Snacks that are 'fun' but still not crap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't win if someone else is also bringing snacks.
Next time offer to bring snacks for everyone. Your snacks were fine and kids would have eaten them if not for the "better snacks"

You can also get some organic things that are fun like peanut butter crackers. We get these from MOMs (http://shop.latejuly.com/Mini-Peanut-Butter-Sandwich-Crackers/p/LJS-000700&c=LateJuly@Crackers) or you can get the Annie's version of fruit bythe foot. (http://www.annies.com/products/fruit-snacks). Or honest kids juice boxes (less sugar(

And most importantly once in a while just let it go and let the kids eat the goldfish like you did yesterday.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Referring to food as "crap" is intellectually lazy. Describe more accurately what foods you approve of and what you don't. Because there are no agreed upon "good" and "bad" foods. Actual crap=feces. Goldfish crackers are made primarily of wheat flour, oil, and salt.

ok - because I'm super concerned, when I post on DCUM, about being intellectually un-lazy.

[Anonymous]

They aren't perfect but I buy the Annie's fruit roll ups, bunny crackers, etc. At least there aren't artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, etc. He mostly eats these over the weekend or at camp for a snack since other kids have junk and he wants the same.

At home if he asks for a snack I offer fruit, persian cucumbers, nuts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Goldfish? This is a non-event on the shitty junk food scale. I thought you were going to say Takis and Mt Dew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't win if someone else is also bringing snacks.
Next time offer to bring snacks for everyone. Your snacks were fine and kids would have eaten them if not for the "better snacks"

You can also get some organic things that are fun like peanut butter crackers. We get these from MOMs (http://shop.latejuly.com/Mini-Peanut-Butter-Sandwich-Crackers/p/LJS-000700&c=LateJuly@Crackers) or you can get the Annie's version of fruit bythe foot. (http://www.annies.com/products/fruit-snacks). Or honest kids juice boxes (less sugar(

And most importantly once in a while just let it go and let the kids eat the goldfish like you did yesterday.

+1 We eat mostly unprocessed snacks at home and when I send their lunch/snack at school, but for "fun" times, like parties, boats, etc, I just let it go. I will send healthy and non healthy snacks and if they come back having eaten only chips, whatever. 85% of their diet is healthy and I don't want food to become "forbidden". In our house, I talk about a clear cut separation between party food, and home food. For example, juice boxes are only at parties. I had major food issues growing up and was overweight (am a healthy/skinny weight now) and I don't want food to be a struggle, and want the kids to learn moderation themselves, which they will only get by being exposed to unhealthy snacks as well. my 5 year old, who was Ms. chips/cookies herself, now only has a few chips and naturally gravitates toward the fruit option. BUT she still eats chips/cookies, just doesn't gorge herself on them.

This.

My kids are older now but it took me years to realize that fun times = fun snacks. I kept the unprocessed stuff for home. I also found that if I didn't bring fun snacks, we ended eating out more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't win if someone else is also bringing snacks.
Next time offer to bring snacks for everyone. Your snacks were fine and kids would have eaten them if not for the "better snacks"

You can also get some organic things that are fun like peanut butter crackers. We get these from MOMs (http://shop.latejuly.com/Mini-Peanut-Butter-Sandwich-Crackers/p/LJS-000700&c=LateJuly@Crackers) or you can get the Annie's version of fruit bythe foot. (http://www.annies.com/products/fruit-snacks). Or honest kids juice boxes (less sugar(

And most importantly once in a while just let it go and let the kids eat the goldfish like you did yesterday.

+1 We eat mostly unprocessed snacks at home and when I send their lunch/snack at school, but for "fun" times, like parties, boats, etc, I just let it go. I will send healthy and non healthy snacks and if they come back having eaten only chips, whatever. 85% of their diet is healthy and I don't want food to become "forbidden". In our house, I talk about a clear cut separation between party food, and home food. For example, juice boxes are only at parties. I had major food issues growing up and was overweight (am a healthy/skinny weight now) and I don't want food to be a struggle, and want the kids to learn moderation themselves, which they will only get by being exposed to unhealthy snacks as well. my 5 year old, who was Ms. chips/cookies herself, now only has a few chips and naturally gravitates toward the fruit option. BUT she still eats chips/cookies, just doesn't gorge herself on them.

This.

My kids are older now but it took me years to realize that fun times = fun snacks. I kept the unprocessed stuff for home. I also found that if I didn't bring fun snacks, we ended eating out more.

