Do you keep processed snack foods in the house?

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I try to take an “everything in moderation” approach, but my teens will almost always opt for Goldfish and other processed food if we have it. I’ve thought of not buying it, but I hate sending the message that anything is “bad.”


Why wouldn’t you want to send the message that a bad thing is bad?


Not OP, but perhaps because it is widely regarded as harmful by experts in pediatric nutrition. A quick Google search about labeling food as “good” or “bad” to children will bring up pages of research. It is associated with shame, bingeing, and disordered eating.


It's now recommendeded I believe to talk about nutrition value. Like a PP mentioned i.e. apple and peanut snack will keep you full longer because of the protein vs having goldfish crackers.
Anonymous
Like many on this thread, a mix. My kids are active, eat a lot of fruit, but also enjoy things like sun chips and granola bars. Moderation is good.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I try to take an “everything in moderation” approach, but my teens will almost always opt for Goldfish and other processed food if we have it. I’ve thought of not buying it, but I hate sending the message that anything is “bad.”


Why wouldn’t you want to send the message that a bad thing is bad?


Not OP, but perhaps because it is widely regarded as harmful by experts in pediatric nutrition. A quick Google search about labeling food as “good” or “bad” to children will bring up pages of research. It is associated with shame, bingeing, and disordered eating.


It's now recommendeded I believe to talk about nutrition value. Like a PP mentioned i.e. apple and peanut snack will keep you full longer because of the protein vs having goldfish crackers.


Whose recommendation are you looking at?

I did a fair amount of research into how best to feed kids, because I had a pretty medically complex kid who needed a lot of problem solving. At that time, the research clearly supported the model the PP you quote mentioned. Is there research supporting a different model now?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I try to take an “everything in moderation” approach, but my teens will almost always opt for Goldfish and other processed food if we have it. I’ve thought of not buying it, but I hate sending the message that anything is “bad.”


Why wouldn’t you want to send the message that a bad thing is bad?


Not OP, but perhaps because it is widely regarded as harmful by experts in pediatric nutrition. A quick Google search about labeling food as “good” or “bad” to children will bring up pages of research. It is associated with shame, bingeing, and disordered eating.


It's now recommendeded I believe to talk about nutrition value. Like a PP mentioned i.e. apple and peanut snack will keep you full longer because of the protein vs having goldfish crackers.


Whose recommendation are you looking at?

I did a fair amount of research into how best to feed kids, because I had a pretty medically complex kid who needed a lot of problem solving. At that time, the research clearly supported the model the PP you quote mentioned. Is there research supporting a different model now?


Not research just general info here's a post from web MD about talking to kids about nutrition that breaks it down and why.

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/food-smart-kids
Anonymous
Of course
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:A couple years ago, this topic went viral and people started calling homes without snacks an “ingredients household.” I stick to a mix of ingredients and ready-to-go snacks mostly to save time & sanity, but also because a lot of kids who grow up in ingredients-only homes overindulge in all the things they were denied as kids once they move out.


I certainly did. I grew up without snacks and have tons of snacks now.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I try to take an “everything in moderation” approach, but my teens will almost always opt for Goldfish and other processed food if we have it. I’ve thought of not buying it, but I hate sending the message that anything is “bad.”


Why wouldn’t you want to send the message that a bad thing is bad?


Not OP, but perhaps because it is widely regarded as harmful by experts in pediatric nutrition. A quick Google search about labeling food as “good” or “bad” to children will bring up pages of research. It is associated with shame, bingeing, and disordered eating.


NP, but I disagree. They are bad for you. End of discussion. 70% of adults adults are overweight. No matter what you do or don’t do, chances are high that will be your kids one day.
So at least teach them the facts.
Anonymous
no! my experience is that plenty of processed food is made available to DS outside our home.
Anonymous
Some, but try to limit the quantity. My teen has accused me of having an “ingredient household”, meaning they’re too lazy to make anything and would rather just eat the pre-made bag of chips. 🙄
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have never meant anyone that has zero processed snacks in the house. I just don’t think that is realistic with busy kids in after school activities and such.

I buy pretzels, granola bars (we make our own too sometimes), triscuits, seaweed packs most regularly. Plus some chocolate almonds and sweet things on hand.

Of my social group, this is by far, the healthiest processed snack options at home. Most go to Costco and buy a ton of crap in bulk.


lol. I look forward to when your teenage athletes are burning 3000-4000 calories per day and you're tossing them some seaweed and chocolate almonds

you'll be pulling up to Costco like the rest of us


Ok, well my kids aren’t “teenage athletes.” They do sports, but it equates to 2-3 practices per week, hardly high intensity training. But they would happily eat through a bag of goldfish or bag of Takis over apples and carrots- if they were available. So I don’t always have them. I will sometimes buy them, but I don’t think that is heathy to be eating daily or multiple times per day as snacks,
I limit for frequently I buy them.
Anonymous
Yes I do.
Anonymous
I noticed that portion control is the key so I buy individually packaged snacks that are healthyish - baked chips, pretzels, popcorners, seaweed snacks.

We also have fage yogurt cups, jerky, dried mangos and of course fresh fruit - needs to be easy - clementines, bananas, or if melon or pineapple - already divided into ziplocs/containers.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I try to take an “everything in moderation” approach, but my teens will almost always opt for Goldfish and other processed food if we have it. I’ve thought of not buying it, but I hate sending the message that anything is “bad.”


Why wouldn’t you want to send the message that a bad thing is bad?


Not OP, but perhaps because it is widely regarded as harmful by experts in pediatric nutrition. A quick Google search about labeling food as “good” or “bad” to children will bring up pages of research. It is associated with shame, bingeing, and disordered eating.


NP, but I disagree. They are bad for you. End of discussion. 70% of adults adults are overweight. No matter what you do or don’t do, chances are high that will be your kids one day.
So at least teach them the facts.


Actual professionals who research the topic disagree with you, so I’ll look to them for guidance. Their research suggests restricting certain foods in children causes them to overchoose and overconsume the restricted foods once the restriction is lifted. Those are the actual facts, not something you made up.

Foods don’t have moral value. Food provides nutrients, calories, protein, fiber…pleasure. A diet of all carrots is decidedly less healthy than a diet of all processed food that meets dietary needs. A single food in the context of a varied diet is not bad.

I feel guilt every single time I have dessert or a “bad” food. Deep shame and an impulse to punish myself with additional exercise - even though I live in a small, physically fit body. My relationship with food is still unhealthy mentally and physically. Fatness is not the only undesirable consequence of this issue.




Anonymous
We do.
Anonymous
The fishes are so delicious.
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