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266539 tn?1281402152

What do you let your kiddos eat and not eat?

Some of you may know I am a nanny and looking for a new family, so I had an interview with one family on Friday.  They were nice but there is no way I could do it!  They have a 4 year old and a 7 month old well their 4 year old is only allowed 1 hour of t.v. a WEEK... no sweets EVER (even special occasions) and he isn't allowed to eat anything non organic and he can't eat chips or pizza.  Is he 4 or 90?  I couldn't abide by that so I turned it down, he is a kid and needs to be able to be one.  Use this as an open forum...  What are your kids allowed to do and not do?  What are they allowed to eat or not eat?  I think it is an interesting topic because I know when I was a kid my brother and I could eat candy and cookies and watch t.v. all we wanted but never did.  We had to choice to if we wanted but never wanted too and we had a friend who was never allowed any candy or cookies and so when he would come over that is all he wanted because he was told "no" to it at home.  I think that if it is given in moderation that is much better than saying no completely because then they will go crazy when they can finally eat it or do it.  I just think its interesting... what do you let your kids eat and not?
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266539 tn?1281402152
I asked if they had any allergies and the mom said that they had none...  I just thought it was a little overboard but that is all.
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550546 tn?1249410039
I don't have any children of my own yet, but when I look at my hubby's and step-son's habits I *so* want to raise our children differently!!  lol

I've pretty much given up on hubby and step-son ...they have a very limited diet ...meat and bread.  Hubby likes a few veggies ...potatoes, (cheesy) green beans, and corn ...with an occasional bite of my salads thrown in every once in a while.  And his son eats very similar.  

I was raised in a house where if it was cooked for you and you didn't eat it ...oh well!  I was always asked to try at least one bite of something I didn't like (I still remember the days of holding my nose and taking a bite of cabbage ...blech!).  But my family always ate a very wide variety of fruits/veggies/meats/breads.  I love pretty much all veggies (yep, even that nasty cabbage I hated as a kid) and I want to expose my kids to all the foods out there for them, even if they "hate" them.  

I watch "Jon & Kate Plus 8" frequently, and there was something Kate said that really stuck with me.  She makes healthy meals for her kids (meat, fruit, veggie) and will not cater to "I only want ".  She said, "When they are hungry, they will eat.  I won't force them to eat, but they know that what I put in front of them is what they get."  ...Or something like that!  lol  Either way, I agree with her.  Unless my child has allergies (and I'm so sorry for those of you who do have to deal with allergies!!), I will not make anything 'special' or go to great lengths to make separate meals for them.  What I eat, I'd like my children to at least *try*.  And typing this, I came up with a great idea:  In order for the kids to get around the "But Daddy doesn't eat it" excuse, I can have hubby put the food he doesn't like on his plate and "try" it too ...

As for sugar/sweets/etc ...I will give my child these things, but not to excess.  "Treats" are okay ...but drinking pop every day or gorging on cake ...no way!  lol  Again, I was raised on milk and juice ...I didn't start really drinking soda till I was pre-teenish (probably b/c the only soda in the house was my Gma's nasty diet soda! lol).  I'm sure I had the occasional pop if we went out to eat at McDonald's (before the days of 'milk' choices with their Happy Meals) ...but I never *had* to have it.  I agree with the poster who said they were allowed to watch TV and eat sweets, but because they were, never had the desire to do it a lot.

Lastly, when it comes to TV, I do *NOT* want to use it for a babysitter.  I worked in a preschool where TV was only allowed on *very* special occasions and only for educational purposes.  And the kids suffered no loss by having to play with toys or dress-up in pretend center or run around outside.  I like BTS' method of doing preschool activities and crafts but TV being a privilege for doing those things with Mom.  Kids have *way* too much energy, in my opinion, to be plopped down in front of the boob tube.  I'd much rather go to the park/playground and let them run around for an hour!  =D

I will allow my kids to watch TV ...but will very closely monitor what they are allowed to watch.  There are a lot of shows on Nick, Cartoon Network, etc. that are just awful!!  I look at these new shows and wonder why they thought Looney Tunes were so bad!!  lol  I'd much rather have my kids watch Bugs and Daffy than Grim Adventures and Chowder ...*shudder*  Also, I'm all over anything that's educational!  =D  But I know there are times that children, like adults, just want to see something entertaining (and that's what Disney movies are for!  lol).

