Food choices for children
How do you make food choices for your children?
How do you make food choices for your children? What are the main things that influence your decisions? Has this changed over time?
The discussion ran from 10 May 2018 - 05 July 2018
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Log into your accountBeatrice
Community Member 7 years agoI avoid food with added sweetener (refined sugar, fructose, aspartame etc) in our everyday life, which then allows me to be relaxed about 'one-offs' when out or at parties.
Ketchup is always avoided as it triggers sugar rushes for my kid...
I avoid food with added sweetener (refined sugar, fructose, aspartame etc) in our everyday life, which then allows me to be relaxed about 'one-offs' when out or at parties.
Ketchup is always avoided as it triggers sugar rushes for my kid.
It is after realising that this sugar rush appears very similar to drug highs that I realised we had to reduce our general intake.
- the only drink acceptable with meals is water, even if eating out. Juices are fine but clearly understood as a treat. Coke is for stomach upsets.
-desserts are fruits, yogurt, a fruit juice. Not cakes, tarts and (sugary) ice cream. These are special dessert for once in a while consumption.
- breakfast is protein +slow release carbs and a fruit. Only way to keep kid on even keel during morning.
Jam for example is not a good breakfast to help through the morning. But offered at so many breakfast clubs! As a result I can't drop my kid off at breakfast club if I want to be sure he has a breakfast that'll keep him functioning at his best.
I try to reduce white carbs as well.
We make our own ice lollies to have the treat without the sugar rush...
I should add that I live be these rules too, I'd never get away with it otherwise!
Jade D
Community Member 7 years agoIt’s a my girl always had packed lunch because the veggie option was so dire, and often very very salty. She helped make it, we made it into a game.
Show full commentIt’s a my girl always had packed lunch because the veggie option was so dire, and often very very salty. She helped make it, we made it into a game.
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 7 years agoThanks everyone for sharing your views in this discussion. A few of you have mentioned food available in your children's school.
What do you think of it? How does your child's diet change in the school holiays, if at all?
Talk London
brunomichela
Community Member 7 years agoschool menus are not enough healthy. even those who try to be are far less healthy that the school menus of other countries. Desserts and sweets should be banned from schools and ice cream vans shouldn't be allowed to park in front of...
Show full commentschool menus are not enough healthy. even those who try to be are far less healthy that the school menus of other countries. Desserts and sweets should be banned from schools and ice cream vans shouldn't be allowed to park in front of schools. Children shouldn't just learn the meaning of the different nutrients but mostly the effects on health of junk food. Seeing the effects on your helth and on your family helth of bad food it's more important that knowing the difference between carbohidrate and proteins. Schools should visit local farms and mostly pick up your own farms. Children should learn about the impact on the environment of buying food that comes from the other side of the planet. They should learn to read the ingredients of what they buy and understand what they mean.
Show less of commentemspaws
Community Member 7 years agoAvailability, price and healthyness , weight of food difficult as I cycle home so it's limited what I can carry
what would help - smaller portions everywhere, cheaper more available fresh veg , less junk food , more responsible companies...
Show full commentAvailability, price and healthyness , weight of food difficult as I cycle home so it's limited what I can carry
what would help - smaller portions everywhere, cheaper more available fresh veg , less junk food , more responsible companies not charging the earth for fruit and veg
Show less of commentrjbrooks
Community Member 7 years agoGenerally children should be used to eating the same meals as you. It's when they are allowed a choice that things get more difficult. My children are now quite old but have always been good at eating home cooked food and thankfully make...
Show full commentGenerally children should be used to eating the same meals as you. It's when they are allowed a choice that things get more difficult. My children are now quite old but have always been good at eating home cooked food and thankfully make their own home cooked food now too.
Show less of commentgrapes
Community Member 7 years agoSomething I am always concerned about is the primary school meals, both the free ones and the paid ones have dessert every lunch. how many of us eat dessert after each lunch and cant these be changed to healthy options or no dessert, some...
Show full commentSomething I am always concerned about is the primary school meals, both the free ones and the paid ones have dessert every lunch. how many of us eat dessert after each lunch and cant these be changed to healthy options or no dessert, some schools do provide fruits and yoghurt as options. the yoghurts are normally the sweet ones and how many children will opt for fruits when they have jelly and chocolate brownies on menu.
also most events at school are always joined with sugary treats, from Harribos to cake sales and christmas/summer fair with more sugary sales. of course there is a discussion on healthy food, the eatwell plate, but the school my daugther goes to was using the old eatwell plate even though the new eatwell plate has been there more than a year. Now how are the teachers being updates on new guidelines. especially the new plate doesnt includes sugary treats as part of the meal. which is a change that the children should be informed and saying no sugary treats should be followed by action. I also believe that parents should be encouraged not to bring in unhealthy food for children when collecting them from school. Adverts play a role, but I find it easier to manage my child with adverts than when other kids are eating cakes etc after school when I take banana. I believe that the school and home shgould be targetted more as thats where children spend most of their time.
Show less of commentAng
Community Member 7 years agoI try to avoid visiting McDonalds with my children and other fast food outlets. We visit once a year at the most, twice a year would be a lot. What I find scary is the power of their marketing promotions, that lures children. More...
Show full commentI try to avoid visiting McDonalds with my children and other fast food outlets. We visit once a year at the most, twice a year would be a lot. What I find scary is the power of their marketing promotions, that lures children. More education is needed to make children aware that the food industry giants do not have their health at heart, in the quest to make more profit. Courses like MEND, have been instrumental in me making changes to the family diet like switching from white bread and pasta to wholemeal varieties.
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