Food and Parenting

1246711

Replies

  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I mean to offend no one. I'm just saying I personally would not feed that stuff to my children even with a balanced diet. If they want a
    cookie I will make them from stratch instead of buying the ones that come in a box is all I am saying

    I love the declarations of non-parents about how they will parent. It's adorable.

    Yeah I had thoughts about how I would parent too, that turned out to be totally wrong.

    We do eat some packaged foods, and I have a kid with severe dietary limitations, (as a result of a sensory disorder) and he doesn't eat a whole lot of variety as a result.

    Lots of smooth peanut butter,store bought bread, fruit leathers and milk for that one. All processed foods.

    The only rules we have about food- we eat at the table for meals, your plate must have a plant (fruit, veggie or small glass of juice) a protien, and a "bread".( crackers,dinner roll,cereal,pancake,pasta,rice...)

    We don't have sugar soda in the house (I tell my kids it's bad for their teeth). We encourage them to drink water, or some milk as a "protien" with one of their meals or afternoon snack.

    I like the plant, protein, bread rule. My kids are pretty good in that they don't drink soda (or even juice really except for special occasions) and they eat a decent variety of things. However, they don't eat much of anything and my oldest is quite small (under 10th percentile) and so if he will eat an entire container of Easy Mac, versus a begrudging bite or two of salmon, quinoa and asparagus, I would rather him have the calories of the processed food AND some of the other stuff on his plate for him to try and decide if he likes it.

    Oh and tonight the kids had cheese quesadilla, tortilla chips, apple slices and homemade applesauce for dinner. I had chili, cookies, and wine. I think they ate more "real food" than I did...
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited January 2015
    I've got a 10 year old who calorie counts. He makes intentional lower-calorie choices through the day so he has room for a Mars bar at night.

    The other kid maintains a list of four foods that she will actually eat. Currently those are pepperoni pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Noodles "soup", and fried egg sandwich. Anything not on the list will not be eaten, and it is not possible to out-patient this kid.

    One kid loves fruit. Other kid hates all fruit. One loves soda, one hates it. They're two years apart, same parents, always lived together, but completely dissimilar.

    Nature makes 'em all different...there's not a whole hell of a lot you can do about it...


  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    Lol, we have one break from "plant, protien,bread" ( if you read my diary, you'll see I play too) and that is for cheese pizza. As a mother I need the occasional "food issues" sanity break.

    My son grins from ear to ear when the pizza is served, and says (everytime!) "the crust is the bread, the sauce is the plant, and the cheese is the Protien!"

    Close enough son, close enough.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    As a mother I need the occasional "food issues" sanity break.

    No question! :drinker:
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    my daughter eats whatever shes given thankfully because ive always given her what i cook (she was 3 before she started to eat)

    for snacks she likes cheese, fruit or my homemade baked goods but she also appreciates a nice bit of chocolate or some ice cream and sometimes crisps or prepackaged biscuits

    you dont know what child you will get. my daughter was exclusivly tube fed for 3 years and then tube fed over night till she was 7 because i couldnt get enough food into her to meet her calorie needs

    i started off feeding her fruit, vegetables and lean meats only with her dietitian and peadiatritian telling me i needed to give some calorie dense foods in there since she burns so much moving and well just breathing (disabled child with mulitple health problems)

    when i relaxed and started offering her foods that give more calories per pop we could finally get rid of that tube

    she understands that everything in balance is good and that exercise is hugely important. i take her with me if im going for a run or a walk, either in her chair or she will give it a go with her splints. she also attends a dance school who are very understanding of her movement issues but get that its good for her to do something physical and of course the social element

    what hacks me off no end is strangers offering me their unsolicited advice both fellow parents and non parents because they havnt the first clue about her life and issues
  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    Today my daughters had weetabix and a small glass of watered down pure orange juice, a breakfast bar and a water in the car on the way to school (i keep the bars in the car for days she either refused to eat or shes too hungry again)

    At break time she will have a medically prescribed shake

    Lunch today at school will be jacket potato with beans and cheese since she wont have the curry options and dessert will be a fight between the dinner ladies wanting her to have the cake and custard for the calories where as she will want the fruit and yogurt, no doubt she will win

    Dinner she will have pasta with homemade sauce which will have a whole host of vegetables in it. she will want a clementine after im sure as she knows i love them. she will also have a slice of homemade banana bread and i can guarantee she will ask for a mini chocolate, only ever wants one, still have half a tub left from christmas

    Drinks throughout the day will be water as thats what she generally prefers

    So the majority is healthy balanced foods with a few "treat" items thrown in

    I dont think social services will be knocking on my door to complain at the food choices, there kinda busy with familys who for one reason or another dont feed their kids
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    edited January 2015
    I saw a documentary on netflix, featuring kids that for one reason or another get taken from their parents homes. One of the first things the cops on the documentary looked for in the kid's home was for food. As in, Is there any/enough?

