Parents let their kids eat trash?

And yeah, I could have 1 soda or shirley temple if we went out to eat, but it was a treat, not the norm. It wasn't stocked at home. My parents taught me balance and I don't see many parents doing that anymore.

I still bartend sometimes to help out a friend with a restaurant. It makes me so disgusted and sad when parents allow their kid to drink 4 sodas or Shirley Temples over the course of a meal and let them order something with no veggies or any real nutritional value. They don't seem to realize what a disadvantage they are putting their kids at by doing this.

So you know that's how they eat at home then by seeing it in a restaurant.

Good call.

I know its been said, but it bears repeating here:

FAT IS NOT EVIL.
FAT IS A NECESSARY NUTRIENT.
CHILDREN NEED FAT FOR BRAIN GROWTH.
DO NOT PUT SMALL CHILDREN ON LOW FAT DIETS!!

While I'm as big an enemy of the "oh, just dip it in Ranch" movement as the next foodie? The fat in that ranch dressing makes the fat-soluble vitamins in the veggies its covering usable by your body. Even grownups shouldn't be trying to eat nonfat everything, and every time you eat a nonfat salad dressing and congratulate yourself on your wonderful nutrition, you're literally peeing away a bunch of vitally important micronutrients because they need to be eaten with fat for your body to absorb them.

all correct except really you're more pooping them away because they don't even have a chance to make it to the blood stream and get processed into the urine.

And yeah, I could have 1 soda or shirley temple if we went out to eat, but it was a treat, not the norm. It wasn't stocked at home. My parents taught me balance and I don't see many parents doing that anymore.

I still bartend sometimes to help out a friend with a restaurant. It makes me so disgusted and sad when parents allow their kid to drink 4 sodas or Shirley Temples over the course of a meal and let them order something with no veggies or any real nutritional value. They don't seem to realize what a disadvantage they are putting their kids at by doing this.

So you know that's how they eat at home then by seeing it in a restaurant.

Good call.

It's never okay, not even out to eat at a restaurant, as a treat, to allow a child to drink that many empty calories/ consume that much sugar. I'm not at all confident that a parent that allows that is very careful about what their kids eat the other 90% of the time, or has a thorough understanding of moderation, especially since most the kids who come in who are allowed to order that many sodas, are already overweight or obese. The kids who are allowed to order one prior to switching to water and get a "fun" meal with a veggie on the side, are usually a healthy weight. It does translate.

And yeah, I could have 1 soda or shirley temple if we went out to eat, but it was a treat, not the norm. It wasn't stocked at home. My parents taught me balance and I don't see many parents doing that anymore.

I still bartend sometimes to help out a friend with a restaurant. It makes me so disgusted and sad when parents allow their kid to drink 4 sodas or Shirley Temples over the course of a meal and let them order something with no veggies or any real nutritional value. They don't seem to realize what a disadvantage they are putting their kids at by doing this.

So you know that's how they eat at home then by seeing it in a restaurant.

Good call.

It's never okay, not even out to eat at a restaurant, as a treat, to allow a child to drink that many empty calories/ consume that much sugar. I'm not at all confident that a parent that allows that is very careful about what their kids eat the other 90% of the time, or has a thorough understanding of moderation, especially since most the kids who come in who are allowed to order that many sodas, are already overweight or obese. The kids who are allowed to order one prior to switching to water and get a "fun" meal with a veggie on the side, are usually a healthy weight. It does translate.

Weird, my kid is actually of healthy weight (even a touch below). He must be a special snowflake. :yawn:

Again, not to argue, but I know plenty of kids who could drink soda all day, everyday growing up and not gain a single pound. Heck, had I been allowed to do so, I would have been one of those kids. The difference is, since I grew up with only the occasional soda and small treats during a day that was 90% healthy food, I am an adult that is a healthy weight and body composition. The kids that grew up eating whatever they wanted because they could do so and not gain weight and therefore their parents didn't see an issue with them drinking a 2 liter bottle of soda everyday, are now overweight-obese and/or unhealthy. Weight is a concern, but it isn't the only concern, or even the main concern, in allowing your child to drink 5 sodas during one hour long dinner.

Again, not to argue, but I know plenty of kids who could drink soda all day, everyday growing up and not gain a single pound. Heck, had I been allowed to do so, I would have been one of those kids. The difference is, since I grew up with only the occasional soda and small treats during a day that was 90% healthy food, I am an adult that is a healthy weight and body composition. The kids that grew up eating whatever they wanted because they could do so and not gain weight and therefore their parents didn't see an issue with them drinking a 2 liter bottle of soda everyday, are now overweight-obese and/or unhealthy. Weight is a concern, but it isn't the only concern, or even the main concern, in allowing your child to drink 5 sodas during one hour long dinner.

5 sodas in an hour isn't moderation. That's what I teach my kids. Your OP spoke nothing of moderation, but cutting the food all together, unless I read it wrong.

