Child nutrition in 2018

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  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Ziaki wrote: »
    I'm a waitress and more often than not I see children make horrible meal choices and, even worse, the parents encouraging it.

    It's so hard to bite my tongue when a child wants to order pop but their parent will say, "No you can have juice." I want to shake them so hard and scream that it's just as bad (especially the fountain lemonade).

    How sad it is that I'm absolutely shocked when a child orders grilled chicken and broccoli. I never make a comment about poor choices but whenever a child makes a good food choice I always say something encouraging like "Ooh great choice. That sounds yummy!" something like that.

    I avoid judging others as much as I possibly can. Especially on such petty things as you mention. I find that it distracts me from my own areas in need of improvement.
  • nettiklive
    nettiklive Posts: 206 Member
    Ziaki wrote: »
    I'm a waitress and more often than not I see children make horrible meal choices and, even worse, the parents encouraging it.

    It's so hard to bite my tongue when a child wants to order pop but their parent will say, "No you can have juice." I want to shake them so hard and scream that it's just as bad (especially the fountain lemonade).

    How sad it is that I'm absolutely shocked when a child orders grilled chicken and broccoli. I never make a comment about poor choices but whenever a child makes a good food choice I always say something encouraging like "Ooh great choice. That sounds yummy!" something like that.

    Mm, I consider juice to be a much better choice than pop, assuming it's real all-natural juice with no added sugar and not one of those 'fruit drinks'. Yes, juice is still sugar but at least it's natural fructose, has some vitamins, and is not full of artificial flavors and colors and high fructose corn syrup, with zero micronutrients, like soda. Mind you my kids don't drink juice on a daily basis but it's an occasional treat, like when we go out, and yes I'll encourage them to get juice over soda (they never ask for the soda anyway because they weren't brought up drinking it, I think my 8 yo has maybe tried it twice in his life and my three old never).
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    KalesBagel wrote: »
    nettiklive wrote: »
    Hm, maybe that depends on where you live, but I'm actually noticing WAY more awareness now around healthy eating, for both kids and adults, and way more healthy choices and less junk given to kids than when I was a kid. We don't buy or keep junk in the house, no soda, no crappy fast food etc aside from special occasions, they're not forbidden from it or anything but it's very limited and really easy to do because all our family and friends are the same way with their kids, I haven't seen anyone I know drink a soda in a long long time; schools encourage healthy foods only, school lunches aren't perfect as they're still highly processed but there is no soda, an unlimited fresh veggie bar, whole grains/ brown rice etc. My oldest will choose sushi over pizza or fries every time when we eat out. Funnily enough I just got blasted for all this over in the Debate forum, where I was told Doritos and soda are perfectly healthy food choices, and my kids would grow up to gorge themselves on junk food because we don't eat it at home...

    Thats ridiculous lol. It's one thing to say that on occasion its fine to let your kids have junk food, its entirely another thing to say that its healthy for them to eat it. Maybe its my location then. I live in Indiana and a lot of my family live in urban areas in the cities. Indiana is a pretty fat state. I'm the only person I know besides my husband who is actually eating healthy and trying to lose weight.

    Actually what's ridiculous is that nobody said that in that particular thread. This particular individual has reading comprehension issues. People said that those things in moderate amounts aren't detrimental to one's health.
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  • nettiklive
    nettiklive Posts: 206 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    KalesBagel wrote: »
    nettiklive wrote: »
    Hm, maybe that depends on where you live, but I'm actually noticing WAY more awareness now around healthy eating, for both kids and adults, and way more healthy choices and less junk given to kids than when I was a kid. We don't buy or keep junk in the house, no soda, no crappy fast food etc aside from special occasions, they're not forbidden from it or anything but it's very limited and really easy to do because all our family and friends are the same way with their kids, I haven't seen anyone I know drink a soda in a long long time; schools encourage healthy foods only, school lunches aren't perfect as they're still highly processed but there is no soda, an unlimited fresh veggie bar, whole grains/ brown rice etc. My oldest will choose sushi over pizza or fries every time when we eat out. Funnily enough I just got blasted for all this over in the Debate forum, where I was told Doritos and soda are perfectly healthy food choices, and my kids would grow up to gorge themselves on junk food because we don't eat it at home...

