My seven-year-old really showed me... HA!

0somuchbetter0

Years ago I decided that sugary breakfast cereals were a no-no (because let's face it, they're so yummy, my kids will eat the whole box in one sitting), so I decided that I wouldn't buy any cereal with more than 10g of sugar per serving. I don't remember where I came up with that number...honestly I think I heard a friend of mine say that to her kid so I just accepted it as gospel truth, as we are wont to do when it comes to nutrition decisions sometimes.

Anyway, the other day my 7-yr-old daughter was at the grocery store with me and begged me to buy a box of Lucky Charms. "No, no," said I, "those are very unhealthy..." and I reached for the Fruity Cheerios (9g sugar) I usually buy for her. She grabbed the box of Lucky Charms and checked the label...10g! "But this is only one more gram!" She was right...I figured Lucky Charms must have a gazillion grams of sugar per serving but I was WRONG. So I bought the cereal. And I'm now "best mom in the world." haha...

Lesson learned: no more Fruity Cheerios OR Lucky Charms, except very occasionally as a treat.

jeccawest91

Haha, my daughter is not a big cereal eater. And when she does, she doesn't want it with milk. She is more of an egg/bacon or apple/banana kinda girl. That is too funny about the minor difference between the two however.

ponycyndi

We don't have any "forbidden" foods. My kids eat cereal for breakfast every day, they never want anything else. I was forbidden any sugary foods as a kid, and when I moved out on my own, I binged. A lot. Every day. For YEARS. Before I learned a better way. Now I still eat sugary things, but I also eat more healthy food than I did as a kid. More veggies and less white foods.

I feel that having forbidden foods makes them more appealing, and sets up for binging. My kids know they can have candy on holidays, and know what it feels like if you eat too much. They also know that Cheerios are delicious. This gives then the power to make healthy choices on their own.

redversustheblue

or maybe teach your kid that it's okay to have a bowl of lucky charms every now and then, not the entire box.

cause let me tell you, when I grew up and moved out, I had no sense of moderation and I was darn sure gonna buy that box of cereal my mom never let me have and eat all of it.

0somuchbetter0

I understand what you're saying re: forbidden foods. Nothing is forbidden in our family, really, except that I don't buy "junk" food on a regular basis because of my own issues with self-control. Just can't keep certain things in the house. My only restriction on the kids is that they eat "real" food before junk...otherwise they'd fill up on crap and never develop a healthy palate. I've seen kids who refuse to eat anything that isn't deep fried and shaped like a nugget, and that's just sad (not to mention the kids I'm thinking of specifically are obese). So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats.

sshintaku

When I was a kid, my mom RARELY bought sugar cereal. Or she would buy like Honey Nut Cheerios and mix the box with a box of regular Cheerios so it was half and half, and then call THAT sugar cereal. Haha. I was allowed to have one treat per day. I think I turned out alright and have a pretty decent idea of moderation too

shining_light

I understand what you're saying re: forbidden foods. Nothing is forbidden in our family, really, except that I don't buy "junk" food on a regular basis because of my own issues with self-control. Just can't keep certain things in the house. My only restriction on the kids is that they eat "real" food before junk...otherwise they'd fill up on crap and never develop a healthy palate. I've seen kids who refuse to eat anything that isn't deep fried and shaped like a nugget, and that's just sad (not to mention the kids I'm thinking of specifically are obese). So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats.

In my house it's the same way, though he loves his vegetables, so we're always nagging at him to eat whatever portion of protein we've given him(usually chicken or fish. Anything easy to chew). He's usually good.

I'm like you are, not buying junk food because of my self-control issues. Nobody really complains about it, which is awesome.

BlueBombers

or maybe teach your kid that it's okay to have a bowl of lucky charms every now and then, not the entire box.

cause let me tell you, when I grew up and moved out, I had no sense of moderation and I was darn sure gonna buy that box of cereal my mom never let me have and eat all of it.

^ THIS

Francl27

Cereal boxes are in a cabinet the kids can't reach here (with pretty much all the snacks) to avoid that problem. Typically they have honey nut cheerios, they just went through a box of corn pops though... but it lasted a week (until hubby finished it).

fificrazy

We don't have any "forbidden" foods. My kids eat cereal for breakfast every day, they never want anything else. I was forbidden any sugary foods as a kid, and when I moved out on my own, I binged. A lot. Every day. For YEARS. Before I learned a better way. Now I still eat sugary things, but I also eat more healthy food than I did as a kid. More veggies and less white foods.

I feel that having forbidden foods makes them more appealing, and sets up for binging. My kids know they can have candy on holidays, and know what it feels like if you eat too much. They also know that Cheerios are delicious. This gives then the power to make healthy choices on their own.

^^^ This.

AlabasterVerve

I saw this article today and immediately thought of this thread.

