How do your kids eat?

kngarber · February 2011

I know a lot of you have children, so I am curious what you feed them?

Do you only allow them to eat what you eat or do you still allow them some junk food?
I really am going to try and keep nothing but healthy in the house, because obviously it won't hurt my children to eat healthy and they will get treats at parties and at daycare. We had a really great meal tonight and both the girls loved it...AND it was quick. My youngest will eat anything, but my oldest is very particular.

So how do you do it in your house? Any healthy suggestions your children love?

miznel80 · February 2011

My kiddos usually eat whatever we eat but we don't deprive them of treats. They can have some here and there (candy, cookies, etc.) But they've cut back a lot on sugary items, as we've been keeping more fruits in our home.

Tonight we are having salmon and rice. They don't want it, so I'm going to have daddy make them some tuna

Both are easy and fast

turtle12 · February 2011

My kids get one treat a day. If they complain they are hungry in between meals they can have healthy options like apple sclices carrots or cheese sticks.

SkinnyRachel · February 2011

I try really hard to only have healthy in the house and to fix the same thing for all of us. I figure if healthy eating is important for me, then it has to be important for the rest of my family (girl, boy and husband). There has been a fussing along the way, but slowly I am winning them over to my side.

I have noticed that it cuts down on how much they are "hungry" if their choices are an apple or yogurt instead of chips or cookies. Hostess makes chocolate cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes and twinkies in 100 calorie packs. I've made those the "treats" in our house instead of cookies or candy and the kids seem to love them and not miss the other stuff.

lilchino4af · February 2011

Growing up, we ate what our parents ate, no exceptions. And if we didn't finish out plate, no dessert, which didn't phase me one bit since I didn't have a sweet tooth. My brother on the other hand would sit at the dinner table for almost 3 hours poking at cold green beans because he was bound and determined to get dessert lol.

When we have kids, we're going to introduce them to healthier stuff right off the bat so they don't get spoiled with the junk food. My husband doesn't care what food is in the house so long as he can still have his double stuffed oreos, so I guess that's a fair compromise

And the occassional treats like birthday cake won't hurt anything and will be seen as something to look forward to (my friend would get excited to come to our house because we had sodas and that was the only time she'd allow herself one).

tammy200678 · February 2011

MY 4 year old has treats but in limit and try to do suger free but will eat what we eat to but i think u just have to watch and not let it get out of control

muth3rluvx2 · February 2011

My kids eat what's made. My youngest and I used to have battles over noodles vs. veggies when he was a toddler, but that didn't last too long. They get mostly healthy but being kids, I don't deprive them of treats. Of course, sometimes, a "treat" to my kids is a carrot. My 11 year old begged for pickled okra all weekend - that was HIS treat. Seafood is another big one, especially crab legs. So, it depends on how you define "treat". Junk food is infrequent but far from absent (assuming you mean ding dongs and not hot dogs). They definitely take a back, back, back seat to the healthy stuff though.

rizorw · February 2011

I have a 5yo and a 6yo. I have not changed their diet yet. I have only been dieting for about a month and a half and have changed my diet drastically. I cook the same for them and make my food seporate. It takes a lot of willpower to stick with my food. I am slowly changing their diet to be more healthy. I started adding salad to their dinner and sharing my raw veggies during snack. This has made the experiance better for them. I hope this will make them like the healthy stuff and not hate it because they "have" to eat it. We hated being forced to eat veggies at dinner when we were kids.
As long as they like what they are eating it is good to keep doing what you are doing.

velix · February 2011

my kids are older (18 & 14) but my 18 yr old is a picky eater (unfortunately due to my choices as a young mom back when) - but they eat what I make, and I try to take into consideration what everyone likes while introducing new things with old favorites.

JMJohnson1005 · February 2011

Our son (18 months) eats what we eat. He is actually the reason we started eating healthier. I didn't want him growing up on junk food. He loves fruits and veggies and pretty much anything else you give him. His faves are bananas, apples, green beans and salad. He also loves bread and pasta (gets it honestly from me), but we try to limit it.

muth3rluvx2 · February 2011

Growing up, we ate what our parents ate, no exceptions. And if we didn't finish out plate, no dessert, which didn't phase me one bit since I didn't have a sweet tooth. My brother on the other hand would sit at the dinner table for almost 3 hours poking at cold green beans because he was bound and determined to get dessert lol.

When we have kids, we're going to introduce them to healthier stuff right off the bat so they don't get spoiled with the junk food. My husband doesn't care what food is in the house so long as he can still have his double stuffed oreos, so I guess that's a fair compromise And the occassional treats like birthday cake won't hurt anything and will be seen as something to look forward to (my friend would get excited to come to our house because we had sodas and that was the only time she'd allow herself one).

