too young to be healthy???
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When I was little, I loved the low fat whole wheat crackers and baked lays chips that my friend always had in her lunchbox at school. When I asked for them at home, I was given the same answer the kid in your story got. I was given the most fattening full fat food known to man (I'm serious, like an entire bag of chips and burgers for lunch daily). My mother just couldn't or wouldn't see the future effeccts of what she was doing to me....Needless to say, now I'm over 200 lbs because of my addiction to sugar and fatty foods I developed as a child. Oh yeah, I saw my long lost friend the other day and of course we all know she was awesome and totally in shape. I think kids need to be taught at a young age to choose healthy foods, your never too young to be healthy!!!0
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Really, this is a difficult topic. Too young to be healthy? Of course there's no such thing. But let's look at where the mother was possibly coming from.
Weight is a BIG topic these days, especially when it comes to children. While I am all for the attempt to battle the childhood obesity epidemic, I also have a lot of concern about how vocal this issue has become. Not because it should be hidden, but because children hear everything, and everything they hear when they're younger sticks in their heads and can have unforeseen repercussions.
In this case, I would have bought the low fat. But I would have bought the low fat anyway, without needing prompting from my child. The sad thing is that, at 7 years old, she really is ripe to start developing body image issues and eating disorders. Many people who have suffered from eating disorders will tell you that this is about the age when the thoughts and negativity and proclivities started taking root.
So for me, I look at the mother's response and wonder if it wasn't rooted in fear. Fear that says, my young daughter is is concerned about her weight. She is too young to start developing concern, I don't want her to worry. I want her to be a happy child.
Was her reaction to her own fear appropriate (if, in fact, it was fear that spurred it)? No, I don't think so. I think this is a time to talk (casually) about healthy choices and to pick up the low fat version. Children this age want to be talked to and made to understand, not brushed off for being children. Make it clear to the little girl that it is a good thing to be healthy, but steer clear of weight and ask some kind questions to see what's going on with her daughter. Did she see something on tv that prompted it? Was it something someone said?
I should make it clear -- I am not a mother, so maybe this isn't my place. But I've always felt like a mother to my (significantly) younger siblings, and I've had to talk health with my younger sister before.0 -
Was there by any chance a picture of Dora or Cars or something else on there that the child was fixated on rather than the fact that is was low-fat/sugar free? I have had my kids ask for the strangest things that they have never tried because of what was on the box. Also, if they saw a commercial for a product, they will always try to get it because the commercial people can't lie right? I don't agree with the mom's answer, but her reason for asking could be from any number of sources.
lol, very well could have been. I wasn't watching them, just heard them. She said she would buy her one, but not all of the stuff she bought would be, so who knows?
For the record, my kids eat in moderation, so if they want fat-free, sugar-free, chalk full of sugar, etc. they can have it, because they will also eat healthier stuff like fresh fruits and veggies, etc. So, they might ask for Cheetos and an apple...Have at it.
I'm not for or against that mom (who did not appear to be the most healthy person in the world, but who am I to judge), just thought it to be strange, was all.0 -
My daughter's friend is as skinny as can be and was talking about getting skinnier than their friend. She doesn't eat a lot at all and is worried about her weight. Now at 9 years old I do see worrying about weight a being a problem especially when she is actually super skinny. She also scammed the calorie and fat intake on things she ate. I was shocked. Now if the lady was turning the kid down for fruit & veggies I would have thought the same thing. I agree that fat free & lower fat products maybe lower in fat but they do have a lot of other chemicals in them and is not even really "healthy". I read the box of instant mashed potatoes and couldn't believe how much stuff was in them. I am not a person who has to have everything 100% but lately have been transforming. My daughter loves Coke she claims she can't go a day without drinking one. She says she will drink diet pop instead but I believe that is worse for her! I just am getting her out of the habit all together. Neither is a good choice but in reality I would rather have her drink the regular coke.
I don't believe anyone is really too young to eat healthy at all but different people have different ideas of what is healthy and what is not
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Perhaps the mother chose her words wrong.. I bet she doesn't want her daughter to become "obsessed" with food that early, perhaps the mother is on a diet, or been struggling to keep fit, and to be honest I would worry that my child would be developing an eating disorder that early!! so I bet she meant "you're too young to be worried about dieting". To be healthy is not to choose the light/diet/sugar-free version of something,but to replace it with fruits or vegetables instead.
However, What I've heard is that all these low-fat, sugar free and light versions tend to be worse than the actual thing itself. Why? because you think you're doing something right eating them, so instead of eating a small portion of whatever you want to eat, you end up eating a larger one because you think it's not so bad for your health. It happens with tobacco as well, it's got less nicotine, therefore instead of smoking only one to calm you down, you need two or three... in the end you end up smoking twice as much. The only thing that is bad for a healthy balanced diet is too eat too much of the same thing.0 -
Too young to be healthy? No.