"On average, children’s cereals are 34 percent sugar by weight. Compare that to ice cream, which is usually around 15 percent sugars." But many cereals according to the article are more than 50% sugar by weight which is kinda shocking -- one was 88% sugar which boggles the mind. The article concludes with some cereals that are less than 4g of sugar per serving and meet somebodies standard for a not "terrible", low sugar options.

Meet the breakfast cereals that want to destroy you
http://grist.org/food/meet-the-breakfast-cereals-that-want-to-end-you/

MyChocolateDiet

I like lucky charms. The crispy marshmallows are unique and yummy. Don't deny your kid that. Unless you see her developing a problem just let her enjoy it in moderation. Childhood only happens once and if she gets a well rounded diet, why shouldn't she learn to moderate all the foods at her disposal to have a healthy attitude toward food later in life?

0somuchbetter0

I like lucky charms. The crispy marshmallows are unique and yummy. Don't deny your kid that. Unless you see her developing a problem just let her enjoy it in moderation. Childhood only happens once and if she gets a well rounded diet, why shouldn't she learn to moderate all the foods at her disposal to have a healthy attitude toward food later in life?

I don't deny them treats, I just don't buy unhealthy food as part of my routine grocery shopping for the reasons mentioned above.

Zardeenah

http://www.buzzfeed.com/deenashanker/most-and-least-sugary-cereals

paperpudding

When I was a child my parents didn't buy cocoa pops, fruit loops and the like - I didn't binge on them as an adult.
In fact to this day I do not like over sweet things - I think acquiring a non sweet tooth as a child has been good for me.

When my own kids were younger, I never bought these things either - except very occaisionally the single serve boxes as a holiday treat.
They did not binge on them as adults either, nor do any of us eat sugary cereals now.

I do agree with teaching moderation, but I also agree with teaching healthy eating habits. I didn't think sugary cereals on a regular basis is a healthy habit to get into so I didn't buy boxes of them to have in the house.

SezxyStef

I understand what you're saying re: forbidden foods. Nothing is forbidden in our family, really, except that I don't buy "junk" food on a regular basis because of my own issues with self-control. Just can't keep certain things in the house. My only restriction on the kids is that they eat "real" food before junk...otherwise they'd fill up on crap and never develop a healthy palate. I've seen kids who refuse to eat anything that isn't deep fried and shaped like a nugget, and that's just sad (not to mention the kids I'm thinking of specifically are obese). So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats.

I find this interesting...nothing is forbidden except for the stuff on this list that ends in an etc...because of the adults inability to say no.

My mom didn't buy fruitloops when I was a kid either...guess who has fruitloops all the time in her house now...it's funny too because froot loops have lots of vitamins and minerals that are great such as Iron, vitamin d, thiamine, zinc etc.

and the whole "clean plate" thing is awful imho...so they finish their veggies are overfull then they get dessert and are stuffed...and are over eating just to get that dessert...my dinner talk was eat until you are satisfied, having at least one bite of everything and if you are full be done...I've seen my son fill up on salad and leave the French fries on the plate...

being overweight is not from the types of food eaten it's from the amount eaten...

I prefer to teach my son moderation and portion control....

ETA: dessert was not a regular occurance in my house or growing up as a kid...

0somuchbetter0

I understand what you're saying re: forbidden foods. Nothing is forbidden in our family, really, except that I don't buy "junk" food on a regular basis because of my own issues with self-control. Just can't keep certain things in the house. My only restriction on the kids is that they eat "real" food before junk...otherwise they'd fill up on crap and never develop a healthy palate. I've seen kids who refuse to eat anything that isn't deep fried and shaped like a nugget, and that's just sad (not to mention the kids I'm thinking of specifically are obese). So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats.

I find this interesting...nothing is forbidden except for the stuff on this list that ends in an etc...because of the adults inability to say no.

My mom didn't buy fruitloops when I was a kid either...guess who has fruitloops all the time in her house now...it's funny too because froot loops have lots of vitamins and minerals that are great such as Iron, vitamin d, thiamine, zinc etc.

and the whole "clean plate" thing is awful imho...so they finish their veggies are overfull then they get dessert and are stuffed...and are over eating just to get that dessert...my dinner talk was eat until you are satisfied, having at least one bite of everything and if you are full be done...I've seen my son fill up on salad and leave the French fries on the plate...

being overweight is not from the types of food eaten it's from the amount eaten...

I prefer to teach my son moderation and portion control....

ETA: dessert was not a regular occurance in my house or growing up as a kid...

So many incorrect assumptions.

As I said, nothing is forbidden. I don't buy "junk food" on my routine grocery shopping trips, but my kids just shared a brownie ice cream dessert thing at a restaurant. No problem.

Yes, I have food issues. I'm working hard to overcome them. I also work hard to teach my kids about moderation and having a healthy relationship with food. So far, they have no problems.

