Evil Mom???

I did a complete overhaul in my kitchen pantries this past weekend, too. I'm waiting to hear complaints from my family. Lol! We'll see how it goes....

I hear you. I have a 7 year old who was used to having cookies, brownies etc for dessert almost every night. I cut all that out of our home a few months ago and he is slowly getting used ot the idea of having healthy snacks. He loves apple and peanut butter or some berries and cook whip. SOmetimes we buy the 100 calorie snack packs for him so he can have cookies.

I did the same thing when I first started on this Journey. But my husband and kids complained that there was nothing good to eat in the house. So I compromised and just started buying "healthier" foods, like baked chips and salt free nuts, turkey burgers, and lots of fruit of course. It's very hard, my kids are not overweight, more the opposite ... they are super skinny, almost borderline underweight. However, they eat A LOT, even more if it tastes good. I stopped buying sugary cereals, but then they just wouldn't eat breakfast anymore, so now we agreed on half fruit loops and half plain cherrios, and they are eating it. Overall, you are trying to teach them the right way of eating, so kudos to you ... just know you are not the only one going through this, and you make the rules in your home. You can always compromise on some things, or put a limit to how much can be eaten of a certain sugary snack.

I'm not saying that you are doing the wrong thing BUT I would't force others to do what you're doing. You have to be the strong one and avoid temptation. Are you going to refuse to go to any restaurants with friends/family because there is food that could tempt you for the rest of your life? You sound like you're in diet mind set and when tempted down the road all someone has to do is wave a candy bar in front of you and you would eat it. Don't be in a "diet" mind set. "Diets" are temporary! Just be aware of what you're eating. That's what this site is for. Sorry if I sound too blunt, but Good Luck to you.

I think this is a good chance to start discussing more heathly options for snacks. We do have some junk food in our house, but we buy granola bars etc. With childhood obesity on the rise, I would talk to your daughter and maybe make a compromise on the snacks

I think there are plenty of healthier snack options out there. Recently I discovered that my kids really like Laughing Cow cheese on reduced fat Wheat Thins. They think it's "fun" to spread the cheese on the crackers. I see no problem in teaching them healthy habits.

FWIW - want to know evil? I told my 4 year old that if she keeps eating ice cream she will die.:laugh: :embarassed:

We have HUGE snackers in our house...especially our two boys...they LOVE to eat after dinner. Not only is it killing us on the grocery bill, it's just a bad habit for them to get in to. We usually let them have a "treat" right after dinner...scoop of ice cream, cookie, popsicle, something like that. Then, they want to eat MORE an hour or two later and we've just recently told them that they can have ONE healthy treat, be it an apple, yogurt, banana or whatever it is that we happen to have on hand. I've told them that they have to start eating more at dinner and that the snacking has to stop. I am being an evil mom but oh well, so be it...

You are setting a good example. I just bring home more fruit, if they are craving sweets they can have a piece of fruit. I also like to on occassion bring home skinny cow ice cream. They love it.

There are lots of cookbooks and recepies online where you can make healthier snacks with your kids.They are learning what healthy eating is all about and they will learn how to cook and some math too. It is not about never eating a cookie again, it is about not putting nutriciously unhealthy foods in our body. My husband loves potatoe chips ( I don't think it's good for him, but he is over 21 and he can chose what he eats), furtunatly I don't, so he can have them and I eat fresh fruit with greek yogurt sweetened with honey. My grandkids love waffels or pancakes and yes they can have cereals with some sugar because they will be outside looking for worms and spiders and frogs all day, instead of sitting in front of the TV watching disney all day. They need more carbs then when they are at home, because down here they are very active. I think we need to find a balance, if you restrict them too much they will feel deprived. Rremember it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle

Search for some fun healthy snacks you can make with your kids. I found a great one for Bell Pepper Nachos (cut bell peppers [any kind], melt cheese of choice on top and serve!). I love them! Or make a home-made pizza together and load up on veggies. Start making healthy things with them. You have to make it fun or it's so much easier to give up and go back to what you were doing. You're not evil. They will get used to not having the sugar, it's just a transition. Stay strong! You can do this!

I have a 7 year old son that is tall, thin, and can eat a bag of Doritos in an hour. I feel your pain.

There is a difference between a "snack" and a "treat". In our house, we get one "treat" per week - whether that is cookies, donuts, whatever. We "snack" on things like carrots, apples, dried fruit, etc.

There is nothing evil about wanting your child to be healthy and not struggle with weight and other health issues in the long run. You're giving her the tools to be successful, not fat and lazy.

I wish my parents had done a better job of instilling healthy habits into me when I was a kid.

We have a treat night once a week on Monday's. It is something that we all look forward too.

also if u make snacks 2gether as a family, u get quality family time & the snacks always taste better

I LOVE sweet treats and snacks... you just need to get creative ... Check out the hungry girl cook books (200 under 200 cals) has a bunch of snacks and treats under 200 calories that are fun to make and you wouldn't even know you cut out 80% of the fat and calories Good luck.