This is exactly how it should be done!! Veggies for first foods - NOT FRUIT!! Otherwise they get spoiled for the sweet stuff. :-) I really think this is how I won with not having any major pickiness. There's some genuine dislikes (my younger genuinely doesn't like tomatoes, potatoes and bell peppers; my older genuinely dislikes cooked bell peppers and cooked tomatos and he's just recently started eating tomatos raw & mushrooms) - but some of that will change as they grow and tastebuds alter.

dspearsb · February 2011

I've never really restricted my kids from anything. I once worked in a childcare center and there was a young girl who wasn't allowed ANY sweets, not even juice. While I was cleaning up the mess from a Bday party another child had, that little girl was crawling under the table trying to eat the leftover cupcakes off the floor. It was so sad.

So I promised self when I had kids I wouldn't restrict them because then they find alternative means to get what they want. I allow them to eat what they want and it's working; they don't ask for junk.

Tarah1357 · February 2011

My 3 year old does not always eat what I eat. He has gotten very picky over time. He will eat a lot of the same foods I eat, aside from salad and veggies and he does love certain fruits. Usually if I know he won't eat what I'm eating, I'll make him something that's similar. I always offer it to him though. As far as snacks, pretty much everything in my house is 100 calorie or sugar free. I buy a lot of low fat/low sodium foods...all whole grain bread & pasta and he doesn't know the difference. He does love the occasional happy meal though!

callipygianchronicle · February 2011

I have a three-year-old who has always been a healthy eater. She loves fruit and vegetables. If I don’t stop her, she will eat an entire pint of blueberries or cherry tomatoes in a single sitting. We usually have small, but separate snacks and meals during the day (she grazes, I eat meals). But at dinner she receives a small portion of whatever I have prepared. The only exception is if we are having something particularly spicy, like tacos. Then I will usually give her an assortment of fruit, some yogurt, and some quick-nuked frozen mixed vegetables. We consider anything eaten after dinner to be a treat. Sometimes that treat is fruit or a piece of bread, sometimes it’s ice cream or candy. We talk often about sometimes foods and anytime foods (from Sesame Street) and she understands that we are more likely to agree to her snacking o an anytime food than a sometimes food.

Brighteyessd · February 2011

We keep a good range of healthy and junk in our house. I dont deprived them. I have serious weight issues due to being deprived as a child. My mom wouldnt even allow us to use salt because it was bad for us. I'm teaching my kids healthy eating habits by teaching them moderation techniques early. I do this so they have a healthy relationship with food. They know what junk food is and how too much of a "good thing" is bad. My 6 year old doesnt even like chocolate and when asked if she wants juice she prefers plain water.
I wish I was taught to have a healthy relationship with food young. As a teenager I was the one sneaking super sized meals at McDonalds because I wanted too much to make up for not having it at all. Dessert was also used as a reward which seriously backfired too. "Eat all your dinner and you can have dessert". What mom failed to realize was that if I was full I should be using my body's cues to stop eating, not to continue to pack the food down JUST to get dessert in the end which was what I did. Anything for that dessert!
Right now in order to lose weight I tend to deprive myself, then give into temptation and over indulge. One day I may figure it out but luckily my kids will learn it young.

abyt42 · February 2011

With both hands?

We're trying to eat more like them (lots of vegetables, few sauces), though now trying to get more calorie dense foods into them. They're also very fond of bagels, something I'm trying to limit for myself. (And I drink WAY more coffee than they do!)

anbegley · February 2011

I have much better choices for my children then myself, until recently. My 4 year old even got a funny sideways glance from an older woman in the grocery store one day when he asked if we could get more broccoli (he loves the stuff--I tolerate it). I do not deny them sweets. With that said, they rarely ask for them, so once in a while is fine. Just like for me, if I deny too long, then I gorge when I do eat it , so I take the same philosophy with them.

Crowhorse · February 2011

A treat to my 19 month old is olives.

willows · February 2011

My daughter eats what I eat but I also know she is a growing toddler and I never discuss dieting or counting calories with her. I would like to think that she will develop life long healthy eating habits by following a good example set by me. That is part of the reason why we all do this right? For our health and to live longer fuller lives. This is what we want for our children also. It was also important to me to educate myself on what my children really need for their growing bodies. Their needs are very different from mine so i accommodate them.

I only have healthy foods around the house. Fresh fruits and veggies especially and I rarely have "goodies" or "treats" around the house. Only for special occasions. I never used candy for potty training either. Kids get enough treats when they are with friends, daycare, preschool or birthday parties that I just don't feel like I should add to that at home.