Too young to be so concerned with body image that they want all the processed artificially reduced fat/reduced sugar stuff? YES!
My kids are very thin and pretty darn healthy. I don't buy them reduced fat or reduced sugar stuff unless 1) I'm buying it for me too and we're sharing or 2) it's NATURALLY that way. There is no reason that *my kids* can't have full fat cheese or regular potato chips or regular granola cereal. I do buy them lots of "naturally" reduced stuff - like no-sugar-added applesauce and no-sugar-added jam/jelly.0 -
When I was little, I loved the low fat whole wheat crackers and baked lays chips that my friend always had in her lunchbox at school. When I asked for them at home, I was given the same answer the kid in your story got. I was given the most fattening full fat food known to man (I'm serious, like an entire bag of chips and burgers for lunch daily). My mother just couldn't or wouldn't see the future effeccts of what she was doing to me....Needless to say, now I'm over 200 lbs because of my addiction to sugar and fatty foods I developed as a child. Oh yeah, I saw my long lost friend the other day and of course we all know she was awesome and totally in shape. I think kids need to be taught at a young age to choose healthy foods, your never too young to be healthy!!!
I always loved rice cakes when I was younger.
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i can deffinately see where the lady is coming from! Children need to be healthy and built up nicely and healthily! no need for low fat when they are so young 0
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I think it's a weird reply for sure because kids should be taught healthy eating habits so they become lifelong habits. However, I don't think that lowfat/sugar-free, etc, are healthy choices because generally other stuff is put in to replace the sugar,etc. I think moderation is really what needs to be taught and learned. In my opinion, the real stuff is better than the altered stuff - in moderation and correct portion size.
should have read your answer before I posted. ITA.0 -
Too young to be healthy? No.
Too young to be so concerned with body image that they want all the processed artificially reduced fat/reduced sugar stuff? YES!
My kids are very thin and pretty darn healthy. I don't buy them reduced fat or reduced sugar stuff unless 1) I'm buying it for me too and we're sharing or 2) it's NATURALLY that way. There is no reason that *my kids* can't have full fat cheese or regular potato chips or regular granola cereal. I do buy them lots of "naturally" reduced stuff - like no-sugar-added applesauce and no-sugar-added jam/jelly.
My kids are always eating my veggie stix and chips, probably because I call them "mommy" chips, lol.0 -
I wouldn't buy low-fat or reduced-fat stuff for my kids. Fat is brain food. Low-fat does not mean healthy.
agree with this...as kids are growing, fat helps the brain develop. Of course, I do believe in monitoring HOW MUCH fat is taken in...I work at a children's hospital and see kids that weigh as much a me...6-7 year olds, no joke!0 -
When children are very young, pediatricians do recommend "full-fat" products like milk because they need those fats for their growing bodies. However, as they get older, parents are recommended to provide the 2% milk and such. I'm not sure how that rule applies to processed foods like crackers and snacks. I'm wary of most things labeled "low fat" or "fat free" just because I know its usually replaced with something else like extra sodium and sugar. So, on the occasion my girls are given an oreo, its the full fat kind because its something that is an occasional treat. I don't buy the kiddie yogurts, they eat the same Chobani I do with frozen blueberries added.
Thankfully, my children readily eat fruits and vegetables and would still choose grapes or an apple over chips or fries if given the choice. As far as body image goes they have said a few things that I pay attention to because I want to avoid unrealistic expectations. My daughters (5 and 4) will say things like they will grow longer "Rapunzel hair" if they choose healthier options. I want them to understand about nutrition and nourishing their bodies but it is concerning they compare themselves to Disney characters or Barbies at such an early age. I'm always reinforcing that is a toy, never a real body.0 -
I wouldn't buy low-fat or reduced-fat stuff for my kids. Fat is brain food. Low-fat does not mean healthy.
same here! full fat (in an appropriate portion size) all the way!0 -
I buy the low fat/fat free stuff for my kids (they are 5, 8 and 11). They have always gotten it. Sugar free, yeah, as long as it doesn't have aspartame in it. But, we are weird, we also do fluoride free water and toothpaste.0
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I buy the low fat/fat free stuff for my kids (they are 5, 8 and 11). They have always gotten it. Sugar free, yeah, as long as it doesn't have aspartame in it. But, we are weird, we also do fluoride free water and toothpaste.
Fluoride isn't good for you when you ingest it, so I'm with you on that front. *high five*0 -
I would say, that parent didn't want her child to be worried about her body weight at age 7. That's all, not that she doesn't want her to be healthy.
