Parents let their kids eat trash?

I don't know why they do it, but in my family, I fell victim to the junk food alternative. I used to laugh at kids when their parents wouldn't let them eat fast food or drink soda, but now I wish my family was stricter on my diet. Right now, they all think of me as a stick, and they constantly say I should "gain weight" because I'm "wasting away". I'm the only person in the house with a healthy BMI (I don't like the BMI system, but as an example) and that actively exercises. I hope that since being healthy is starting to grow more and more popular, the next generation of parents will be stricter on the diets of their kids. I'm not saying that there shouldn't be any junk food or fast food days, but when you have it for dinner 1-3 times a week, and the groceries consist of nothing but unhealthy things such as honeybuns and chips, it's hard to live a healthy lifestyle, especially for young kids.

I don't know why they do it, but in my family, I fell victim to the junk food alternative. I used to laugh at kids when their parents wouldn't let them eat fast food or drink soda, but now I wish my family was stricter on my diet. Right now, they all think of me as a stick, and they constantly say I should "gain weight" because I'm "wasting away". I'm the only person in the house with a healthy BMI (I don't like the BMI system, but as an example) and that actively exercises. I hope that since being healthy is starting to grow more and more popular, the next generation of parents will be stricter on the diets of their kids. I'm not saying that there shouldn't be any junk food or fast food days, but when you have it for dinner 1-3 times a week, and the groceries consist of nothing but unhealthy things such as honeybuns and chips, it's hard to live a healthy lifestyle, especially for young kids.

my parents restricted us so much (there were 5 of us) that we are all fat now. bad idea...teach balance, let kids choose, let them make mistakes in choosing. i don't know...restrictions didn't work for my parents.

When I was a kid, my family very rarely ate out, and never at fast food places. We had meat, much of it hunted or homegrown, homegrown vegetables from Dad's garden, and I ate what my parents ate, period, there was no separate meal for the kid. I loved vegetables from childhood on, despite the fact that Mom cooked all veggies until soft. The only things I learned to hate were fried fish and canned tuna. --- Now I'm curious. Why do parents let their kids eat fast food and fried stuff? Why would the kids be allowed to make the decision? Is it just to avoid arguing with them about what they will eat? Wouldn't it be best to tell the kids you'll eat healthy food, you don't have a choice? Would somebody be kind enough to inform me?

From this question, I surmise that you do not have children, right?

I don't know why they do it, but in my family, I fell victim to the junk food alternative. I used to laugh at kids when their parents wouldn't let them eat fast food or drink soda, but now I wish my family was stricter on my diet. Right now, they all think of me as a stick, and they constantly say I should "gain weight" because I'm "wasting away". I'm the only person in the house with a healthy BMI (I don't like the BMI system, but as an example) and that actively exercises. I hope that since being healthy is starting to grow more and more popular, the next generation of parents will be stricter on the diets of their kids. I'm not saying that there shouldn't be any junk food or fast food days, but when you have it for dinner 1-3 times a week, and the groceries consist of nothing but unhealthy things such as honeybuns and chips, it's hard to live a healthy lifestyle, especially for young kids.

my parents restricted us so much (there were 5 of us) that we are all fat now. bad idea...teach balance, let kids choose, let them make mistakes in choosing. i don't know...restrictions didn't work for my parents.

I agree with that, because denying kids fast food/unhealthy foods COULD result in a whiplash (Can that even be used in this context) But I feel like many people here are being defensive, as many of them are parents. I know healthy eating is usually more expensive than the cheaper alternatives, but I think the OP has a point. We should encourage a healthier lifestyle, but with tolerance and balance in having unhealthy days and choices.

And I'm in no way trying to disrespect parents here, I'm just trying to make a point. It's definitely okay to have cheat days and reward days for kids in my opinion, but it can't be a frequent thing, as well as unhealthy foods. That may not make them gain weight while they're little, but it probably will when they get older.

Thank you for representing children as the youngest age allowed on these boards. Thank you even more for doing it in a more mature, articulate, and respectful manner than the unfortunate OP. Thank you also for having a balanced perspective at such a young age. You're gonna be alright. :flowerforyou:

I don't mean this to be rude/snarky, but I want to share a personal experience with you. This happened when my husband took our first daughter for her 18 mo vaccinations. Her appointment was at 11:30 and my husband had to drop her back off at daycare afterwards and return to work. Because of the timing she would miss lunch at her daycare. So to make a difficult (and most likely painful) day a special treat I told my husband to take her to McDonalds for a special treat (lunch with daddy).

My husband set her up at the table with her chicken nuggets, apple slices, and white milk, ready to spend some quality time with her before they had to leave. Well he was shamed and yelled at by another patron for feeding my daughter McDonalds. Yes this older woman (who was eating in the same establishment) criticized my husband in front of my young child because she assumed that this was a regular occurrence. Perhaps she felt she had to because my husband was overweight (I often wonder if she would have said something to someone thinner or more fit).

This upset me greatly for so many reasons. This woman had no idea what my child's day was like. She had no knowledge of what my child's health was. She had no idea what her normal eating habits were.

So in conclusion, do not judge a situation unless you have all of the facts.

And I GREATLY appreciate that answer. I was not judging, I was honestly just curious as to the decision-making process that goes into this. Many of these responses have really opened my eyes to the decisions parents make, and how they do it, and now I am better informed. I appreciate those responses. (And I think I would have thrown my milk/ketchup/fist into that woman's face. Your husband is a better man that I.)

I can only say that when I was a child, if my parents had handed me a Happy Meal toy and a salad, I would have eaten the toy.

When I was a kid, my family very rarely ate out, and never at fast food places. We had meat, much of it hunted or homegrown, homegrown vegetables from Dad's garden, and I ate what my parents ate, period, there was no separate meal for the kid. I loved vegetables from childhood on, despite the fact that Mom cooked all veggies until soft. The only things I learned to hate were fried fish and canned tuna. --- Now I'm curious. Why do parents let their kids eat fast food and fried stuff? Why would the kids be allowed to make the decision? Is it just to avoid arguing with them about what they will eat? Wouldn't it be best to tell the kids you'll eat healthy food, you don't have a choice? Would somebody be kind enough to inform me?

Because some parents are the worst kind of parents who have no idea how to just say NO to their kids