How important is a "hot meal?" That could be a Kid Cuisine w/300 grams of fat, 450 calories and 50% of the daily sodium.
When making meals for my girls, I look at what I'm giving them whether it's hot or not. Like tonight my oldest will have a flavored toast with only 1 gram of fat and almost no sodium. I've topped it with cream cheese (for protein and calcium) and strawberry jam (ok ok, it's sugar, but she's gotta *eat* the thing for it to be healthy LOL!) She'll have a sliced apple and a side of lowfat popcorn (whole grains). A glass of soy milk (or 1% regular milk, her choice) is her drink. For dessert, she can have some teddy grahams (she doesn't get dessert every night, but she was *super* today, so I'm surprising her). I give her half the serving size, so it's about 60 calories and a couple of grams of fat - VERY low sodium.
Am I missing something though? Serious question - should she be having something hot at night? We're in FL btw, LOL, in case that makes a diff!
2006-10-09 11:39:45 · 11 answers · asked by tagi_65 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
OK, to the idiots who think I don't let my children have any fat in their diet, lighten the fark up.
I look at what the RDA is, and I try to divide it evenly among the day's meals. Thank God at least *one* person so far has been able to get past the fact that I limit their sugar and fat intake. Fer cryin' out loud, people, get over yourselves.
Any pediatrician will tell you kids of 3 and above shouldn't get more than 2% milk (and many 1%, which is what we use) and TRUST me - during the day, the fat content "works itself out."
So go feed your children bacon and lard and let me make sure my kids are health. Good Lord, you people must be stupid - IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER A HOT MEAL IS NEEDED OR NOT AS LONG AS THE MEAL IS *HEALTHY.*
*&%)^*)^*$)(#) people with too much time on their hands...
2006-10-09 11:54:37 · update #1
Oh yeah, freakshows - my daughters are at *every* regular pediatric appointment and the ped is perfectly happy with their percentiles. My oldest is incredibly smart, so her brain development is certainly not an issue. And did you miss the part about "answer intelligently?"
2006-10-09 11:58:06 · update #2
Oh, for God's sake, "copswife." My children have ice cream too. Holy smokes, she even had a cookie at the store today. Wow! Whoda thunkit!
I was describing her freakin DINNER tonight, genius. Did I tell you that she was never allowed to have ice cream? Did I say sugar was verboten? No? Then why the fark assume it?
Oh, wait, I think I know the answer to that. Because thinking things through would be too hard?
2006-10-09 12:05:10 · update #3
And Paula? Toots?
It's "Toddler and Preschooler." My oldest is four. She's in preschool. Have a nice day.
2006-10-09 12:05:59 · update #4
I don't see any reason that a child needs a "hot meal" for dinner - it sounds like you make a well-balanced meal for them, and that's really all that matters. My daughter's 2 1/2 and for dinner twice this week she's had cereal - I figure, hey, at least she ate dinner! I understand where you are getting at with the nutrition and the sodium intake. My big issue is with high fructose corn syrup (it's in EVERYTHING - even most "healthy" bread) - I would rather her have plain old sugar than that stuff. As for those kiddie meals, my husband and I want to keep our daughter away from those for as long as possible, if not forever - they are just nutritionally horrible, not to mention expensive. Keep up the good work with trying to raise healthy kids - these days the kids sure have the deck stacked against them!
2006-10-09 12:59:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont think a "hot" meal is needed. The main thing is HEALTHY. I too limit my kids fat and sweets intake. My younger son will many times only drink pediasure during the day (hes never been an eater and doc put him on pedisure because he wasnt gaining weight). My older son and I however have often times had a cold sandwich with fruit salad and milk for dinner. Many mornings he ever prefers just 2 cereal bars and some milk. Yes we do hot dogs and mac n cheese but in my opinion a pb and J sandwich with fruit and milk is WAY more balanced and healthy. A balanced meal is what heps a childs brain to learn and fuels the body not a hot meal. JMHO
2006-10-09 22:02:54 · answer #2 · answered by zannyvon 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought you seemed defensive when I read your question and then I read the answers and understood. You've gotten some pretty bad advice from people. I understand your question. There is no need for a meal to be hot unless you're in a cold climate where it has a physiological effect to assist the body in keeping warm. What you are feeding your child is better then fine. Too many people today think they're depriving their child if they inhibit the calories and fat in a child's diet. They forget that if they give their kids apples as dessert early on that the battle is half won. I don't endorse withholding sweets entirely from children but you don't do that. AS they say everything in moderation. I don't get the impression that you're a diet nazi by any means. You are concerned about your child's health and that is what counts. Don't take the comments about destroying your child's self esteem seriously. You're teaching her good eating habits and as far as I know has never damaged a child's future. Good job.