It's not trash. It's food.

My parents tried to feed my sister and I very healthy foods when we were little. In fact, I have always liked broccoli, green beans, peas, milk (not chocolate milk either). I do remember going to school though and all of the other kids picked on me and called me weird because I liked to eat these things and would rather have them than the french fries---so I started eating the french fries and drinking the soda because I didn't want to be bullied anymore because of the things I was eating--no 7 year old wants to be "the weird veggie eating kid"

Now I wish I had just not cared what my peers said and stuck to the healthy things I liked in the first place because then I wouldn't be addicted to some of the crap that led me to being the size I am now.

My parents kept my sister and I away from too much TV (we mostly watched VHS tapes or educational programming without commercials to tempt us) and we played outside and were both involved in too many activities to count (my parents were those super parents who tried to get their kids involved in everything so we could figure out what we liked). When we did go out to eat we were allowed to eat what we wanted--but we only went out to eat when we were on vacation.

To this day, my best friend and husband still tease me because we still come across those childhood junkfood "staples" that I've never tried---most recently---cotton candy.

But even with all of my parents good intentions I still went to high school and to college and moved out on my own and made poor eating choices and now I'm overweight---and trying to fix that.

I'm not a parent so I'm in no position to look at those who are and try to figure out why they make the choices they do regarding their children. But from what I do see with my friends who are parents, the best you can do sometimes is try to steer your kids in the right direction when it comes to food by making them try all of the healthy things and finding the healthy items they do like. No matter how healthy kids eat generally--they're always going to want to eat the crappy stuff whether it be from peer pressure just because it's yummy so it's about teaching them the right way to approach eating and letting them make some choices on their own as they get older.

Sometimes you have to give a little to please the child and trust me, it is better to give then deal with some of those wild, no stopping for an hour tantrums.

This is why it is so controversial...Better for who? Sorry, but unless they are literally banging their heads on the floor - tantrums are a natural part of growing up. Dealing with tantrums is part of parenting, and teaching your child how to respectfully express themselves goes a lot further than just placating.

When kids in restaurants are screaming for whatever reason usually as their already embarrassed parents usher them out of earshot, it is because they are learning the rules, don't have a good handle on their emotions yet, and etc. When grown women are whining on the internet about everything all the time in the most negative and obnoxious ways repeatedly and calling little kids who are still in the learning curve "obnoxious" it is because they are

Then take them to a restaurant that accommodates families. Don't take them to the fancy place that couples are going to because you wanted a night out and your babysitter bagged on you. And I would LOVE to be at a restaurant where a parent ushers the unruly child out but they never do.

I don't go to restaurants geared towards families for that reason. In fact my husband and I were walking into a restaurant that we had never been to but heard good things about, heard about a million screaming children and walked right back out. When we're at a nice place and the waitress is steering us towards a table that has small children seated there we ask that they please sit us some place else. Why? Because I KNOW that while your child is being nice right now they're going to act up and run around and scream and pitch a fit while you sit there and sip your wine and think it's "darling". I don't need to have my nice, relaxing dinner ruined nor do I need to have your child come stand next to me or peer over the booth at me while I'm eating while you laugh and coo about how adorable he/she is.
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THIS. It is so true. I've gotten up and reseated myself across the restaurant because a couple with four or five young kids sat down at the next table. People think their children are so cute and everyone should want them around...this is rarely the case. One time on a plane I had a two or three year old sitting behind me that kept kicking my seat non-stop...I turned around and politely told the parent that if their little troll did not stop kicking my seat I was going to reach around and slap him. That did the job]

When kids in restaurants are screaming for whatever reason usually as their already embarrassed parents usher them out of earshot, it is because they are learning the rules, don't have a good handle on their emotions yet, and etc. When grown women are whining on the internet about everything all the time in the most negative and obnoxious ways repeatedly and calling little kids who are still in the learning curve "obnoxious" it is because they are

Then take them to a restaurant that accommodates families. Don't take them to the fancy place that couples are going to because you wanted a night out and your babysitter bagged on you. And I would LOVE to be at a restaurant where a parent ushers the unruly child out but they never do.

I don't go to restaurants geared towards families for that reason. In fact my husband and I were walking into a restaurant that we had never been to but heard good things about, heard about a million screaming children and walked right back out. When we're at a nice place and the waitress is steering us towards a table that has small children seated there we ask that they please sit us some place else. Why? Because I KNOW that while your child is being nice right now they're going to act up and run around and scream and pitch a fit while you sit there and sip your wine and think it's "darling". I don't need to have my nice, relaxing dinner ruined nor do I need to have your child come stand next to me or peer over the booth at me while I'm eating while you laugh and coo about how adorable he/she is.
[/quote






THIS. It is so true. I've gotten up and reseated myself across the restaurant because a couple with four or five young kids sat down at the next table. People think their children are so cute and everyone should want them around...this is rarely the case. One time on a plane I had a two or three year old sitting behind me that kept kicking my seat non-stop...I turned around and politely told the parent that if their little troll did not stop kicking my seat I was going to reach around and slap him. That did the job]

AMEN!