Like Joy, I don't want to sound hoity-toity ...these are just my views and opinions and, truthfully, they might change after I have my son.  All I know for sure is, I'm not going to go extreme in either direction (totally disciplinarian on food or completely 'yeah fine whatever')!  =D
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
I think if you have the kind of discipline/time/money/willpower whatever that it takes to have such strict food guidelines on your kids...that's great...for YOU.  But not all of us have that.  I'm not much of a cook, I'm also a very picky eater and so is everyone else in my family only in different ways....some only eat meat, others only like vegetables, others don't like certain textures or things with "strings" like celery.  So I figure if I can get my kids to eat something halfway healthy i'm doing good.  I'm guilty of letting my kids watch a lot of tv.  We really don't have a structured routine in my house which is definately not a good thing but I just don't have the discipline or the know how to make and STICK to a schedule...i've tried it a million times and it just doens' twork with us.  

K1990 Honestly...were I in your shoes I don't think I could stick to that routine either.  I, too, think kids should be allowed to be kids...within in reason and certain boundaries.  I'm also a firm believer that the more forbidden something is the harder the child will try to seek it out at some point and potentially willy go over board with whatever (drugs, food, alcohol, boys whatever).  Even a little in moderation can help to satisfy a craving/curiosity so they don't try to sneak it or overindulge.

JMO!
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342988 tn?1299782356
if the family's children had allergies then it is normal but i honestly think that things are ok in moderation.  no child should had soda or candy wherever they want, but again it is each parent's different style.

when my little one is born and old enough to have stuff, he will be given things in moderation.  i have found lots of times that when you hinder children from things, it makes them go out and find it other places, like at school or other friends homes.

i was a good eater and ate lots of vegetables, hopefully my child will like them too.  my favorite was and still is brocoli.  I love it.
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561451 tn?1257476350

g8r grl - my son is also allergic to tree nuts, so almond butter is out.  Also, my daughter is allergic to dairy.  I myself am too, so I totally understand how frustrated you are with trying to make sure your son eats some!!

K1990-  Does or did that family happen to mention if there was any food allergies as to why they only have the kids eat certain types of food?  I was thinking while I was out and about today that maybe there was a reason behind it.  Your not totally out of the norm, I mean it's just most people who have a lot of health problems in their families, will make adjustments to the way future children eat, and extended parts of their familes.  JUst a thought though!

I did read somewhere that now a days it is more of an issue to get kids out and about so they don't become obese or over weight, and get them used to being active.

I wanted to let everyone know that in this study I had read about kids jumping...  You should encourage them to jump on the couch or bed (i know sounds weird) or outside on trampolines or what not because 20 minutes a day every day can lead to a 25% bone strengthening by the time their 6.  That's if they start at the age of 2!  And that extra strength in the bones is in your BACK and HIPS and better for lifting as an adult!


  



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266539 tn?1281402152
I guess maybe I am out of the norm but for me it was just weird because every other family I have watched has never ever had such strict guidelines for their kids.  I can totally understand eatting healthy but the thing that got me was no sweets ever, not even special occasions.  There goes birthday cakes and halloween...  And pizza like Joy said there can be healthy pizza made.  I also understand limitation on tv because my fiances brother watches tv 24/7 and its way to much!
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Avatar universal
My daughter is allergic to everything that contains eggs and milk, so she also has a limited diet.  No ice cream, yoghurt, cake, no cheese, no bread (just pitta) and no  sweets, since most of them contain eggs (yes, its true).  
I was not allowed to drink soda as a kid and neither is she, and I think this is a very healthy habit, since I dont really like it now. No gum. She has never had coffee and she will not be allowed to drink it.
She loves fruits, rice, beans, pasta (gluten free w/ olive oil), rice cereals....

