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

[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.

+1000. So true in our family as well! I actually find fast foods taste really bad, and I do not enjoy a lot of mass produced cookies, candies and etc, because they simply don't taste good to me. I was growing in Russia, and we had to grow our own vegetables and fruits to survive. They were full of flavor, not even close to what you get in the stores. I do like food, and very adventures in trying new things, but I always pay attention to what quality of food I put in my mouth. So far, being in my mid 40-ies, I don't even have a family doctor, because I am healthy, and I think my choices in foods contributed to it at least somewhat. It is very comforting to read you, PP that such approach to teaching kids about food does pay off. And even if my kids are still young, I do a lot for them to learn the difference between good quality and not so foods, and at least in front of us, they already make good choices.
My apology for grammar mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1000. So true in our family as well! I actually find fast foods taste really bad, and I do not enjoy a lot of mass produced cookies, candies and etc, because they simply don't taste good to me. I was growing in Russia, and we had to grow our own vegetables and fruits to survive. They were full of flavor, not even close to what you get in the stores. I do like food, and very adventures in trying new things, but I always pay attention to what quality of food I put in my mouth. So far, being in my mid 40-ies, I don't even have a family doctor, because I am healthy, and I think my choices in foods contributed to it at least somewhat. It is very comforting to read you, PP that such approach to teaching kids about food does pay off. And even if my kids are still young, I do a lot for them to learn the difference between good quality and not so foods, and at least in front of us, they already make good choices.
My apology for grammar mistakes.

I'm with you. Most produce in supermarkets here is completely odorless and tasteless. Don't understand why it has to be picked 3 weeks before it's even ready so it can be gas-preserved and shipped cross-country. But hey, enjoy your California January tomatoes.

[Anonymous]

Things do change from generation to generation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthorexia_nervosa

[Anonymous]

Healthy foods do not change that much. Processed snack foods are not healthy. In fact, recent studies show that they are even more unhealthy than we thought at first.