What kind of parent actually buys crap for thier kids like....?

Question

Fruit snacks (loaded with sugar), that crap called "bug juice", Anything that tries to sell itself by using a cartoon character (ex. those drinks with the big plastic characters head on the top), cookeis, little debbie snack cakes, those crackers and cheese with the little red plastic knife, oh god and the worst....lunchables.

I can't help but notice when I go grocery shopping all those parents grabbing the most disgusting, most processed foods off the shevles for thier young kids. What is wrong with them?

Answer 1

Those kinds of convinience products are the cause of the obesity epidemic in this country, that we are now spreading to the rest of the world. People are lazy, and want instant gratification for everything. No one wants to cook, clean, work for anything these days. It's sad, because between the lack of movement with having everything done for you, and the high amounts of fat, calories, sodium, and sugar in those sorts of things, it's a double whammy of damage to your body!
My daughter is six months old, and over my dead body, will she get that garbage. A sweet snack is ok from time to time (I do admit I love fruit snacks, but I buy one box of 8 per month. That's it). I don't eat processed foods, and don't plan on starting her on them, either. They even have that stuff for little kids now. They may tell you it's healthy, but it can't be as good as a home cooked meal. I already make my daughter's baby food, so I have 100% control over what goes into her little body. I give her yogurt, but only whole milk, plain yogurt, mixed with fresh fruit. I care very much about our health, and the best way to take care of it is to be proactive.

Answer 2

I'm a grandparent now, and the other grandmother was giving her a lot of candy as treats. She got 7 cavities by age 4 and my son and his wife had to spend a lot of time and money taking my granddaughter to the dentist office. It was painful! So now she will refuse candy automatically, and only has an occasional cupcake or something when someone has a birthday.

This business of processed foods is a disaster for this whole country from the cradle to the grave. It's not just weak-willed parents who are to blame. Check out what they are feeding kids in school. I think it's just french fries, and maybe an occasional piece of pizza. They have vending machines in many schools still selling pop and snacks. They are constantly advertising that crapola TV. We're under assault by the fast food industry. I don't think everyone is so ignorant about nutrition. Most people just got so busy they let it go. I was gardening for 7 hours today, so we got takeout Chinese food. It's loaded with fat and salt. It's hard to keep it healthy, but I try because my husband and I have high cholesterol. I was raised on TV dinners, but my husband doesn't even like to go to restaurants. My daughter in law tries to send healthy lunches along to pre-school, but often the containers do not come back. It's very disheartening.

Answer 3

We buy bug juice on occasion- and then save the bottle and refill it with actual juice. Probably only actually bug juice once every two or three weeks. Lunchables, we have bought exactly once. I will buy Ritz crackers, sliced lunch meat, and cheese to do 'homemade lunchables' but ovbiously that's a little different where the preservatives are concerned. Cookies, those are probably also a once-every-two-to-three-weeks thing. We all love Oreos but if I bought them every week the novelty would wear off quickly. Usually there is candy in the house but we do things like buying the mini tootsie pops instead of full size suckers, and we make popsicles from real juice instead of buying the kool-aid kind.

My boys love broccoli, chicken, carrots, and planty of other good healthy things.

Answer 4

I am totally against the whole obesity epidemic, and think it is disgusting how all of the children are becoming overweight in this country. However, I was a child who grew up on snacks like that. I recently asked my mother why she would buy me and my sister those kinds of snacks since she herself is sort of a health nut. She said that we were both very active and healthy children and so she didn't see why we shouldn't be able to eat the snacks. She also said that if we had been sedentary and obese children, she would absolutely not have bought them for us. Who else can eat them if it's not active children with high metabolisms?

Also, back then, we didn't know about the whole "trans-fats" problem. They are changing the ingredients of these snacks now to no longer contain trans fats.

I think anything in moderation is just fine, and that means sedentary activities as well.

Answer 5

Not the rest of the things you mentioned, just the worst. We use to buy those lunchables for our kids when they were little. Hey, it looked like it was a great snack of ham or turkey and cheese with crackers! It was only after we started reading the back of the package that we realized what we were feeding them. I haven't bought a lunchable in 5 or 6 years now.

Answer 6

I agree that the types and quality of foods that are provided for our children is sinking fast. I have repeatedly complained to my son's aftercare program because the only snack offered are junk! They had this policy that kids could not bring their own snacks, so my son either had to wait to eat until I got there to pick him up or eat crap. They finally started getting things like granola bars and reduced fat chips, but that really isn't much better. Everybody is in a rush and has forgotten what a proper lunch and snack should be. I will admit, however, to buying the fruit snacks-my son has a severe nut allergy and so many things have warnings that we compromised on this. He can only eat it at home so he can brush his teeth right away.

Answer 7

My mom bought Lunchables, fruit snacks, and snack cakes for me regularly when I was little. I never had them more than once a day, and although I am overweight I don't think I am grossly obese or my life is in danger. Now I only eat an occasional snack cake because my grandma likes them and buys them for us once in a while. These things and other less healthy "junk" foods are alright in moderation.

Answer 8

You sure are a judgemental little thing, aren't you? I've been annoyed by your questions before. Just because parents buy items like that, it doesn't mean that's all the kids get to eat. I buy fruit snacks for my kids and they can have one packet a day. Sometimes they opt to not even take that packet, but I have it to offer. I don't usually buy juice drinks, my kids drink water, tea and koolaid. My kids eat cold cereals and OH MY GOD FORBID poptarts from time to time. There is nothing at all wrong with them. They are perfectly healthy, un-hyper and within healthy weight limits. Are you even a parent?

Answer 9

Whats wrong with the cracker and cheese? I think its a good snack. and fruit snacks... i think its way better than a candy bar. now i hear you on the bug juice but you never know, that may be all they can afford. the drinks that are no good for the children are usually cheaper .

Answer 10

Well, I will defend myself that by saying that I am not a bad parent because I occasionally buy a Lunchable or SpongeBob Fruit snacks! I think it is OK, if you balance them out with fruits and veggies, and lowfat dairy products. I would not give my kids those processed foods only.
Some people eat all that stuff themselves, so thats what they give their kids.