Kids - Sweets and Chocolate

JoJoB

I do think it makes life much harder if there is a sweetie tin or sweetie cupboard in the house. The kids are always going to be asking for more than they are allowed, sneaking extras when you are not looking, and I'm pretty sure I would be raiding it too!

I won't be too strict with DD when she is older about her having a few sweet things when out and about at friends or whatever, but there won't be any junk food in the house. I just don't see the point in it - it's addictive and harmful and even if the rest of their diet is wholesome you are still giving them stuff that is basically poison on a daily basis.

I'm sorry if my wording offends but "poison" is exactly what I think much of the "food" marketed at children is. A substance with no nutritional qualities which causes physical harm. It makes me so angry that food manufacturers can get away with peddling this filth to our kids and then we are made to look like mean mums if we don't let our kids drink some sort of bright green fizzy gloop that's caught their eye. People like Gary Lineker, advertising crisps, are just a disgrace imo - using their sporting, fit, healthy reputation to push fatty rubbishy snacks to the nation.

Rant over.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for this thread, its given me something to think about. I think I was on the verge of slipping into bad habits with my son, when I mean verge, I mean slowly upping his level of treats since Xmas. I'm going to rein in a bit from tomorrow.

However I have noticed that even on days when he's had no chocolate or crisps, he can still play up and ignore, have tantrums and thoroughly wind me up. I guess that's just being 2?

Dormouse

What's one person's poison is not necessarily poison for someone else. We, as adults, make that decision for our children (and ourselves). I personally would rather give my child a chocolate bar than, say, a Fruit Shoot or a diet fizzy drink, whereas I am sure there are people who would disagree.

I am a great believer in a healthy balance. My kids get treats as they have a healthy, nutritious diet, and I apply the same principle to myself.

3under3

I have a daughter 3 and a half and twins 20 months. I know they are younger but there is no way they will be getting sweets every day. The elder one gets some buttons from great grandma once a week and I'm quite lenient when visiting their granparents regarding treats etc. I watched a program once and it showed that when goodies are in the house but the children are not allowed access to them they become fixated with them. So after the Christmas goodies have finally been finished we won't be buying anymore. Our girls all like to share a doughnut at the weekend and if they make a good effort with their meals they can have yoghurt / fruit or dessert. The twins are milk & egg allergic so really they are so limited regarding sweets (except jelly tots)... which is a good reason not to have them in the house.

and I've told the eldest that if she eats too much chocolate her teeth will go bad and the tooth fairy only takes nice clean white ones....:D

remembered_nights

I think you have the right balance. Sweets were completely banned in our house, and I remember as a kid sneaking a choc from the parents' box of Roses I think the ban made them more tempting! We did get lots of home baking and stuff instead, I miss that ^_^

PolishBigSpender

Banning sweets is simply a counter productive policy. You will find that a child will begin to lie and steal, particularly if it sees its own peers enjoying such things. It may also start to resent the parents, which can be a traumatical thing for all sides.

Now, my question.

Is it healthier for a child to eat good quality dark chocolate, or for it to eat a meal consisting of Tesco Value meat and tinned products, but 'homecooked'?

pukkamum

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Banning sweets is simply a counter productive policy. You will find that a child will begin to lie and steal, particularly if it sees its own peers enjoying such things. It may also start to resent the parents, which can be a traumatical thing for all sides.

Now, my question.

Is it healthier for a child to eat good quality dark chocolate, or for it to eat a meal consisting of Tesco Value meat and tinned products, but 'homecooked'?

I think it depends on whether you are giving them the dark chocolate instead of the home cooked meal;)
I really don't think there is anything wrong with value meat or tinned veg as both are still nutricious.

irish_eyes

Everyone needs a treat but there can be too much of a good thing. My youngest has started coming home from school with chocolate bars and sticky sweets given out by the teacher for good behaviour!! The irony is the school is running a healthy eating campaign and I'm not allowed to put sweet items in her lunch box!

belfastgirl23

remembered_nights wrote: »

I think you have the right balance. Sweets were completely banned in our house, and I remember as a kid sneaking a choc from the parents' box of Roses I think the ban made them more tempting! We did get lots of home baking and stuff instead, I miss that ^_^

Aha this is another thorny issue - to me the best thing you can do as a parent is set an example. If you are much more likely to reach for the fruit bowl and just have a little bit of sweet stuff, that's what your children will see as 'normal'. I think the way things are now is pretty ok although I would encourage you to get rid of as much of your cupboard stuff as possible if it is really overflowing.

liney

I would go through the lot and bag up the stuff with longer use by dates, and let them chose only from the shorted dated items until it's gone. You can then bring the rest out later - don't waste for sake of it.

DS4 does not get choc/sweets/biscuits/choc on a daily basis, and i find he is much more likely to try new 'proper food' than his friends who get these things all the time. I don't see a problem in a daily small treat, but i certainly wouldn't increase it. I would speak to your children generally about healthy eating, and then they will understand why you have these rules.