    Honestly, I am providing adequate calories for growth, offering new foods, and trying to stay sane in the process. Isnt that what most of us are doing with our kids? Cant that be enough?


  • Laurend224
    Laurend224 Posts: 1,748 Member
    I saw a documentary on netflix, featuring kids that for one reason or another get taken from their parents homes. One of the first things the cops on the documentary looked for in the kid's home was for food. As in, Is there any/enough?

    Honestly, I am providing adequate calories for growth, offering new foods, and trying to stay sane in the process. Isnt that what most of us are doing with our kids? Cant that be enough?



    Yes. It is!

    Some days I just want a minute alone to pee! I have been a stay at home mom since I was put on bed rest with my 3rd baby, so 3 + years now. And some days I just need a break. Some days I just don't have it in me to soak beans, bake bread, or even heat veggie burgers. That's what Chinese take out is for! B)
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    edited January 2015
    Laurend224 wrote: »
    I saw a documentary on netflix, featuring kids that for one reason or another get taken from their parents homes. One of the first things the cops on the documentary looked for in the kid's home was for food. As in, Is there any/enough?

    Honestly, I am providing adequate calories for growth, offering new foods, and trying to stay sane in the process. Isnt that what most of us are doing with our kids? Cant that be enough?



    Yes. It is!

    Some days I just want a minute alone to pee! I have been a stay at home mom since I was put on bed rest with my 3rd baby, so 3 + years now. And some days I just need a break. Some days I just don't have it in me to soak beans, bake bread, or even heat veggie burgers. That's what Chinese take out is for! B)

    As if food is the ONLY item of parenting I need to worry about! I also am potty training one, helping the other learn to read,washing/folding/putting away basket after basket of laundry, clipping fingernails, walking the dog,wiping up vomit, staying up late and waking up EARLY. I am sorry that in addition to that i didnt bake cookies. LOL.

    Added- I have been a stay at home mom for a little less than 3 years now. Before that I worked part-time when I had "only" one child, whenever we needed the money.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    btw- that is just the everyday stuff, a friend of mine does this plus more with a disabled child! ( I believe the term is profound needs, as he is unable to walk,eat, or speak words)
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    I've got a 10 year old who calorie counts. He makes intentional lower-calorie choices through the day so he has room for a Mars bar at night.

    The other kid maintains a list of four foods that she will actually eat. Currently those are pepperoni pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Noodles "soup", and fried egg sandwich. Anything not on the list will not be eaten, and it is not possible to out-patient this kid.

    One kid loves fruit. Other kid hates all fruit. One loves soda, one hates it. They're two years apart, same parents, always lived together, but completely dissimilar.

    Nature makes 'em all different...there's not a whole hell of a lot you can do about it...


    Very similar to my girls. One loves pretty much all foods. She eats baby spinach by the handful and will choose fruit over chips any day. She loves to try new foods and experiment.

    The other likes rice, toast, potatoes and cucumber slices.

    I just do the best I can with them, because they are people with their own ideas, tastes and preferences, just like me.
  • Laurend224
    Laurend224 Posts: 1,748 Member
    Laurend224 wrote: »
    I saw a documentary on netflix, featuring kids that for one reason or another get taken from their parents homes. One of the first things the cops on the documentary looked for in the kid's home was for food. As in, Is there any/enough?

    Honestly, I am providing adequate calories for growth, offering new foods, and trying to stay sane in the process. Isnt that what most of us are doing with our kids? Cant that be enough?



    Yes. It is!

    Some days I just want a minute alone to pee! I have been a stay at home mom since I was put on bed rest with my 3rd baby, so 3 + years now. And some days I just need a break. Some days I just don't have it in me to soak beans, bake bread, or even heat veggie burgers. That's what Chinese take out is for! B)

    As if food is the ONLY item of parenting I need to worry about! I also am potty training one, helping the other learn to read,washing/folding/putting away basket after basket of laundry, clipping fingernails, walking the dog,wiping up vomit, staying up late and waking up EARLY. I am sorry that in addition to that i didnt bake cookies. LOL.