    Thats ridiculous lol. It's one thing to say that on occasion its fine to let your kids have junk food, its entirely another thing to say that its healthy for them to eat it. Maybe its my location then. I live in Indiana and a lot of my family live in urban areas in the cities. Indiana is a pretty fat state. I'm the only person I know besides my husband who is actually eating healthy and trying to lose weight.

    Actually what's ridiculous is that nobody said that in that particular thread. This particular individual has reading comprehension issues. People said that those things in moderate amounts aren't detrimental to one's health.

    Erm, no, people repeatedly stated "there is NOTHING wrong with Doritos/ soda/ fast food" and that there is no point or benefit in trying to avoid these foods as much as possible
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    nettiklive wrote: »
    Erm, no, people repeatedly stated "there is NOTHING wrong with Doritos/ soda/ fast food" and that there is no point or benefit in trying to avoid these foods as much as possible

    I believe you said you were done arguing this debate while weeping for the children on your way out. I trusted you at your word. Don't let me down.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    edited May 2018
    lporter229 wrote: »
    nooshi713 wrote: »
    It seems that there are two types of people now: those that are very into taking care of themselves and their health and those whose kids eat only nuggets and fast food.

    Am I the only one that thought this post was intended to be sarcastic?[/quote

    Seems like it. I know there are moderate people but those two stand out the most and garner the most attention. I wasnt being literal. Lol.
  • Sairzie
    Sairzie Posts: 122 Member
    lakinapook wrote: »
    Sairzie wrote: »
    I’m finding the same issue in the UK. A child in our family is only fed chicken nuggets, fish fingers, chips and ketchup from what I can see! Have never seen her eat a vegetable. And she is incredibly fussy with food. Trouble is, given the choice her mum will only eat those foods also!

    If they aren’t introduced to different foods early on then they start being fussy eaters and rely on these nutritionally void foods. I honestly think it is a lack of knowledge on my family members part and they genuinely believe they are giving her a healthy diet!

    I have two children, twins in fact, who have been raised eating the same food. One is a picky eater and the other is not. The picky one it is a constant battle to get him to eat even 2 bites of vegetable at dinner, non picky child happily wolfs down all that I give him and relishes trying new things I introduce. If I didn't make some accomodations for the picky child he would not eat for lengths of time that would be unhealthy and he is already on the small side of the growth curve. He eats meat, bread, cheese and rice mostly, I have to bribe him to eat a bite or two of vegetable.

    Everyone thinks they are an expert on kids, even kids they don't know. Early intro of healthy food is great, but if you have a really picky eater it won't change that. People seem to think picky eaters can be cured by just starving them until they get hungry, but if this works it means your kid was being a fussy jerk about food and were never truly a picky eater.

    Honestly, it is exhausting trying to come up with ideas to try to get him to eat, so yeah from the outside it might look like I am just giving in sometimes and letting him eat just french fries for dinner.

    It is hard to know what happens in peoples private lives and it seems like everyone is just so excited to jump on the judgment bandwagon.




    Sorry if my post offended you or came across as judgemental. It sounds like you're doing a fantastic job and perhaps I didn't write clearly enough. The child I referred to hasn't been offered healthier options, which is more the point I should have made. I'm not even sure if she does genuinely dislike these things because she is always given a separate meal and isn't challenged to try anything new. She has reflected her mums behaviour that if it is anything new she will not even try it.

    I'm conscious that some children will have genuine issues with food, my friends child will only eat three different food items total. I just don't feel that is the issue with my family member, rather she hasn't had the opportunity unfortunately to try other things.
  • youngmomtaz
    youngmomtaz Posts: 1,075 Member
    My kids learned early in life that if you don’t want what is on the table today(routinely a starch, a protein, and at least one veggie dish) then you may choose leftovers or fruit and veg from the fridge and make your own. We serve “kid foods” as treats maybe once a month but otherwise they eat what my husband and I eat.

    The catering to children is getting insane. At the last wedding we were at, they actually served anyone below the age of 13 a plate of chicken nuggets and fries. My kids were disappointed and in the end snuck up to the Buffett and grabbed roast beef, cole slaw and ceasar salad. What a weird world we have become when processed, mashed and reshaped chicken is “kid food” and a plate of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and multiple veggies is “adult food”.

    Op, I would attempt to make versions of the food they like but healthier. Veggies can be blended into sauces, chicken nuggets made at home, potato wedges, and roasted carrots, and beets on the same tray seasoned similarity. See if you can help them realize how good a variety of foods taste. I do feel for you though, it probably won’t be an easy job.
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