That's a reasonable and probably smart position but in our case still leaves our kids eating a lot of processed foods. All of the school and camp provided snacks seem to be processed foods (or at least offer a processed food option and my kids will skip the apple and grab the pretzels or goldfish) and then on top of that they are at friends houses and again processed snacks and then after weekend soccer/baseball games again processed snacks.

So I agree with the sentiment that a smart parent needs to pick their battles and that a reasonable quantity of this stuff isn't a problem but we are losing the war badly and won't be turning the tide without a lot of cooperation from other parents.

[Anonymous]

A bag of goldfish now and then isn't going to kill your kid

[Anonymous]

A boat trip with friends is a time where you just overlook junk food. They're not eating like this every day. Live a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nuts
Dried banana chips (not the kind fried in nasty vegetable oil)
Rice rolled up in those crunchy salty seaweed sheets
Apples/oranges/bananas
Rice cakes and peanut butter
Pork rinds from pastured pigs

No advice on the other kids bringing crap snacks, that sucks and not sure id want to fight that battle all damn day if it's supposed to be a nice break for me too

aka sushi?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nuts
Dried banana chips (not the kind fried in nasty vegetable oil)
Rice rolled up in those crunchy salty seaweed sheets
Apples/oranges/bananas
Rice cakes and peanut butter
Pork rinds from pastured pigs

No advice on the other kids bringing crap snacks, that sucks and not sure id want to fight that battle all damn day if it's supposed to be a nice break for me too

aka sushi?

lol we're Korean so it's kimbap to us, but yes basically

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Goldfish? This is a non-event on the shitty junk food scale. I thought you were going to say Takis and Mt Dew.

Had to google this. They look crazy. Will try tomorrow. With my 12 y.o.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the process of eliminating "snacks" for my son. I had been giving him cereal bars for snack every day, but he quickly started demanding them ALL THE TIME. Now, his choice for snack is fruit or a homemade (veggie filled) muffin. We had to go cold turkey with the cereal bars!

As for the boat trip, let it go. Kids will always go for goldfish. I mean, what do YOU go for first at a party: the fun food or the boring food?

[Anonymous]

I would let it go for a once in a while thing like a boat ride.

Otherwise maybe search for twists on the healthy foods you prefer them to eat. As for what those are... good question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't win if someone else is also bringing snacks.
Next time offer to bring snacks for everyone. Your snacks were fine and kids would have eaten them if not for the "better snacks"

You can also get some organic things that are fun like peanut butter crackers. We get these from MOMs (http://shop.latejuly.com/Mini-Peanut-Butter-Sandwich-Crackers/p/LJS-000700&c=LateJuly@Crackers) or you can get the Annie's version of fruit bythe foot. (http://www.annies.com/products/fruit-snacks). Or honest kids juice boxes (less sugar(

And most importantly once in a while just let it go and let the kids eat the goldfish like you did yesterday.

+1 We eat mostly unprocessed snacks at home and when I send their lunch/snack at school, but for "fun" times, like parties, boats, etc, I just let it go. I will send healthy and non healthy snacks and if they come back having eaten only chips, whatever. 85% of their diet is healthy and I don't want food to become "forbidden". In our house, I talk about a clear cut separation between party food, and home food. For example, juice boxes are only at parties. I had major food issues growing up and was overweight (am a healthy/skinny weight now) and I don't want food to be a struggle, and want the kids to learn moderation themselves, which they will only get by being exposed to unhealthy snacks as well. my 5 year old, who was Ms. chips/cookies herself, now only has a few chips and naturally gravitates toward the fruit option. BUT she still eats chips/cookies, just doesn't gorge herself on them.

This.

My kids are older now but it took me years to realize that fun times = fun snacks. I kept the unprocessed stuff for home. I also found that if I didn't bring fun snacks, we ended eating out more.

That's a reasonable and probably smart position but in our case still leaves our kids eating a lot of processed foods. All of the school and camp provided snacks seem to be processed foods (or at least offer a processed food option and my kids will skip the apple and grab the pretzels or goldfish) and then on top of that they are at friends houses and again processed snacks and then after weekend soccer/baseball games again processed snacks.

So I agree with the sentiment that a smart parent needs to pick their battles and that a reasonable quantity of this stuff isn't a problem but we are losing the war badly and won't be turning the tide without a lot of cooperation from other parents.

Except it isn't up to other parents to provide what you want your kids to eat. It is more difficult once the kids are out doing more things.

Do the best you can to instill your preferences. My cousin hovers over her 10 year old. If he won't choose healthy foods she won't let him go without her. Pretty extreme IMO.

I guess you can hope the attraction to not so great food will wear off.

[Anonymous]

Skinnypop popcorn or Boomchickapop is always a popular, healthy choice in my house that still feels "fun."