Were prior generations just not aware of sugar/processed food issues?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I'm 47. I ate sugar/processed food daily growing up.

[Anonymous]

My kids are 2 and 4. When we just had the one kid and he was under 2, we were pretty uptight about wanting him to not even be exposed to junk food. So we said "no" to friends and relatives a lot. We'd try to be light about it, like "haven't you heard? juice is totally out of style..."

Now we are a little further along in parenting and still basically feel the same way. But we don't want to make too big of an issue about things, so let the kids have that juice box at the party or whatever. We're not worried about offending relatives, but more concerned about creating problems for the kids if they see everyone else having something. In our house, we eat consistently good home cooked food.

Every family has to find their comfort zone on how to manage this. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Food was healthier back then, and the science of making food taste irresistable was not as advanced as it is today. Our food is full of tasty additives and extra caleries that start food cravings. In the 1970s that was not as clearly understood, and used to our disadvantage like it is today. Not everyone's mom gave them the awful foods of the 1970s --there were health food "fanatics" back then also.

Thanks to my parents influence of healthy eating we have maintained weight and moderation. We are in our 50s. Children also healthy eaters. We do eat sugery things from time to time --all things in moderation! My DH has never had a soft drink and does not want to start now. I have gone years between soft drinks. Years between snack foods. We don't do fast food. It is an extension of how you were brought up with regard to food. After some time, it is a habit. There are such things as good habits.

I would say that you are very unusual. YEARS between snack foods? Never, ever, had a soda in 50 plus years? Wow, that's discipline. Or something.

I wouldn't say she is unusual. At all. There is a big difference between being a food control freak and allowing your kids to eat whatever junk they wish to have (or what most of you seem to call "moderation"). It's called food education, nurturing healthy eating habits, or whatever you want to call it these days. I find it amusing how, on this board, most parents who don't believe in teaching and modeling good eating habits will just dismiss those of us who do by saying that our kids will just grow up going wild the moment they have the freedom to try snacks and sodas. I didn't have fast food until I was 19. Twenty years later, I have it maybe twice a year. We kept our son away from juice and sodas at home, but once he was in school around other kids, we readily let him have both. Guess what. He hates soda and will only take a few sips of juice. When he's thirsty, he wants water. This is what I call moderation, as in "we don't really like to eat this way, because we don't think that's actual food, but you're welcome to try and form your own opinion". And oh, yes, it works.

And going back to the grandparents argument, we let them spoil the kids the rare times they're in charge of them, but we have no allergy/intolerance issues, so that's obviously easier for us to do.

You have fast food twice a year. I could bite that that is moderation. PP, on the other hand, has gone years between soft drinks and snacks foods. Her husband has never had a soda. I'm sticking to my comment that this is unusual. It seems a bit extreme. But then, again, I think extremes of any pretty much any kind are usually not productive or adaptive or conducive to life in society. PP isn't the kind of person I'd invite over to dinner or to grad a bite to eat with - too stressful!

[Anonymous]

Generational thing.It's all junk food in stores, and bad tasting junk food.I always wondered about the cookie-jar in many homes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grandparent thing.

My parents were doing the no sugar, grow your own food, feed your kids carob-thing in the 70s. Now my mom loves to take my daughter out for ice cream and give her cookies.

+1 totally agree. My mother fed us so well of kids. We did get treats, but I feel like we grew up with really healthy relationships toward food and eating (everything in moderation, eat lots of vegetables and good proteins but it's ok to have fancy dessert once in awhile, etc.) I was never that kid who felt deprived and needed to binge at parties, but I also ate really balanced meals day in and day out. Fast forward 30 years and my mom is giving my child whatever he wants whenever she sees him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Food was healthier back then, and the science of making food taste irresistable was not as advanced as it is today. Our food is full of tasty additives and extra caleries that start food cravings. In the 1970s that was not as clearly understood, and used to our disadvantage like it is today. Not everyone's mom gave them the awful foods of the 1970s --there were health food "fanatics" back then also.

Thanks to my parents influence of healthy eating we have maintained weight and moderation. We are in our 50s. Children also healthy eaters. We do eat sugery things from time to time --all things in moderation! My DH has never had a soft drink and does not want to start now. I have gone years between soft drinks. Years between snack foods. We don't do fast food. It is an extension of how you were brought up with regard to food. After some time, it is a habit. There are such things as good habits.

PP here: I never noticed that DH did not drink soft drinks (cola) I do not like them either. Just not fond of snack foods. They taste fake and greasy to me. Ever notice that fast foods are salty and oily? I do not think other people really notice. It does not come up at parties --who cares if you don't do the chips? Most of the women don't.