I think its easier to teach children the correct way to eat then it is for them as grown adults to have to learn for themselves.

austepants · February 2011

I try my best to keep my kids on a balanced and healthy diet. Fruit, veggies, and protein at every meal. They don't eat junk food except on rare occasions and even that it might be 2 small cookies or tiny bowl of ice cream. A treat for my boys is a "Cookie" which is usually a graham cracker. I don't want them to learn to eat unhealthy like I did when I was a kid. Don't get me wrong they do get McDonald's occasionally but like I said not often and that's usually with Nana! What is great about feeding my kids like this is that they don't constantly hound me for cookies or ice cream or junk foods!!

southernlay_d · February 2011

They would eat with their hands, if I let them :oP

southernlay_d · February 2011

Just kidding. They eat tons of fruit. I don't buy "junk food", so they don't have that option. They pretty much eat what we eat.

maserati185 · February 2011

My kids still lean towards sugars, because I would unintentionally praise them before "Mmmmm. This is SO good!" BUT... since I've taken most sweets out of the house, they eat a lot of berries, bananas and apples, which I let them have a lot of, although I even limit those sugars for myself. Nowadays, when we go out to eat though, I say "water for me and the boys" and even if the drink comes with the kids meal, we do water. I find the water more valuable anyhow. I DID give them candy for V-day today, but it was a small amount by comparison to what I would have given them in the past. I feel like it's okay in moderation, as long as we're all eating healthier, in general, at meal/snack times.

Sherri0706 · February 2011

I started eating healthier a year ago. Some of the foods I didn't give them a choice about - brown eggs/rice/pasta instead of white, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, veggie chips instead of potato chips, water instead of Koolade. Other things I left them decide on their own, like between almond milk or whole. And I stopped going through any kind of drive thru's. A year later and they are making correct choices on their own and we are becoming a healthier family. It was actually harder to get my husband on board then it was to get our 4 kids!

southernlay_d · February 2011

It was actually harder to get my husband on board then it was to get our 4 kids!

Amen to this!!!

twogoots · February 2011

This is all new to me so I am very interested in this thread. My 3 year old is not the best eater, but I have tried to limit the sugary snacks to more healthy snacks. If she does not eat my dinner( spaghetti, for example tonight), I can usually get her to eat something healthy along the lines of turkey, ham or a turkey dog with a side veggie and fruit options. I am really trying to work on this so I will be checking on this thread often. Thanks for posting this.

ajbeans · February 2011

Our kids eat what we eat, with some exceptions. We like spicy food but they're not really old enough for that yet, so I'll make them something else on those nights. They also won't eat soup, so I'll either scoop out the solids or make them something else. Otherwise, they eat what we eat. I do let them have treats though -- fruit snacks, canned mandarins, graham crackers, etc. I limit that stuff to two small portions a day, because otherwise they'll just wait for snack and not eat their healthy foods. But mostly they eat what we eat. They've been good about trying new things since we started a rule that they had to try at least one bite, and they haven't hated anything that I've given them yet. They even loved roasted asparagus.

mamagooskie · February 2011

My kids eat whatever....but only if it`s in the house, so chips and candy is usually a treat on movie nights or around the holidays. They eat what we eat mostly but they do get mcdonalds when I choose subway or edo and it`s not often at all (anymore)

I don`t want them to be on a diet just because I am.........I think it`s important for them to learn self control when it comes to foods like cake, cookies, chips, etc and I don`t to say no so much that when they do get those things they eat as much of it as they can because they don`t know when mom will say yes again.

muth3rluvx2 · February 2011

Ooh.. one of the things I noticed with my 2nd (I was a little more rigid with my 1st - not uncommon) is that kids WILL self-regulate so long as they aren't bieng forced nor is whatever sweet is around all the time. My now 8 year old can serve himself a big bowl of ice cream and he'll only eat 1/4 of it. Not the best idea for learning to SERVE portion control, but really.. I'm not going to stress if he doesn't eat all his ice cream. I think the biggest treats he'll abuse are chocolate candy, gum and suckers.

sassylilmama · February 2011

My kids have always loved their veggies and fruits. My 8 year old even love brussel sprouts! Our day consists of 2 snacks, one morning and one afternoon. I try to have both snacks be a fruit or veggie, sometimes a couple slices of cheese and crackers. But they are allowed treats such as candy or cookie as well. But only if they have eaten the healthy foods offered to them that day. I will still bake cookies or cakes on occasion but they will get 1 a day.

I want them to learn that all foods can be ok in moderation and enjoying an occasional sweet is ok.

How do your kids eat?

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