2006-10-09 19:43:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
To your response to me. If your child is doing so wonderful and you have such a wonderful ped. then why the fart are you asking this stupid question at yahoo answers. Honestly get a life. We are all being serious to. What the hell kind of dinner is that for a child? Lunch maybe. And you are putting WAY to much thought into all of this. LOL Wow, I am going to answer this in a very serious way and if you get upset I am extremely sorry! Get some help for yourself right away. You are way to obsessive about what she is eating so I know you must be this hard on yourself. I am all about fitness and eating right. I always "watch" what my children eat but we aren't perfect. My family is all within a healthy weight but at time we do have a little ice cream or something. I have struggled with an eating disorder and my best friend who is a counselor specializes in this. You are taking your little girl down a very bad path. Please take this serious! And no eating a cold or hot meal has no relevance on life. I am not talking about the fat and sugar that they get I am talking about all the analyzing you are doing. Putting WAY to much into it! Like I said I am careful that my children eat healthy. We even do the organic as much as we can. So take a serious look at what people are saying and don't get so defensive.
2006-10-09 18:49:40 · answer #4 · answered by copswife93 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I also have a four year old and our whole family watches our intake of fat....seems like we are doing about the same difference....Might I suggest also using organic unrefined sugar....or jams with unrefined sugar in them. It is too bad that parents like us get condemed for not allowing our children to become obsese like the rest of society :) Good luck to you and hang in there...just remember that there are other parents out there like you....
In regards to having something "hot" at night....our dinners aren't always hot....I think it is more important to make sure they are eatting well......and kid cuisine isn't eatting well even though it is considered a "hot" meal.....If they are feeling a little cold, make them some warm milk....
I hope this helps and good luck......
2006-10-09 22:58:29 · answer #5 · answered by kcl_andersen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as your girls are getting every thing they need to grow, I do not see the need for a hot meal every night. My boys love it when I put out cold cuts veggies,fruit,and dip for supper, So Like i said If they are happy and healthy, Who cares,you are a good mom in my books.Also if you make say pasta sauce in the morning when it's cool then all you have to do is make the pasta{ which hardly heats up the house at all, then just zap the sauce and ta da a hot meal with out heating up the house.
2006-10-09 20:38:30 · answer #6 · answered by blue_eyed_brat78 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A hot meal isn't essential, I think it's mostly a matter of taste. As long as your daughters are happy and are eating healthy don't worry. I think most moms and dads worry about what their kids eat, and if they are eating healthy enough, I sure do!!! With obesity becoming such a concern for younger and younger children I think its wonderful you are taking an active role in your daughters health. Don't listen to the negative comments you are getting, they are probably just feeling guilty about their unhealthy children and wish they could be more like you.
2006-10-09 19:55:43 · answer #7 · answered by dolly 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your children need fat in their diets to help brain development.
It is dangerous to impose "diets" on children so restrictive.
If you fed them right when they were babies (and didn't restrict milk when they wanted it) then they already know how much is too much.
OH! and I don't think hot or cold food is an issue. Whatever you want to spend in energy preparing their food is your prerogative.
You never said how old your child was. When I see a question in the toddler section, I assume toddler.
2006-10-09 18:46:12 · answer #8 · answered by P. K. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
NO. There is no nutitional value in heat. In fact, too much heat destroys vitamin C. Some foods are just more pleasing to the pallet when warm - that's all. More important is to make sure there is enough variety.
2006-10-09 19:09:51 · answer #9 · answered by bata4689 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, it doesn't have to be "hot" to be good for them. I say if you can get her to eat healthy, that's what counts. And as long as she is getting the proper nutrition, then that's what matters.
2006-10-09 18:48:44 · answer #10 · answered by someoneoutthere 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