Teaching Kids, Toddlers, to eat healthy

Aptitude

I have many nieces and nephews and it has struck me how much cr#p my siblings and parents (kids grandparents) feed them.

I wouldn`t mind if it was a weekly treat but this is daily.

Ice cream, Cadburys Buttons etc.

"I want an icecream" blah blah blah!

These kids are only 3 but never too early to promote a healthy diet..no!?

foxy06

Agree and it's such a pain when people give your kids treats at like 3 o clock and you are organising dinner. They just don't think though.

It's hard to be the bad guy all the time too when you say no but if I let them have it it means that I can't give them something myself.

foxy06

Agree and it's such a pain when people give your kids treats at like 3 o clock and you are organising dinner. They just don't think though.

It's hard to be the bad guy all the time too when you say no but if I let them have it it means that I can't give them something myself.

marizpan

I am very strict on my kids diet. People including family can get offended by my refusal of treats. It doesn't occur to them to ask permission etc.

My eldest who is almost 7 yrs doesn't like choc or sweets now. His favourite treat is nice cheese, strawberries, home baking, salami, Parma ham etc. they only ever drink water, raw milk or homemade veg/fruit juice. They have never had a fizzy drink and know no better.

I think that taste buds are learnt and it is my job to start them well and once they get to secondary they will eat what they want but at least I have given them a good foundation.

Also my kids are never sick and have never needed antibiotics.

jlm29

I know kids need a good diet, and to be taught about nutrition, and given healthy foods. My son loves nothing more than grapes and blueberries.
I think making chocolate, sweets etc totally contraband is a bad idea though. Growing up, we would never have had access to very much chocolate, crisps etc, and I have always struggled with my weight. I never learned as a child to enjoy things in moderation, and now I cannot seem to know when to stop. I have no problems binging on "bad foods", and I totally think it's as a result of "nice" foods being given as treats in my childhood.
I have cousins who's house always fascinated me, because there was always chocolate lying around, and they never bothered much with it. If they wanted it, they'd have it, but if they didn't, they left it. To this day, those girls are all lovely and slim, and obviously they can eat one or two sweets, and then take their noses out if the tin of roses.

For that reason, my son frequently has a little bit of something "nice", after his dinner. But he knows when he's had enough, and he stops.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

marizpan wrote: »

I am very strict on my kids diet. People including family can get offended by my refusal of treats. It doesn't occur to them to ask permission etc.

My eldest who is almost 7 yrs doesn't like choc or sweets now. His favourite treat is nice cheese, strawberries, home baking, salami, Parma ham etc. they only ever drink water, raw milk or homemade veg/fruit juice. They have never had a fizzy drink and know no better.

I think that taste buds are learnt and it is my job to start them well and once they get to secondary they will eat what they want but at least I have given them a good foundation.

Also my kids are never sick and have never needed antibiotics.

I agree that nutrition is important and it is up to you to establish a good foundation, but I am interested to know why you would think that raw milk is important, presumably compared to pasteurised milk?

marizpan

jlm29 wrote: »

I know kids need a good diet, and to be taught about nutrition, and given healthy foods. My son loves nothing more than grapes and blueberries.
I think making chocolate, sweets etc totally contraband is a bad idea though. Growing up, we would never have had access to very much chocolate, crisps etc, and I have always struggled with my weight. I never learned as a child to enjoy things in moderation, and now I cannot seem to know when to stop. I have no problems binging on "bad foods", and I totally think it's as a result of "nice" foods being given as treats in my childhood.
I have cousins who's house always fascinated me, because there was always chocolate lying around, and they never bothered much with it. If they wanted it, they'd have it, but if they didn't, they left it. To this day, those girls are all lovely and slim, and obviously they can eat one or two sweets, and then take their noses out if the tin of roses.

For that reason, my son frequently has a little bit of something "nice", after his dinner. But he knows when he's had enough, and he stops.

Maybe? Everyone is different!
It is my experience that over eating is an emotional issue. It can be reinforced so easily in childhood ie. child's hurts themself, parent gives a bar to cheer him up when a hug would do.

