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. |
| 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. |
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 |
| Of course |
I certainly did. I grew up without snacks and have tons of snacks now. |
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. |
| no! my experience is that plenty of processed food is made available to DS outside our home. |
| 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. 🙄 |
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. |
| Yes I do. |
|
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. |
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. |
| We do. |
| The fishes are so delicious. |