    My youngest will be 3 in February. I haven't even broached potty training yet. He also has a vascular malformation, so we are always at the Dr. My daughter has Girl Scouts and choir, and my 6yr old will be starting baseball in the spring. Fortunately we don't have pets, thanks to my husband's allergy, but my 6 yr old gets migraines, and pukes. Every. Single. Time. And being a boy, he never makes it to the toilet. Some days I think a full time job would be easier (no flame please) but I know that when I do go back to work, (I am an Rn) I will probably go back to nights, and be sleep deprived on top of all that. :s
  • StandardFiend
    StandardFiend Posts: 9 Member
    Sometimes kids wont even eat their favorite foods, much less the ones you want them to. Sometimes you have to pick your battles and just let a calorie be a calorie.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I hear this so much and it really boggles my mind. When I hear a parent who is trying to have a more active and heathy life say well I buy those special treats for my kids. So it's ok for your children to eat that crap that is so called food and not you? Don't you want your children to grow up and have a healthy relationship with real food? Gogurt is not a food, little debbie cakes are not food, sugary fruit snack are not food. I want my future kids to love eating vegetables and fruits and have a diverse food palate.

    Any thoughts?

    I doubt there are many people who don't want their children to love eating vegetables and fruits. Wanting it doesn't make it so. Limiting your child's diet won't necessarily make it so either. But I do commend you for wanting to give your future children good nutritional basics. It's an important part of child rearing that is too often overlooked these days.

    But, once you start dealing with your children, you'll likely see that it doesn't need to be so black and white. It's okay to have processed foods once in a while. Balance and nutrition are the important things. I used to make cookies from scratch regularly for my children, because it was cheaper and I enjoyed it. But it didn't stop them (or me) from also liking Oreos.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    Laurend224 wrote: »
    Laurend224 wrote: »
    I saw a documentary on netflix, featuring kids that for one reason or another get taken from their parents homes. One of the first things the cops on the documentary looked for in the kid's home was for food. As in, Is there any/enough?

    Honestly, I am providing adequate calories for growth, offering new foods, and trying to stay sane in the process. Isnt that what most of us are doing with our kids? Cant that be enough?



    Yes. It is!

    Some days I just want a minute alone to pee! I have been a stay at home mom since I was put on bed rest with my 3rd baby, so 3 + years now. And some days I just need a break. Some days I just don't have it in me to soak beans, bake bread, or even heat veggie burgers. That's what Chinese take out is for! B)

    As if food is the ONLY item of parenting I need to worry about! I also am potty training one, helping the other learn to read,washing/folding/putting away basket after basket of laundry, clipping fingernails, walking the dog,wiping up vomit, staying up late and waking up EARLY. I am sorry that in addition to that i didnt bake cookies. LOL.

    My youngest will be 3 in February. I haven't even broached potty training yet. He also has a vascular malformation, so we are always at the Dr. My daughter has Girl Scouts and choir, and my 6yr old will be starting baseball in the spring. Fortunately we don't have pets, thanks to my husband's allergy, but my 6 yr old gets migraines, and pukes. Every. Single. Time. And being a boy, he never makes it to the toilet. Some days I think a full time job would be easier (no flame please) but I know that when I do go back to work, (I am an Rn) I will probably go back to nights, and be sleep deprived on top of all that. :s

    I wont flame you!
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited January 2015
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    The other kid maintains a list of four foods that she will actually eat. Currently those are pepperoni pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Noodles "soup", and fried egg sandwich. Anything not on the list will not be eaten, and it is not possible to out-patient this kid.

    Are you suggesting that if you didn't provide these 4 foods, this child would not eat anything at home, ever?
  • UnicornAmanda
    UnicornAmanda Posts: 294 Member
    I agree to an extent. Sometimes its not avoidable though. I am a mom to a four year old boy and another baby on the way. For the most part, we eat organic and unprocessed but there are always special occasions where other food is unavoidable. Id rather cave and allow my child to eat food thats not real once in awhile, same standards as myself, because i dont wanna restrict anything completely because then he will just want that type of food more.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Laurend224 wrote: »
    I saw a documentary on netflix, featuring kids that for one reason or another get taken from their parents homes. One of the first things the cops on the documentary looked for in the kid's home was for food. As in, Is there any/enough?

