Why do my parents & grandparents feed my son such unhealthy food?

Question

Ok I have always been skinny, but I haven't always ate healthy. So several years ago I made a vow to live a healthier life. So eating healthy is important to me. Well my mother and grandmother watch my son for me while I work for free. Right now I am in college so paying extra for daycare would be hard so they are really taking a large burden off my husband and I in that sense. BUT they feed my 19 month old the most unhealthiest things. My mom will let him snack on Cheetos, then feed him dinner, and after dinner they'll give him icecream/cookies. I have expressed my desire to have him snack on healhier foods and although they hear me they ignore it. It really irritates me because my son is chunky and I don't want him to have struggle in life with his weight and health like some people.

Its not like I am telling them to starve him, just skip the icecream and cheetos. How do I go about this in a way that isn't rude?

Answer 1

Grandparents spoil kids. You know why? It's because they can give them back to you when they're done. You'll do it, too, when you become a grandparent. I don't know why they do it, but they all do. My parents are just as bad with my son.

The way to handle it is to tell them that you're child's diet is very important to you, and it's keeping his body, teeth, and insides healthy. Make sure that they understand that this is the most important thing to you. Next, you can supply your parents with a "menu" that has a week of meals and snacks planned out so that your parents don't have to "wing it" at meal times.

It's going to get better, but they'll spoil your little one from time to time, even AFTER they know that it's important to you that your child eats healthy. It's just what grandparents do.

Relax. Your child will be fine. Every kid needs junk food from time to time.

Answer 2

Grandparents and great grandpaents are never going to listen to what we tell them. That's just a fact of life. However, I'm assuming that your son us being watched somewhere other than your house.
Your son should be allowed snacks, he's a kid. But maybe you should bring snacks of your choice to where he is being watched. Don't deprive him of the snacks that all kids love for some healthfood store stuff. Just bring some fruit snacks, Yogos are good, pretzels, things like that. As for the ice cream, I give my kids those Flavor-ice ice pops (they are the long thin ones that come in a clear plastic tube), they think they are the greatest thing ever invented. (they are 6 and 3).
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

You will need to sit them down and set down rules just like you would if you were paying a non-relative daycare provider. If they still do not follow your suggestions then you have a huge decision to make. Accept the care they give your child and teach him good eating habits so that when he is a bit older he will learn to say "no thank you Gramma I'd rather have an apple", or find alternative child care.
It will be a hard decision but as the parent you need to make the choice.

Answer 4

ok snacking on cheetos for now is ok at this age but icecream and cookies all the time isn't.I would tell them how you feel because your childs health should come first.I know how you feel though because ure afraid that if you come on too strong or say something and they become affended that they might not watch your child but I'm telling you,get a hold of it right now before it gets out of hand,that is your child!I would say as long as he or she is eating dinner then the light snacking is ok but the sweets are never a good thing,I allow my son to have m&m's or something every now and then, good luck.

Answer 5

Oh, honey, I feel for you. This is a tough subject. I know how you feel in some respects. I'm very dedicated to feeding my son healthy foods, but my father-in-law in particular LOVES to give my son treats. I try to suck it up and let it slide since it's only occasional (they live about 4 hours away from us), but it's still so hard for me to accept it. In your case when it's every day...I would not let it slide. You are right to be feeding him healthfully and you are right for feeling concerned about this.

I think you should sit down with your mom and grandmother and first tell them how much you truly appreciate what they are doing for you. It's so wonderful that your son can spend that kind of time with family and that they are doing this for you for free. Tell them how much you love them. Then, calmly and rationally, talk to them about your commitment to eating well and feeding your son healthy foods. Talk to them about how kids learn by example, and that they need to be part of setting a good example. Let them know an occassional treat is fine, but limit it to once a week or something (set definite guidelines). You can also leave them with a long, long list of the foods you would like for your son to eat. It's hard coming up with meals day in and day out, so it's easy to fall back on junk you know the kid will love and eat. If you provide them with options, even whole meals outlined, that will make it easier on them to comply with your wishes.

I think if you just express how important it is to you, without coming across like you are judging or accusing them, you'll be fine.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Don't stop the unhealthy food altogether--just give guidlines for it. Tell them you'd feel much better if he only had maybe a handful of cheetos, one scoop of icecream, and no cookies as long as he had a healthy dinner in between. Grandma and grandpa are just doing what they do best--spoiling the little ones! It's not going to kill him and it's not going to make him fat. Let him live a little, he's only little for so long.

Answer 7

I would just tell them that you don't want him eating that kind of stuff. Explain to them that you don't want him getting used to that kind of food. Remind them about how common childhood obesity is!

My family thought I was crazy with my almost 3 yr old girl. She never had sweets when she was younger. They always wanted to give her chocolate milk and cookies. But never would because they knew that I was serious! Now she doesn't have a sweet tooth at all- which was my goal!

Answer 8

You need to sit down with your parents and have a serious talk. Make them understand that they cannot continue to feed your child such unhealthy foods because they are endangering his health by doing so. You don't have to be rude, but you do need to be firm and tell them no more junk food- period. Have they no healthy snacks- veggie bites, bananas, and such?? . They are your parents, but they are dealing with YOUR child, not theirs, and you have every right to put your foot down. If it doesn't stop, you may have no choice but to find other childcare.

Answer 9

Provide all the snacks and drinks for him.
That is what I did at the daycare that was not feeding him what I wanted.

My mother was the first one to feed him a cookie and my Father did it again [in bulk] to get him hyped up for me to pick him up. I was not happy and he laughed at me too. I asked him why would he amuse himself at his grandsons expense.
Guilt worked in my case.

Answer 10

Either you remain irriatated or you find an alternative to the baby sitting issue. Your parent's are obviously not going to change.