Poor girl should be able to enjoy being a kid without worrying about being fat..at age 7. Nothing wrong with eating healthy as a child, but I understand why the parent took the action she did. I heard somewhere that a lot of young girls like that are concerned about their body weight. Unnecessary stress on the child IMO.0 -
I guess I was thinking more along the lines of the kid just liked the way certain things tasted and not that she felt like she looked fat, but then again, I can't read minds, so could be she thought she was a whale. It was just not my initial thought...
i get that....i can understand your thinking that way at first....but yea, you never know. I was allowed to drink diet coke as a kid, because I liked the way it tasted (regular has always been too sweet for me!) and parents used to think my mom was making me drink diet! or they would always ask if i was worried about my weight, why am i drinking diet, etc etc. The real question is why was I allowed to drink so much soda PERIOD :ohwell:0 -
Not enough info here. This is situation dependent. I personally am not a fan of low fat products although I absolutely control my fat intake. My 11 yo daughter is a waif at 65 lbs. If she started asking for low fat items, it would concern me, although, my response would not be " you are too young". We would be having a long talk about being healthy and eating sensibly.0
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To hedge a little . . . I don't necessarily disagree with either your position or hers in full, but we have gluten intolerances in my house so our shopping cart looks a little different than some others when it comes to snacks. I don't buy chips and what not anyway, so that's not really a convo that we're going to be having anytime soon, and crackers must be gluten free so that limits selection. That being said, I don't do sugar free or fat free what nots for my son. he's two and if he's having yogurt or cottage cheese it's plain and full fat (he still needs the fats in dairy products for brain development), we then add fruit (we never buy flavored) and no sugar and that's our healthy version. At the end of the day, I try to buy the stuff that has the least amount of ingredents on the label, not necessarily the lowest sugar, fat, or calorie count. I suppose it's 2 different ways of looking at "eating healthy."0
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Young, growing children should not be having fat free, low fat, etc. They are growing, active children.
Yes, they should eat fruits and veggies and avoid lots of sugar, candy, and soda. But they should still be drinking 2% milk, not fat free.
There's a difference between too much fat and sugar, and not enough. There's also a difference between an active and a sedentary child.0 -
Low calorie, low fat, nonfat versions of snacks aren't necessarily healthier. The additives to make them that way are probably less healthy for a kid than the full fat version. Plus fat in foods doesn't mean it's unhealthy. I wouldn't necessarily say it's a matter of being "too young to be healthy" but more being "too young to be concerned about eating low fat over regular food."0
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I don't call low fat and sugar free and all that crap healthy anyway. Usually if there's less one of one thing then there's more of another.
Is it too young to be asking for fruits and veggies as snacks? Heck, no. I would give my child that any day but I do kind of agree that at that age a child shouldn't be eating the other stuff. It's full of crap either way. It's not healthy because it says low fat.0 -
We do not buy low fat/reduced calorie foods in our house. For the kids or for us. We also don't buy any pre-made/frozen meals, anything with a cartoon character, or things like mac and cheese in a box.
Fats are incredibly important for kids, especially in the first few years. At 7 they do become a bit less important, but teaching them about nutrition and how to be healthy does not mean teaching them about additive filled low fat foods. It means teaching them portion control, whats good for your body and whats not, exercise and moderation when they do have treats.0 -
Sounds like the kid may be coping what they see their parents eating???
I think that feeding kids low-fat, sugar free, etc... is not the best. My thought behind this is that we shouldn't be feeding our children hyper processed foods to begin with. Perhaps focusing more on "real" food... Processed foods are a culprit for the childhood obesity epidemic. Furthermore... If a child is active and eating healthy they shouldn't need a 100 calorie pack, low fat, sugar free, etc... They will be healthy naturally though just being a kid, exercise, and eating right.0 -
You know, if she was telling her kid she couldn't have vegetables or fresh fruits I could agree that it was weird, but "fat-free, lowfat, sugar-free" don't qualify as healthy foods at my house. For that matter, the regular versions of most crackers and snacks don't qualify as healthy here either.0
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You know, if she was telling her kid she couldn't have vegetables or fresh fruits I could agree that it was weird, but "fat-free, lowfat, sugar-free" don't qualify as healthy foods at my house. For that matter, the regular versions of most crackers and snacks don't qualify as healthy here either.
This is true, those are not the idea of "healthy" foods. I don't have them in my house (mine is more veggie chips and stix and fruits and vegetables and on rare occassion Cheetos and popcorn for the kids). I just thought it weird that the child asked for it and her mom said no. I guess the conversation was just strange to me. Actually, the kid even asking for that type of food specifically seems off. But, what do I know?
