I grew up eating very healthy (I’m from Europe). My kids eat so much worse in the US than I ever did. They always comment on how much better they feel when we are in Europe over the summer. It’s hard to cut out all the crap they get at school, at parties, at friend’s houses, and from my MIL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We ate very well in our childhood because we are immigrants and the fast food, junk food culture was not prevelent in our home country. Mainly whole grains, organic meats, dairy, poultry, fish. Lots of vegetables, beans, herbs, spices, fruits. All local and organic.

We moved to this country and kept much of our traditional foods, but started adding pizza, hot dogs, deli meats, burgers, fries, icecreams etc. We also ate lots of fruits and veggies too, but did not realize that they were full of pesticide and not really organic. Still, we were careful about giving soda etc to our kids. My kids got it for special occasions only. We wanted them to fit in and we let them indulge for parties and special occasions.

We have in the past 10 years switched to organic, mainly vegetarian food. My kids have also adopted it. They like to eat out different cuisines but try and steer away from processed foods and fast foods.

I will say that inspite of so much food and different cuisines available in this country, it is very hard to get food that is organic and without harmful additives for most people.

Color me skeptical. What home country was this, and what time frame?

Arendelle.

Anonymous wrote:For those listing foods they "don't allow," are your children very young?? I cannot imagine forbidding foods, though there is plenty of stuff we ate growing up that I don't buy--bologna being one of them because the idea of it grosses me out. But one of my kids came home and said, "I tried Jimmy's bologna sandwich at lunch, can you buy some bologna?" then I would.

It's not so much ban/forbid in the house as it is I don't purchase them.

I think the Starbucks frappuccinos are disgusting sugar bombs. I rarely buy them for my DD when we stop at Starbucks together. However, does she drink them? Yeah, at least 3 times a week when out with friends. She uses her own money to buy them and that's fine with me. It's not something I'm going to provide.

If my kid wanted to try bologna, I'd buy some, sure. It's not something I'm going to provide regularly, though, just like how I don't provide hot dogs and other lunchmeats with nitrates.

Outright banning food is bad practice, IMO. My SIL is what you would call an "almond mom" and has strict food rules for her kids. My nephew, since turning 16 and getting his first job, has packed on at least 35 pounds or more from eating out with his own money now. His behavior is borderline binge eating if not outright binge eating.

Anonymous wrote:We ate very well in our childhood because we are immigrants and the fast food, junk food culture was not prevelent in our home country. Mainly whole grains, organic meats, dairy, poultry, fish. Lots of vegetables, beans, herbs, spices, fruits. All local and organic.

We moved to this country and kept much of our traditional foods, but started adding pizza, hot dogs, deli meats, burgers, fries, icecreams etc. We also ate lots of fruits and veggies too, but did not realize that they were full of pesticide and not really organic. Still, we were careful about giving soda etc to our kids. My kids got it for special occasions only. We wanted them to fit in and we let them indulge for parties and special occasions.

We have in the past 10 years switched to organic, mainly vegetarian food. My kids have also adopted it. They like to eat out different cuisines but try and steer away from processed foods and fast foods.

I will say that inspite of so much food and different cuisines available in this country, it is very hard to get food that is organic and without harmful additives for most people.

Color me skeptical. What home country was this, and what time frame?

Anonymous wrote:Carob. Will never subject my kid to that travesty.

Haha, I knew so many kids growing up in the 70s who were “allergic” to chocolate and had to eat carob. Surprise! None of them are allergic anymore.

My mom was a hippie, so I probably ate a more healthful diet as a kid than my kids do. Not that the food we cook at home is bad, but my husband does love junky snacks.

We ate very well in our childhood because we are immigrants and the fast food, junk food culture was not prevelent in our home country. Mainly whole grains, organic meats, dairy, poultry, fish. Lots of vegetables, beans, herbs, spices, fruits. All local and organic.