I am very strict with my kids till age 3. No processed sweeten foods of any kind.
By then we can have a large tin if choc out on the table and they will eat 0-1 sweets and stop. Usually they put one in their mouth and then spit it out. They just don't like sugar much. They never eat cereal for breakfast. Eggs every morning.

This Xmas we bought in the usual sweets/biscuits and had them all left as no one was eating them.
They eat some sweets available at kids parties but do not like them. Once they are in play school sweets are available to them, I cannot control the world they interact with but I try to give them a good start.

marizpan

Paislee Important Trailer wrote: »

I agree that nutrition is important and it is up to you to establish a good foundation, but I am interested to know why you would think that raw milk is important, presumably compared to pasteurised milk?

This is just my view.
Raw milk from a healthy cow/ farm is far superior to pasteurised milk. Bio-available for the body and promote a healthy gut. Most people who can not tolerate pasteurised milk would find they can tolerate raw milk well.
But it must come from a healthy cow and a farm with high standards.

SamforMayo

jlm29 wrote: »

I know kids need a good diet, and to be taught about nutrition, and given healthy foods. My son loves nothing more than grapes and blueberries.
I think making chocolate, sweets etc totally contraband is a bad idea though. Growing up, we would never have had access to very much chocolate, crisps etc, and I have always struggled with my weight. I never learned as a child to enjoy things in moderation, and now I cannot seem to know when to stop. I have no problems binging on "bad foods", and I totally think it's as a result of "nice" foods being given as treats in my childhood.
I have cousins who's house always fascinated me, because there was always chocolate lying around, and they never bothered much with it. If they wanted it, they'd have it, but if they didn't, they left it. To this day, those girls are all lovely and slim, and obviously they can eat one or two sweets, and then take their noses out if the tin of roses.

For that reason, my son frequently has a little bit of something "nice", after his dinner. But he knows when he's had enough, and he stops.

I agree with a lot of what you say, my kids love good food-porridge, fruit, eggs etc they also like sweets. They are allowed a small treat after dinner and taught to eat it slowly and enjoy it. They are not allowed fizzy drinks and they understand this and never look for them, they never ask for sweets when out shopping either. Everything in moderation is my motto.

Alf Veedersane

I don't have any children but I'd like to think I can have an opinion. If both my mother and my father were given a bar of chocolate with 8 squares, my Dad would have it gone in 8 days, my Mam in maybe 8 hours. But we were never spoiled with rubbish food. I think we need to educate kids but at the same time, it's too easy to point the finger of blame at parents for making it too easy. But they do have a role in educating children on food.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

marizpan wrote: »

This is just my view.
Raw milk from a healthy cow/ farm is far superior to pasteurised milk. Bio-available for the body and promote a healthy gut. Most people who can not tolerate pasteurised milk would find they can tolerate raw milk well.
But it must come from a healthy cow and a farm with high standards.

Thanks for your reply, I understand your thinking on promoting a healthy digestive system, and of course that the cow must be healthy,
I know you said it is just your view, but what do you mean about bio availability and why do you think people who are intolerant to pasteurised milk could tolerate raw milk? I am not saying you are wrong, I am just interested, thanks.

SamforMayo

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I don't have any children but I'd like to think I can have an opinion. If both my mother and my father were given a bar of chocolate with 8 squares, my Dad would have it gone in 8 days, my Mam in maybe 8 hours. But we were never spoiled with rubbish food. I think we need to educate kids but at the same time, it's too easy to point the finger of blame at parents for making it too easy. But they do have a role in educating children on food.

I definitely think kids should be educated about food choices from a young age. Young kids are very accepting, if you explain why they cant eat lots of treats they are generally happy enough to go along with the rules. Same with exercise and limiting tv, it is seldom the treats grandparents give that cause the problems, good habits start at home. But in fairness if you grow up in a home where you never had fruit, lots of fizzy drinks etc it must be seen as the norm and then this cycle continues to the next generation. It makes me very sad when I see an over weight child and think about how much more they will have to struggle when its not necessary.