She is allowed to watch discovery kids and disney channel:NO JETTIX, NIICKELODEON, CARTOON NETWORK.
She knows and accepts her eating limiations and If she is at school or andywhere Im not around, she clearly explains what she can/cannot eat  (toddlers are so amazing).
So I pretty much think everyone is normal, and I applaud all of you who keeep their families as healthy as you can...
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458937 tn?1271194781
I am very strict as to what my one year old son can and can't eat as well as can and can't do! I don't allow him to have any sweets unless it's 100% juice which I water down, some gerber graduates cookies like the banana ones or arrow root, and he gets those one to two times per week if that. I will not allow him to eat fast food, junk food, no soda, ice cream anything like that. I also do not give him butter. (I myself don't eat butter) I probably won't allow him any of it until at least five. The cookies(gerber) he is allowed to have, have very little sugar if any and he eats 2 or three when he does get them. As for breakfast lunch and dinner he gets fruits veggies, and any of the gerber graduates meals. (mashed sweet potatoes and carrots, mashed potatoes and chicken, ravioli pick ups, savory chicken soup and such...) He does get spaghetti sauce and noodles when we have spaghetti. Sometimes he'll have what we eat. We eat pretty healthy. Well except for dh he'll take snack cakes to work but rarely eat them at home. I may sound pretty bad but I want him to have good eating habits as he gets older i'll prob be a little bit better at loosing up and letting him have sweets and stuff but of course in moderation.

And as far as tv watching goes he watches 30 to 45 minutes a day, well it's mostly backround noise. He watches elmo's world, eebee, brainy baby, baby einsteins and educational baby shows like that. And he'll have all kinds of music playing through out the day.
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Avatar universal
g8rgrl, I just read your comment and I would be stressed at meal-time as well. I'm so sorry you're going through this with your son and I can't say I understand. Vent away! A lot of the things you said (like half-juice, half-water and marshmallows) are things we do, too! So see... I just came off more harsh than I sounded but our viewpoints are pretty similar.

Almond butter is AMAZING. It's sooo much better than peanut butter. But of course I don't buy it because it's too much. If I had the extra money I would.
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Avatar universal
g8rgrl, LOL! Yeah, I thought I better amend what I said. SO MUCH can get lost in translation and I have a habit of not explaining the WHOLE situation. My kids are happy and get to do SO MUCH fun stuff. We make forts and do crafts, have picnics (inside and out), they get to pick lunch but not dinner, etc., etc. My oldest gets candy on Sunday if she behaves. Today I let her have a piece of gum. So I'm not the meanest mommy on the block! LOL!
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293420 tn?1243142938
Can your son eat almond butter? I've never had it...but I know it exists.

I wonder if an almond butter and jelly sandwich is good (?). I think the stuff is like $7 for a jar. Craziness...
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293420 tn?1243142938
Joy, you totally saved yourself with that last post! My mouth dropped open as I was reading the first two, and then the last one made it all better :)

My son eats whatever I can get him to eat. It bothers me when people say that I should force my son to eat whatever I cook for him, or send him to bed hungry. Who sends their just turned 2-year-olds to bed hungry? He has food allergies, Apraxia (motor speech disorder..he physically cannot talk), and Sensory Integration Dysfunction...he is very sensitive to tastes and textures, so food is definitely an issue in our house. He also just recently began using a fork/spoon...he's not a pro yet, but we're getting there. The motor skills delay also ties into to his Apraxia/SID.

In the morning he eats Cheerios with soy milk (he's allergic to dairy), mini Eggo pancakes with sugar free syrup, a banana, or sometimes some powered mini donuts if he won't eat anything else. I won't send him to school without anything in his tummy.

At school he eats a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich (he's allergic to strawberries) cut up into little bites. He doesn't have the sense yet of how much he can bite or put into his mouth, so I have to cut everything up still or he chokes himself/spits everything out if he gets overwhelmed. He also gets Cheetos (the baked kind), Goldfish crackers, Cheerios, and Gerber fruit snacks. He does not eat all of this, but I send it in case he decides that he's hungry one day. He drinks 1/2 water-1/2 apple juice. I let him have several cups of this per day if he wants...but most of the time it's only 1-2. It's 100% juice and counts as a serving of fruit...plus I try to get as many calories in him as I can. He's only gained 2 lbs in the past 14 months (he's 26 months and wears size 18 months pants/shorts).