I don't have kids but I was a nanny, and I have all the respect in the world for parents and everything they put up with, but don't bring them to the nice restaurants and let them scream and ruin my dinner. If your sitter bailed on you or you didn't have one in the first place, I'm sorry. That sucks, but those are the sacrifices you have to make when you become a parent. This is the exact reason my husband and I are making the choice to not have children for awhile.

Although to be fair I think restaurants should accept some responsibility here. If you are not a family-oriented establishment, you should be politely asking patrons with screaming children to either quiet them or leave. That family may not come back to your restaurant again, but by letting them scream I bet your restaurant is losing more business because the people who don't have kids or hired a sitter do not want want date night interrupted in that way.

When kids in restaurants are screaming for whatever reason usually as their already embarrassed parents usher them out of earshot, it is because they are learning the rules, don't have a good handle on their emotions yet, and etc. When grown women are whining on the internet about everything all the time in the most negative and obnoxious ways repeatedly and calling little kids who are still in the learning curve "obnoxious" it is because they are

Then take them to a restaurant that accommodates families. Don't take them to the fancy place that couples are going to because you wanted a night out and your babysitter bagged on you. And I would LOVE to be at a restaurant where a parent ushers the unruly child out but they never do.

I don't go to restaurants geared towards families for that reason. In fact my husband and I were walking into a restaurant that we had never been to but heard good things about, heard about a million screaming children and walked right back out. When we're at a nice place and the waitress is steering us towards a table that has small children seated there we ask that they please sit us some place else. Why? Because I KNOW that while your child is being nice right now they're going to act up and run around and scream and pitch a fit while you sit there and sip your wine and think it's "darling". I don't need to have my nice, relaxing dinner ruined nor do I need to have your child come stand next to me or peer over the booth at me while I'm eating while you laugh and coo about how adorable he/she is.
[/quote






THIS. It is so true. I've gotten up and reseated myself across the restaurant because a couple with four or five young kids sat down at the next table. People think their children are so cute and everyone should want them around...this is rarely the case. One time on a plane I had a two or three year old sitting behind me that kept kicking my seat non-stop...I turned around and politely told the parent that if their little troll did not stop kicking my seat I was going to reach around and slap him. That did the job]

Ummmm...if you slapped my kid you'd be dealing with assault charges. I find it funny that you find it appropriate to deal with a child who is behaving badly by behaving worse than said child....

When kids in restaurants are screaming for whatever reason usually as their already embarrassed parents usher them out of earshot, it is because they are learning the rules, don't have a good handle on their emotions yet, and etc. When grown women are whining on the internet about everything all the time in the most negative and obnoxious ways repeatedly and calling little kids who are still in the learning curve "obnoxious" it is because they are

Then take them to a restaurant that accommodates families. Don't take them to the fancy place that couples are going to because you wanted a night out and your babysitter bagged on you. And I would LOVE to be at a restaurant where a parent ushers the unruly child out but they never do.

I don't go to restaurants geared towards families for that reason. In fact my husband and I were walking into a restaurant that we had never been to but heard good things about, heard about a million screaming children and walked right back out. When we're at a nice place and the waitress is steering us towards a table that has small children seated there we ask that they please sit us some place else. Why? Because I KNOW that while your child is being nice right now they're going to act up and run around and scream and pitch a fit while you sit there and sip your wine and think it's "darling". I don't need to have my nice, relaxing dinner ruined nor do I need to have your child come stand next to me or peer over the booth at me while I'm eating while you laugh and coo about how adorable he/she is.

THIS. It is so true. I've gotten up and reseated myself across the restaurant because a couple with four or five young kids sat down at the next table. People think their children are so cute and everyone should want them around...this is rarely the case. One time on a plane I had a two or three year old sitting behind me that kept kicking my seat non-stop...I turned around and politely told the parent that if their little troll did not stop kicking my seat I was going to reach around and slap him. That did the job]

Or go to a restaurant that doesn't allow kids, if it bothers you so much.



You threatened physical harm to a kid...gosh you're a tough guy.

Remember this guy? http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/baby-slapped-on-plane-571923

Ummmm...if you slapped my kid you'd be dealing with assault charges. I find it funny that you find it appropriate to deal with a child who is behaving badly by behaving worse than said child....

You meant this:

Ummmm...if you slapped my kid I'D be dealing with assault charges.

I'd rather go with the former, it'd me more worth it in the long run...and fun to watch.

Pay attention. I did NOT slap the kid. I succeeded in getting the PARENTS to make the kid stop, which was the idea.

Remember this guy? http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/baby-slapped-on-plane-571923

I was thinking about that!