I know that being overweight isn't about type of food vs amount of food. My kids aren't overweight. I'm fortunate that they actually like healthy food. Maybe I'm doing something right.

No, the kids don't have to "clean their plates," but they do have to try and eat a variety of good, healthy foods.

amusedmonkey

I saw this article today and immediately thought of this thread.

"On average, children’s cereals are 34 percent sugar by weight. Compare that to ice cream, which is usually around 15 percent sugars." But many cereals according to the article are more than 50% sugar by weight which is kinda shocking -- one was 88% sugar which boggles the mind. The article concludes with some cereals that are less than 4g of sugar per serving and meet somebodies standard for a not "terrible", low sugar options.

Meet the breakfast cereals that want to destroy you
http://grist.org/food/meet-the-breakfast-cereals-that-want-to-end-you/

I don't like such articles to be honest. They tend to make flawed comparisons because you don't really eat just 1 oz of ice cream (which is the usual serving for cereal), so the sugar you end up getting from ice cream is usually much higher than what you would get from cereal, even the very sugary kind.

SezxyStef

I understand what you're saying re: forbidden foods. Nothing is forbidden in our family, really, except that I don't buy "junk" food on a regular basis because of my own issues with self-control. Just can't keep certain things in the house. My only restriction on the kids is that they eat "real" food before junk...otherwise they'd fill up on crap and never develop a healthy palate. I've seen kids who refuse to eat anything that isn't deep fried and shaped like a nugget, and that's just sad (not to mention the kids I'm thinking of specifically are obese). So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats.

I find this interesting...nothing is forbidden except for the stuff on this list that ends in an etc...because of the adults inability to say no.

My mom didn't buy fruitloops when I was a kid either...guess who has fruitloops all the time in her house now...it's funny too because froot loops have lots of vitamins and minerals that are great such as Iron, vitamin d, thiamine, zinc etc.

and the whole "clean plate" thing is awful imho...so they finish their veggies are overfull then they get dessert and are stuffed...and are over eating just to get that dessert...my dinner talk was eat until you are satisfied, having at least one bite of everything and if you are full be done...I've seen my son fill up on salad and leave the French fries on the plate...

being overweight is not from the types of food eaten it's from the amount eaten...

I prefer to teach my son moderation and portion control....

ETA: dessert was not a regular occurance in my house or growing up as a kid...

So many incorrect assumptions.

As I said, nothing is forbidden. I don't buy "junk food" on my routine grocery shopping trips, but my kids just shared a brownie ice cream dessert thing at a restaurant. No problem.

Yes, I have food issues. I'm working hard to overcome them. I also work hard to teach my kids about moderation and having a healthy relationship with food. So far, they have no problems.

I know that being overweight isn't about type of food vs amount of food. My kids aren't overweight. I'm fortunate that they actually like healthy food. Maybe I'm doing something right.

No, the kids don't have to "clean their plates," but they do have to try and eat a variety of good, healthy foods.

they weren't assumptions they were based on your own words

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc

So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

And those are your words...directly quote from what you typed here in black and white.

Moderation isn't taught by deprevation it's taught by having items around that require moderation and teaching by example.

I just don't believe in visiting our demons on our children, just because you have issues doesn't mean your kids should have to learn how to deal with them before they have those issues...

AlabasterVerve

I saw this article today and immediately thought of this thread.

"On average, children’s cereals are 34 percent sugar by weight. Compare that to ice cream, which is usually around 15 percent sugars." But many cereals according to the article are more than 50% sugar by weight which is kinda shocking -- one was 88% sugar which boggles the mind. The article concludes with some cereals that are less than 4g of sugar per serving and meet somebodies standard for a not "terrible", low sugar options.

Meet the breakfast cereals that want to destroy you
http://grist.org/food/meet-the-breakfast-cereals-that-want-to-end-you/

I don't like such articles to be honest. They tend to make flawed comparisons because you don't really eat just 1 oz of ice cream (which is the usual serving for cereal), so the sugar you end up getting from ice cream is usually much higher than what you would get from cereal, even the very sugary kind.

I like them just because they make people question what they're feeding their kids. Boxes of sugary cereal aren't a healthy dietary staple in my opinion no matter how many vitamins and check marks appear on those boxes. They're designed to dupe parents into thinking, what amounts to sugar and a multivitamin, is good nutrition and I think that's a more flawed way of thinking than the comparison that this article draws.

SezxyStef

I saw this article today and immediately thought of this thread.

"On average, children’s cereals are 34 percent sugar by weight. Compare that to ice cream, which is usually around 15 percent sugars." But many cereals according to the article are more than 50% sugar by weight which is kinda shocking -- one was 88% sugar which boggles the mind. The article concludes with some cereals that are less than 4g of sugar per serving and meet somebodies standard for a not "terrible", low sugar options.