For dinner...ugh...dinner. Lately he opens the fridge and says "ga" which is short for "hot dog." He eats turkey dogs cut up into bites...and lately, it's the food of choice. He had some 100% natural Tyson chicken nuggets tonight. He also fed himself 1/2 a cup of apple sauce.

Why am I typing a diary of my son's eating habits? Maybe I'm using this to vent my frustrations. Feeding my son is extremely stressful. I no longer enjoy meals. My heart beats fast sitting next to him and looking at him out of the corner of my eye to see if he's going to put anything in his mouth. Restaurants are agonizing. We only order grilled cheese and fries when we're out because it's all that he'll pick at.

He doesn't eat candy because we don't eat candy. He's had chocolate and LOVED it...and if we have some in the house, I'll let him have a bite. He spits soda out...I think it's the fizz. We'll let him have some cool ranch Doritoes sometimes. He can have pizza in moderation because the cheese messes up his tummy. We rarely eat these things, so I guess that's why he does not. I do let him eat marshmallows sometimes...I guess those are like candy. I try to model good eating habits because I don't want him to battle with his weight as my husband and I do. I swear I've been on a diet since I was 8....
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561451 tn?1257476350
I guess actually peanut butter is the one thing i buy my kids cant eat, uh well my daughter can eat it when my son is sleeping but i have to go on a cleaning frenzy afterwards so she gets is once a week, while he is sleeping.  but when he gets big enough it'll be kept above the fridge till he understands
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561451 tn?1257476350
I do think that family she turned down sounded normal.  If she honestly couldn't adjust to that, she may be out of the norm!  In my opinion!  

Joy~ everything you said to me sounds on the norm!  I wait till after dinner for them to get their movie time because i love watching them run around all day and sing, dance, do everything crazy ish!  Plus they wind down after dinner with their movie, then bath, then story time and bed!!!

My dad was talking to me about how when I was little my brothers and sister and I didn't have boundaries, we did whatever, but I was the only one to not watch tv, eat candy, or anything un-healthy!  I chose on my own to not eat red meat and my dad always thought I was a little weird, not in a bad way though.  I did excell in school though, always had 4.0's played 3 sports at a time, and graduated at 16 with my brother who was 18.  He did not like that.  And went on the graduate from college by 21 with a bachelors degree.  Which no one else in my family did...  So I don't know.  If my son weren't allergic to peanuts I doubt I would change anything with the sweet, but he would definately be eating peanut butter LOL...
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Avatar universal
Whoa, I just re-read some of my comments and I sound hoity-toity but honestly, it's the norm for my kids. They expect it and it's just their lifestyle. When I was growing up we ate everything on white bread and HATED wheat bread or any sort of nutty bread. But my kids have only had white bread once or twice and prefer wheat. I think when we instill healthy eating habits, it becomes natural for them. I grew up on junk because my mom was divorced and depressed and didn't cook for us.

I do cave in to my kids, too, on days that I'm stressed and tired. So don't think I'm trying to be Miss Perfect because I'm far from it!
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Avatar universal
Oh, and TV. My oldest is allowed to watch one movie a day but she loses it often because it's a privilege that she must earn by good behavior (they're not educational movies- they're Disney movies). They have better things to do. In fact, I keep the T.V. off allllll day long, until 7 PM (then hubby and I watch some shows).

I LOVE to have special days where we pop in a movie, make some popcorn, and all cuddle on the couch. Especially on stormy days. Otherwise we're homeschooling and doing crafts, going out on walks, etc.

The other day I put in Willy Wonka and broke out the Halloween candy and my daughter was absolutely glowing with pleasure. I also am guilty of putting in a movie so I can get work done around the house!
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Avatar universal
We don't buy chips, pop, or sweets. In fact the couple of times we've let our oldest take a sip of pop at a restaurant she HATED it (yay). I once saw a 2 year old guzzling a 20 ounce of Pepsi and I was horrified. It's just not necessary.

I like to buy organic when I can afford it but I don't freak out if my kids eat pizza or ice cream. They rarely get sweets. They HAVE to eat the dinner set before them (I'm not a short-order cook). I don't believe in catering to a child's every whim and desire, especially when it comes to food.

