I am Bree of Wisetria Lane

For me hula the only way is to nearly always cook double so that on my 3 days working there is something from the freezer to warm up. This is important at the moment because DD is 10 months and insistent on family meals (ie has a scan round the table to make sure she has got the same food as us) but I still need to be careful about salt levels in her food. It does require a bit of organisation but I generally manage it.

I agree with pruni - I know that my kids have a healthier diet and better fruit to sweets ratio than most of my friends but can't really say so without sounding unbearable. Also agree with www - homemade cakes much better treat than shop ones which I rarely buy. Was far more grateful to my MIL for the home made parkin she sent us than the 11 shop bought buns she bought DS. Why couldn't he share the parkin?

DS is 4 and doesn't know what McDs is? (Thinks its a farm....) Am I setting him up to be teased when he goes to school? I do sometimes think he seems quite naive despite going to nursery 3 days a week.

Enid - I prefer to have DD eat with us, as for us the evening meal is as much about talking as a family, without other distractiosn as the food itself. I don't want to resort to having to eat seperately at all. Besides both me and DH have work to do in the evenings, after DD is in bed - and we don''t like to stay up too late on work days.

Couldn't do like Enid and cook twice. Want my kitchen time to be over by the time the kids go to bed. Thats what works for me.

hulababy - evening mealtime in our house is the best part of the day too, everyone around the table chattering. the food is not the most important part either

all i care about is that dd gets a balanced diet, and i know 100% she does

I do grow my own fruit and veg

agree, love mealtimes and cooking again for dh and I when we chat in the kitchen, its lovely

The only part of this duscussion I find not so nice is the auumption that those who only feel healthy, home made food and no TV, etc to their children are somehow superior to those who admit to the odd junk food and TV watching.

We all want what is best for out children and our life styles. What is most important/suitable for one family is not going to be the same for another. Parenting is NOT a competition you know.

But Enid - I MUCH prefer to sit with DH and DD for our evening meal. It is great time. Same as when we go out for meals together too.

no I agree Hulababy. I think its all w**ky.

I need chocolate and wine