[Anonymous]

You have fast food twice a year. I could bite that that is moderation. PP, on the other hand, has gone years between soft drinks and snacks foods. Her husband has never had a soda. I'm sticking to my comment that this is unusual. It seems a bit extreme. But then, again, I think extremes of any pretty much any kind are usually not productive or adaptive or conducive to life in society. PP isn't the kind of person I'd invite over to dinner or to grad a bite to eat with - too stressful!

I'm preety sure I would not want to eat with you either --too trashy! And proud of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you are in a similar issue as people who say "my mom always brings gifts and now DS expects them." I would treat it the same way.
"you know, mom/auntie/sis, I think little Snowflake is getting used to getting candy from you bc when I say Nana she licks her lips. I would like her to value your time together, not the treats. Any chance we could eat some fruit tomorrow instead?"

I think this might be the best answer to OP's question in the entire thread.

I don't have as much extended family on a regular basis, but my mom is here very regularly. She knows that based on the regularity of her visits, they are special but not "special occasions" worthy of treats every time. PPs make valid points that when you aren't at home it can be easier on everyone if you are able to take a deep breath and not be as strict about food choices as you are at home. And I say this as someone who BF forever and made my child's own organic purees, etc, etc.

If Aunt Tilly comes over with homemade candy you can smilingly say "Now Aunt Tilly, you just made Larla some fudge last week. She can't have candy every time we see you! We'll save that for another day. That was so sweet of you to make it."

[Anonymous]

OP, I would not be very happy with relatives pressing sweets on my 1.5 year old. It is very young for that.

[Anonymous]

If an elderly relative makes home made candy for my toddler, I would have no problem with him having a small piece or two. Its a once in a while thing. I would never be so rude to an elderly aunt, jeez, people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I fear we're creating a generation of kids who are going to have major food issues.

What ever happened to the concept of moderation?

I was raised a vegetarian and my mother stuffed us full of oat bran and tofu (big in the 80s). We were not allowed ANYTHING processed, even in moderation. My siblings and I are all quite thin and very athletic. I'm so grateful that my mother shaped my growing body in a way that makes it very easy as an adult to eat well and eat healthy. My siblings and I all do not have a sweet tooth, we have no food vices. My DH was raised on chocolate milk and oreos and he struggles horribly with weight. He has thankfully lost 60lbs, but it has been so hard for him to break life long habits. I truly feel like his parents did him a horrible disservice. He does too and is very mindful to not pass the bad habits along.

HOWEVER my mother in her older age, loves to stuff my kids full of sweets (though all home baked-high quality, but sugar is sugar). I cannot believe how much she had changed. I generally let it go, but since my mom sees my kids daily, as she watches them. I really have to put the breaks on when it gets out of control, but I know she sneaks it behind my back. Very irritating, since my oldest has already had a root canal and a crown and he is only 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would not be very happy with relatives pressing sweets on my 1.5 year old. It is very young for that.

I agree. Most PPs are offering responses that would make sense for a 7 year old, but a 1 year old? 1 year olds really do not need cookies, cake, or candy, even in "moderate". Candy would be a choking hazard at that age. Cookies and cake - what would that look like in moderation for some one under 2? If I were to ask my Ped what's a reasonable limit on that for little Larla, I'm pretty sure he'd say none until she's older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have fast food twice a year. I could bite that that is moderation. PP, on the other hand, has gone years between soft drinks and snacks foods. Her husband has never had a soda. I'm sticking to my comment that this is unusual. It seems a bit extreme. But then, again, I think extremes of any pretty much any kind are usually not productive or adaptive or conducive to life in society. PP isn't the kind of person I'd invite over to dinner or to grad a bite to eat with - too stressful!

I'm preety sure I would not want to eat with you either --too trashy! And proud of it.

So the fact that I am stressed by someone who has an extreme approach makes me trashy? Do tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have fast food twice a year. I could bite that that is moderation. PP, on the other hand, has gone years between soft drinks and snacks foods. Her husband has never had a soda. I'm sticking to my comment that this is unusual. It seems a bit extreme. But then, again, I think extremes of any pretty much any kind are usually not productive or adaptive or conducive to life in society. PP isn't the kind of person I'd invite over to dinner or to grad a bite to eat with - too stressful!

I'm preety sure I would not want to eat with you either --too trashy! And proud of it.

So the fact that I am stressed by someone who has an extreme approach makes me trashy? Do tell.

Not drinking soft drinks is a class thing, sweetie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know this is all bunk, right? Not everyone ate crap in the 60's or grew up on it. Health professionals were talking about the perils of cholesterol, salt, sugar THEN. Why do you think people were drinking TAB soda? Not because it tasted good!

OK, my family drank TAB because it wasn't sticky when it spilled by the kids like regular soda.