    Honestly, I am providing adequate calories for growth, offering new foods, and trying to stay sane in the process. Isnt that what most of us are doing with our kids? Cant that be enough?



    Yes. It is!

    Some days I just want a minute alone to pee! I have been a stay at home mom since I was put on bed rest with my 3rd baby, so 3 + years now. And some days I just need a break. Some days I just don't have it in me to soak beans, bake bread, or even heat veggie burgers. That's what Chinese take out is for! B)

    As if food is the ONLY item of parenting I need to worry about! I also am potty training one, helping the other learn to read,washing/folding/putting away basket after basket of laundry, clipping fingernails, walking the dog,wiping up vomit, staying up late and waking up EARLY. I am sorry that in addition to that i didnt bake cookies. LOL.

    Added- I have been a stay at home mom for a little less than 3 years now. Before that I worked part-time when I had "only" one child, whenever we needed the money.

    I have three and I'm on maternity leave now, until April. I feel like I'm permanently doing laundry and hoovering. My 5 year old is in year 1, so we're reading every night, and as a June baby he's one of the youngest in his year (this is in England) so he's a bit behind with his writing, so we need to practise that too. I'm trying to wean my 8 month old who doesn't seem to have much interest in food. My three year old can be hard work...bossy little madam lol.

    When I go back to work I'll have a planning and marking load (I'm a secondary school teacher, part time). My husband works shifts. When I've been at work all day, then had to collect 3 kids from separate places, I sure won't be cooking an elaborate meal from scratch. I doubt I'll have microwave meals either. I go for an in between, probably fish fingers, and veggies cooked in the microwave.

    I'd say we are good 95% of the time, but there are times when we get take-away or go for the easy option. It's hard being so full on all the time. Work will be a break in a way, I might actually get to sit down at break and lunch time and drink a cup of coffee without having to get up 20 times to stop a fight/get a cup of water/remove a dangerous toy from my baby/change a nappy etc.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited January 2015
    jfboomer wrote: »

    Wow, that makes me think I was an excellent parent raising little angels.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    come back when you have kids ;) I don't know why you're hatin on gogurts - the ones in my fridge only have 6 g of sugar and 5 g of protein.......win for a 17 month old that hates meat currently!
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    I mean to offend no one. I'm just saying I personally would not feed that stuff to my children even with a balanced diet. If they want a
    cookie I will make them from stratch instead of buying the ones that come in a box is all I am saying


    may you find a husband that will support your full time job of baking and cooking every morsel from scratch........
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    I hear this so much and it really boggles my mind. When I hear a parent who is trying to have a more active and heathy life say well I buy those special treats for my kids. So it's ok for your children to eat that crap that is so called food and not you? Don't you want your children to grow up and have a healthy relationship with real food? Gogurt is not a food, little debbie cakes are not food, sugary fruit snack are not food. I want my future kids to love eating vegetables and fruits and have a diverse food palate.

    Any thoughts?

    Yes I have some thoughts.

    Claiming that heavily processed foods are "not food" is incorrect and also I think it's offensive to demographics that may not have as much access to whole and minimally refined foods.

    I think if your concern is to develop a healthy mindset around food you do that by being inclusive and teaching moderation, not by labeling certain foods as "not food".

    You claim to endorse a diverse diet but your comments go against that.

    Werd...

    Also, Gogurt is just yogurt in a nice portable tube...

    Personally, I don't see anything wrong with my kids sitting down to some nice grilled chicken, some brown rice, and peas and having some fruit snacks for desert...I think that's a far healthier mindset than labeling foodz as "not food" and going around demonizing everything...how exactly does that help foster a healthy relationship with food?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I mean to offend no one. I'm just saying I personally would not feed that stuff to my children even with a balanced diet. If they want a
    cookie I will make them from stratch instead of buying the ones that come in a box is all I am saying

    I love the declarations of non-parents about how they will parent. It's adorable.

    I know...I used to totally be one of those people..."oh, I'd never let my kid watch that much t.v"..."oh my gosh, I'd never let my kid have that much time on an ipad playing games...I'd make them get outside and play!"....

    yup...parenting is pretty easy when you don't actually have to do it...

  • ruqayyahsmum
    ruqayyahsmum Posts: 1,513 Member
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    The other kid maintains a list of four foods that she will actually eat. Currently those are pepperoni pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Noodles "soup", and fried egg sandwich. Anything not on the list will not be eaten, and it is not possible to out-patient this kid.