Meet the breakfast cereals that want to destroy you
http://grist.org/food/meet-the-breakfast-cereals-that-want-to-end-you/

I don't like such articles to be honest. They tend to make flawed comparisons because you don't really eat just 1 oz of ice cream (which is the usual serving for cereal), so the sugar you end up getting from ice cream is usually much higher than what you would get from cereal, even the very sugary kind.

I like them just because they make people question what they're feeding their kids. Boxes of sugary cereal aren't a healthy dietary staple in my opinion no matter how many vitamins and check marks appear on those boxes. They're designed to dupe parents into thinking, what amounts to sugar and a multivitamin, is good nutrition and I think that's a more flawed way of thinking than the comparison that this article draws.

this is funny...because if you think these boxes are made to dupe parents etc...better start looking at the following too

Fiber One Muffin Mix, Apple Cinnamon 15g of sugar
Weight Watchers Blueberry Muffins or Double Chocolate Muffins 18-21grams
Quaker Oatmeal to Go, Brown Sugar Cinnamon 18grams
Instant Cream of Wheat, Apples ‘n Cinnamon 16 grams
Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran 15 grams
Newman’s Own Tomato & Basil: 12 grams
V8 Fusion Vegetable Fruit 100% juice, Peach Mango or Acai Mixed Berry: 26grams
Jimmy Dean Breakfast Entrees, Sausage & CheeseCroissant 21 grams
Kellogs raisin bran 18grams

Apples 13grams
oranges 17grams
grapes 23grams

don't forget milk 13grams in 1 cup of 1%..

0somuchbetter0

I understand what you're saying re: forbidden foods. Nothing is forbidden in our family, really, except that I don't buy "junk" food on a regular basis because of my own issues with self-control. Just can't keep certain things in the house. My only restriction on the kids is that they eat "real" food before junk...otherwise they'd fill up on crap and never develop a healthy palate. I've seen kids who refuse to eat anything that isn't deep fried and shaped like a nugget, and that's just sad (not to mention the kids I'm thinking of specifically are obese). So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats.

I find this interesting...nothing is forbidden except for the stuff on this list that ends in an etc...because of the adults inability to say no.

My mom didn't buy fruitloops when I was a kid either...guess who has fruitloops all the time in her house now...it's funny too because froot loops have lots of vitamins and minerals that are great such as Iron, vitamin d, thiamine, zinc etc.

and the whole "clean plate" thing is awful imho...so they finish their veggies are overfull then they get dessert and are stuffed...and are over eating just to get that dessert...my dinner talk was eat until you are satisfied, having at least one bite of everything and if you are full be done...I've seen my son fill up on salad and leave the French fries on the plate...

being overweight is not from the types of food eaten it's from the amount eaten...

I prefer to teach my son moderation and portion control....

ETA: dessert was not a regular occurance in my house or growing up as a kid...

So many incorrect assumptions.

As I said, nothing is forbidden. I don't buy "junk food" on my routine grocery shopping trips, but my kids just shared a brownie ice cream dessert thing at a restaurant. No problem.

Yes, I have food issues. I'm working hard to overcome them. I also work hard to teach my kids about moderation and having a healthy relationship with food. So far, they have no problems.

I know that being overweight isn't about type of food vs amount of food. My kids aren't overweight. I'm fortunate that they actually like healthy food. Maybe I'm doing something right.

No, the kids don't have to "clean their plates," but they do have to try and eat a variety of good, healthy foods.

they weren't assumptions they were based on your own words

So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc

So in my house they hear the old refrain, "Finish your veggies before you can have dessert." Nothing wrong with that imo.

And those are your words...directly quote from what you typed here in black and white.

Moderation isn't taught by deprevation it's taught by having items around that require moderation and teaching by example.

I just don't believe in visiting our demons on our children, just because you have issues doesn't mean your kids should have to learn how to deal with them before they have those issues...

Oops, you left off the end of my sentence. In its entirety it was "So no, nothing is *forbidden,* but Oreos, Lucky Charms, donuts, etc...not stuff I buy routinely...just as special treats." Kinda changes the meaning when you leave off half of it.

And yes, "finish your veggies..." or chicken... or whatever.. before they can have a treat. It's not like I'm shoving 3 pounds of broccoli down their throats so they can have a cookie. I'm just teaching them about balanced meals and nutrition. I'm not depriving them of anything. I'm not passing on my demons to them.

The whole purpose of this post was to lightheartedly laugh at myself for coming up with a rather random rule of "no bfast cereal that has more than 10g of sugar per serving" and then being owned by my seven-year-old daughter. You've turned it into a whole "omg you're such a terrible mother, forcing-feeding your children vegetables and depriving them of sugar and causing them to have food issues."

Number 1: lighten up
Number 2: this thread has taken an unpleasant turn
Number 3: \thread