They do get one cup of apple juice a day! I also make "Moo Moo Milk" as a sweet treat (it's a nickname I gave chocolate milk) every now and then.

I think the family you turned down is normal. They want what is best for their kids and their kids aren't missing out. I think the "No pizza" is a little extensive, though. There is healthy pizza you can make at home!
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561451 tn?1257476350
Oh and I tried to feed my kids cake on their 1st birthdays and they refuse to eat sugar, so in my opinion it's great!  ahaha  
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561451 tn?1257476350
Well, my kids get 2 hours of tv time a day, but I don't actually have tv cause I have never watched it myself, so we buy educational shows on dvd and they get 2 hours of that a day.  Listen to like oldie music to dance to cause their dancing feens...  LOL  

Now my food thing may sound strict but there is an ALLERGY note to it.  No candy, because every candy is made in a factory that peanuts are and my son is HIGHLY ALLERGIC TO THEM!  Ahaha...  No chips, no junk food.  The meals I make are highly colorful...  3 diff kind of vegies, one sort of meat, rice or noodles or potatoes...  

I also have a lot of allergies, so I usually make me the same food as them but minus orange, lemon, lime {im deathly allergic to those}  and no pop.  no alcohol or caffiene lol

I'm just like bts I don't keep anything in this house that they cant eat.  I do have a v-smile game system for them to play, and this learning computer game, but thats it.  they have tons of fun with legos and what not!
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Avatar universal
I also wanted to state, that my children are allowed to watch TV, BUT only if they participate in their 1 Hr session of educational stuff that I do with them, like reading, writing ect...They get to play video games, but only under mine or hubby's supervision. They can do pretty much as they please aslong as there are some educational benefits during the day. I do an hour of inhome preschool with my youngest son, and 2 hours (1 hr AM and 1 hr PM) with my oldest. We also do an hour of arts and crafts wether indoors or outdoors. Like today we went and collected fall leaves and made a beautiful collage.

My MIL sounds like the fmaily you had an interview with lol. She doesn't allow TV period in her house, just religious christian music that constantly plays on her radio. They don't get junk foods or meat products. No video games, no computer, no TV, AND they are not allowed to play with other children unless in daycare, or it they are related to family, her fear is that they will catch something. They aren't allowed to play with bugs at her house, which is sad, because both of my boys have ant farms, and have had jars of crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and fireflys.

I like my kids to just be kids, aslong as they are learning something.
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Avatar universal
My kids are allowed to eat and drink just about anything and everything. Of course no Alcoholic beverages lol. They aren't allowed Soda's with caffiene, but they are allowed to split one non caffinated beverage a day. Absolutely no coffee caffinated or not. Candy is allowed only under strict supervision, as I have had my boys choke on candy before. I prefer sugar free candies, but nowadays everything has sugar in it, wether it is an additive or natural sugar. I do however water down certain juices for them, because it causes them to have severe diahrreah. I am however strict on what they do eat, because if I wasn't my boys wouldn't touch their veggies. They don't have to eat certain veggies that I know they won't stomach...like peas and potato salad. I do make them try new stuff atleast once, if they don't like it at that moment then I make them a different veggie.

They have to have a balanced diet, for all 3 meals. Snacks are only healthy ones, except on the weekends I allow the to splurge a little. They can have chips, and junk food, I just monitor how much they have of it.

Im only strict like this because I would like to install good healthy eating habits early, that way it will hopefully carry on to adulthood.

I however am not the type of parent that will eat something in front of their children, when I tell them they can't have it. We don't drink any caffiene in the house, except my morning coffee, that I drink before they wake up generally. If I say no ice cream, then that goes for me and hubby as well. I don't keep things in the house that only me and hubby can eat, everything that is in my house is allowed to be eaten by everyone including my kids.

My kids have never chosen chocolate pudding over fruit. They don't always want the candy and junk that most kids love to eat. They have their days when they want normal healthy food, and days when they want their sweets. They are able to willingly turn down any candy that they don't want. They know if they want something junky, they can usually have it, just in moderations.
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