Does this happen to anyone else.....?

Question

I try to feed my daughter healthy foods and snacks. I also give her a lot of water to drink.

I ALWAYS have people saying things like, "Give her some cookies" or "Give her a Coke" or people always saying that I deprive her of all the good stuff.

She actually likes water and she loves fruit, so why give her junk if she likes eating the healthy foods.

Why do some people think its so WRONG not to give small children soft drinks and suckers and junk food all the time.

I'm just curious what other parents think.

Answer 1

I'm with you. I always feed my son the good foods (he loves fruits too) and I limit the junk foods to "special occasions only" and even then I don't give him much. He's 15 months old now and has a very healthy appetite, I am just glad he likes the healthy foods.

Junk food does not belong in small children's diets.....

The nice thing is, it forces me to eat healthier too.

Answer 2

I definitely agree with you. If they enjoy the healthy stuff, that IS the good stuff for them.I had an incident like that at a birthday party. I had my six month old daughter there and I passed up the cake, because she never had anything like that before and I was happy with her diet, she loved vegetables, especially broccoli. Well, my hubands aunt saw me refusing the cake and said " Give that poor baby some cake!" and pinched off a peice and put it in her mouth. Well needless to say my daughter spit it out, and I was a little offended.My other 4 children ate the same way, vegetarian diets and hardly any sweets. Well at grandma's house that was all she bought-sweet stuff, so when they were old enough to spend the night there, that's all they would snack on, whether or not they even ate their supper. It got to the point where the snacks I would provide were "boring" or "gross".This upset me, but I wouldn't let that change my views on what their eating habits should be.It took awhile for them to realize that mommy wouldn't budge in that area, and everythings fine now. We still eat a mainly vegetarian diet, rarely eat sweets, and my kids are not overweight ,or underweight for that matter, and they are so full of energy all the time. My advise is to ignore other's comments. It's your child, you are the one raising her and making the decisions on her health. If other people can't respect that, then they need to grow up a little. I eat healthy and so does my family, but we don't go around critisizing other parents for taking their kids to McDonalds. It's your choice how to raise your daughter. Nothing is more frustrating than when people turn parenting into a competition. Trust me, though, It doesn't take long to get them hooked on junk and it's hard to get children back to eating healthy again once they've tried the sweet stuff. If she's happy with what she's getting now, why introduce that stuff to her? I think you're doing great.

Answer 3

I agree with you. I don't think it's wrong at all, especially until age 2. I do let my daughter have some junk sometimes. People don't understand (especially people who haven't been new parents in while because medical research has taught us a lot about this in the past 20 years) that children develop eating habits and a very young age. Eating lots of junk now increases the chances of obesity and other health problems like diabetes.

Answer 4

I think youre doing wonderfully at feeding your daughter the right things. Just dont be too over obsessive about it.

I have a Cousin whos mom feeds her lots of healthy food and she loves it. BUT she doesnt allow her to have ANYTHING else. EVER. So people sneak her a cookie every now and then, because they know her mom would freak out. Its not bad to have those things in moderation.

I agree with you 100%. But it doesnt hurt to give them a treat every once in a while if they want it. But hey if they would rather have the healthy stuff, more power to you. You raised a great appetite. =0)

Answer 5

I agree with you. If your child likes fruit and water, it's just fine. I really don't want to give my children too much sugar either. I think that cookies every once in a while are fine, but once they get a taste for sugar, they'll want it all the time. When your little one gets older and discovers all sugar and sweet drinks, that will be time enough. You can't prevent her from having it forever (but I'm sure you understand that).

Plus, by not feeding her sugar, you're probably giving her a chance not to have cavities so early in life. I have friends who's children have lots of problems with their teeth because of too much sugar. It's not fun for them at all.

Keep up the good work! I'm with ya all the way. :)

Answer 6

You are on the right track. I believe a cookie here or there is ok, but if your child eats healthy snacks, why mess that up. I don't even let my kids drink soda. Consider the source and just know that you are doing the right thing.

Answer 7

Im with you 100%! We have four boys and they are just like yours, they snack on apples and bananas and things like that, they LOVE fruits and veggies, and even salad:) Its not a bad thing at all. Yes they get junk snacks once in a while but definitly not daily :) Theres nothing wrong with you raising a healthy eating little girl :) Congrats on being a wonderful mommy and looking out for her health

Answer 8

I agree with you on the fruits and weggies and water. Every once in a while I will let my 16 month old drink off my Coke and give her some not so good snacks. Don't listen to other people. Its your child!

Answer 9

I agree with you. My daughter loves bananas. She thinks they are the best. She loves milk and thinks that is the most wonderful thing to drink. She also loves broccoli and corn.

There is plenty of time for her to get junk food. Probably when she gets to school and is brainwashed by the other kids saying, oohh gross you eat broccoli. that's when she'll rebel against fruits and veggies and demand candy and soda.

She gets 2 m&m's a week or less. She gets cake and ice cream during birthday parties and stuff but that's it.

Answer 10

There's nothing wrong with healthy food.

I would however give the kid a cookie IF SHE ASKED FOR IT not someone else telling you to do it.

MODERATION is the key. 100% junk food is no good and 100% healthy is not a solution either.