    Are you suggesting that if you didn't provide these 4 foods, this child would not eat anything at home, ever?

    i know a mum whos teen son is severly autistic. he will only eat chicken dippers and ketchup. nothing else at all anywhere passes his lips. his mum has to provide them to his special school and to his respite centre. Hes seen specialists and theyve tried stratagies but other foods really are a no go, he would rather go hungry. some kids and adults really do have severe issues around food

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    For the most part, we eat organic and unprocessed but there are always special occasions where other food is unavoidable. Id rather cave and allow my child to eat food thats not real once in awhile, same standards as myself, because i dont wanna restrict anything completely because then he will just want that type of food more.


    Wow your kids eat pretent food? How does that work? My kids won't touch their play food.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited January 2015
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    The other kid maintains a list of four foods that she will actually eat. Currently those are pepperoni pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Noodles "soup", and fried egg sandwich. Anything not on the list will not be eaten, and it is not possible to out-patient this kid.

    Are you suggesting that if you didn't provide these 4 foods, this child would not eat anything at home, ever?

    "Ever" is a long time. I've pushed it as far as 36 hours, which is like the Siege of Stalingrad in grownup years.

    The kids are growing at astounding rates - height is 99th percentile for both - and both were reading before age four, so mental acuity is certainly not being affected.

    If nothing else, this is solid evidence that nature knew what she was doing when she evolved us to thrive as multi-fuel omnivores.
  • scraver2003
    scraver2003 Posts: 526 Member
    Being a parent is hard. Being a parent with a full time job is hard. Being a parent who works out is hard. Being a parent who maintains a healthy marriage is hard. Being a parent who maintains a lot of close friendships is hard.

    The worry is constant. Is my oldest adjusting to kindergarten ok? Is he making friends? Is he being nice? I am dressing him nicely? When did I last make him take a shower? Should I make him do more chores? Am I spending enough quality time with him? Am I too hard on him? Am I too soft? Is my youngest developing ok? Why did he wait so long to start walking? Do I hold him too much? Did I wash his hands before he ate dinner? When is his next Dr. appointment? Am I spoiling him? When should I start potty training?

    Oh the worry. The never-ending, constant worry. The thing is... a lot of parents are trying to do their very best. And when someone steps in and says "OMG! Why are you feeding that child a Gogurt!?", it puts us on the defense. My son will eat his gogurt... with a side of raw broccolli. And it is the gogurts that lead to the Stoneyfield squeeze yogurts... and now on to the greek squeeze yogurts. (yay! More protein in greek yogurt!)

    And the cookies from scratch... that just makes me giggle.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited January 2015
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    The other kid maintains a list of four foods that she will actually eat. Currently those are pepperoni pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, Mr. Noodles "soup", and fried egg sandwich. Anything not on the list will not be eaten, and it is not possible to out-patient this kid.

    Are you suggesting that if you didn't provide these 4 foods, this child would not eat anything at home, ever?

    i know a mum whos teen son is severly autistic. he will only eat chicken dippers and ketchup. nothing else at all anywhere passes his lips. his mum has to provide them to his special school and to his respite centre. Hes seen specialists and theyve tried stratagies but other foods really are a no go, he would rather go hungry. some kids and adults really do have severe issues around food

    I know tons of kids on the spectrum - those damn chicken nuggets are as close as you can get (that I've seen, anyway) to a food that they'll all eat. There is a specific texture and flavour to them that, for whatever reason, just feels "right".

    Whichever lab coat at McDonalds U invented the things should get a Nobel prize....! Not only are they using the whole chicken, they're obviously tapping into something primordially rooted.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    . My son will eat his gogurt... with a side of raw broccolli. And it is the gogurts that lead to the Stoneyfield squeeze yogurts... and now on to the greek squeeze yogurts. (yay! More protein in greek yogurt!)


    Yeah I tried the Greek yogurt kinds... Nope. Didn't buy any other kind until they were eaten, and I ended up having to throw them away after their expiration date. Even tried making my own smoothies with fruit and Greek yogurt... nope.

    I laugh too at the chickpea chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal raisin cookies... My kids wouldn't touch those. The only 'healthier' substitution they have accepted is regular Cheerios instead of the honey nut kind and hey, I'll take it (shockingly they both eat whole wheat pasta with parmesan cheese just fine, while my son won't touch the boxed mac'n cheese stuff).
This discussion has been closed.