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My kid would absolutely NOT be getting it at age 7 as I don't think the chemical or sugar substitutes added to low-fat or reduced fat are healthy - particularly not for children. Unless a child has a problem with obesity and is advised to do so by a doctor I would absolutely not purchase such things for my child.
Sugar free, on the other hand, we already aim for.
Exactly. Low fat does not necessarily equal healthier. It'soften stuffed with unpronouncables and sugar. So yes, I understand why that lady in the shop said that.0 -
Oh geez, Bry, you started it...
Here goes MY 6 cents (since I have 3 small children, 2 cents each for me!)
Weight problems run in my hub's and my families, as well as heart disease and diabetes.
Hub and I have battled for Years getting to/maintaining a healthy weight.
Our older 2 kids go to boxing 3x a week, and want to start running with Hub and/or me.
All 3 of my kids are at healthy weights, the photos of health. So am I.
I do NOT believe in double standards (what I eat, my kids eat).
Our bodies are going to be with us for the rest of our lives, we need to teach our kids good habits when they're young.
We often talk about and discuss healthy options, why we eat what we do, the purpose behind specific foods (tomatoes for muscle soreness, dairy for bones, fish for the brain, carrots for the eyes, papayas to make us stressless and happy, etc), and why we do things like cake in moderation.
*this being said*
We buy nearly everything fat free, low fat, sugar free, low sodium, etc.
My kids tend to "snitch" things from our fridge like strawberries, apples, carrots, quinoa, and yogurt.
The phrases "you need protein to recover from your workout" and "balanced diet" as well as other similar saying often leave my mouth.
We don't purchase "bad" food. However, if someone else offers it to my kids, that's fine.
The ones that can read, I ask them to flip the labels so they know what they're eating.
We live a pretty decent version of a pescatarian lifestyle.
If you want to challenge me on what I choose to feed my family, take it up with my doctor who specializes in sports medicine (therefore actually knows about nutrition and works with professional athletes) because unlike most people, I did ask my doctor about changes our eating habits before throwing myself full-time into these practices and he said this is a great diet plan.0 -
Oh geez, Bry, you started it...
Here goes MY 6 cents (since I have 3 small children, 2 cents each for me!)
Weight problems run in my hub's and my families, as well as heart disease and diabetes.
Hub and I have battled for Years getting to/maintaining a healthy weight.
Our older 2 kids go to boxing 3x a week, and want to start running with Hub and/or me.
All 3 of my kids are at healthy weights, the photos of health. So am I.
I do NOT believe in double standards (what I eat, my kids eat).
Our bodies are going to be with us for the rest of our lives, we need to teach our kids good habits when they're young.
We often talk about and discuss healthy options, why we eat what we do, the purpose behind specific foods (tomatoes for muscle soreness, dairy for bones, fish for the brain, carrots for the eyes, papayas to make us stressless and happy, etc), and why we do things like cake in moderation.
*this being said*
We buy nearly everything fat free, low fat, sugar free, low sodium, etc.
My kids tend to "snitch" things from our fridge like strawberries, apples, carrots, quinoa, and yogurt.
The phrases "you need protein to recover from your workout" and "balanced diet" as well as other similar saying often leave my mouth.
We don't purchase "bad" food. However, if someone else offers it to my kids, that's fine.
The ones that can read, I ask them to flip the labels so they know what they're eating.
We live a pretty decent version of a pescatarian lifestyle.
If you want to challenge me on what I choose to feed my family, take it up with my doctor who specializes in sports medicine (therefore actually knows about nutrition and works with professional athletes) because unlike most people, I did ask my doctor about changes our eating habits before throwing myself full-time into these practices and he said this is a great diet plan.
funny enough, I never said the mom was WRONG for her decision. I said I thought it was STRANGE. Different, but not WRONG. No one seemed to notice that, though.... I wasn't trying to start any battles, just saying what I heard and how it came across as strange to me and wondered how others would have taken it. Some of them act as if I spanked the lady for telling her kid no. lol :laugh:0 -
Children need fat. I don't believe that non-fat automatically equals healthy either. I read that hte only thing low-fat you should bother with is dairy products anyway or of course things naturally low fat. My kids get whole wheat breast, pasta, veggies, fruit, limited sweets BUT they get full fat cheese!
Despite drinking organic skim milk myself, there is a lot of processing done to make skim milk and semi-skim and they put additives in it make make it thicker (this goes for organic milk too). Because of the processing skim and semi-skim milk and the saturated fats in whole milk I don't really see milk as a health food/drink.
It just comes down to personal choices, IMO. I also have full fat cheese : )0
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