We moved to this country and kept much of our traditional foods, but started adding pizza, hot dogs, deli meats, burgers, fries, icecreams etc. We also ate lots of fruits and veggies too, but did not realize that they were full of pesticide and not really organic. Still, we were careful about giving soda etc to our kids. My kids got it for special occasions only. We wanted them to fit in and we let them indulge for parties and special occasions.

We have in the past 10 years switched to organic, mainly vegetarian food. My kids have also adopted it. They like to eat out different cuisines but try and steer away from processed foods and fast foods.

I will say that inspite of so much food and different cuisines available in this country, it is very hard to get food that is organic and without harmful additives for most people.

Anonymous wrote:Caffeinated soda. I cannot believe my mom let me drink Coke when I was so young! We were constantly drinking soda. I do let my kids get Sprite or root beer when we go out to eat or are on an airplane but that means they get it maybe twice a month.

I used to be pretty strict about junk food but then I started having big health issues and gave in.

More reason to eat and only bring home healthy foods if you are having big health issues,no?

Wow, this is a 70s throwback. No one at my house worried abut nutrition. One saving grace was that my grandparents had a garden and gave us fresh veggies for dinner every time we'd visit. Otherwise, I was doomed.

Hungryman TV dinners
Boloney & American cheese on white bread with mayo
Frozen Morton's cinnamon rolls and doughnuts
Froot Loops and Apple Jacks
Fast food like Burger King, Pizza Hut and Church's friend chicken

Gross. No wonder my teeth are shot and I was plump until my 20s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or maybe only allow in rare instances?

For me, bologna, Little Debbie cakes, and also soda. Every packed lunch from K-12 was a bologna sandwich, bag of chips, Little Debbie cake, and Hi-C juice box. I switched out the juice box for a soda when in HS. I never drank water as a kid. OJ at breakfast, juice box/soda at lunch, soda after school, and another soda with dinner.

My kids haven't had bologna or asked for it. They have had Little Debbie cakes before at parties and sports games but they are not something they ask for or that I buy. Only 2 of my 4 kids like soda. We don't normally buy it but if one of my kids asks for a 2-liter for when they are having friends over, I'll pick one up.

I mean we don’t buy these things but I don’t explicitly prohibit them. I think that just leads to issues.

+1
Our motto is everything in moderation. I'm shocked by how many overweight parents prohibit certain foods! That just leads to anxiety around food. I'm thin but siblings are not. My siblings are more controlling with their children's food and their children are overweight. I just tell my kids to make sure the good stuff (i.e., veggies) goes in first. My kids are slim and athletic. I see the same parenting behaviors amongst their peers at school too. Typically fat unathletic parents = kids who grow up to be fat and unathletic.

Now DCUM, tell me what a horrible person I am as I'm sure my thought offended many of you, especially if you're overweight. Oh, and I also don't believe it's genetic.... or I too would be fat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know about “not allow” but here are things I grew up on that don’t exist in my kitchen:

Margarine
Packaged white bread
Fake maple syrup
Canned vegetables

These all still exist at my parents house though!

Lol, we have Margaine because it's vegan (im not vegan but we have some), I love white bread, and canned corn.

I buy my kids fake maple syrup. Why? Because I am not spending $10 a bottle on something they complain about and dump WAY too much out each time. They can have the $3 pancake syrup and go nuts. I will re-evaluate as they get older.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't not allow them anything except for caffeinated soda (they are under 8). I don't buy a lot of things. And i worked on making sure their palates are good so many things like little Debbie taste too sweet to them anyway. They take 1 bite and thats it.

Oh you parents of young kids... The most comical thing about you is your endless ability to ascribe a causal link between your specific parenting choices and whatever desirable traits your kids happen to be displaying at that particular time.

I hate braggy posts as much as the next guy, especially those related to diet, but they have a good point. Certain processed desserts and sweet drinks are too sweet for most people unless you've been acclimated to a degree.

Anonymous wrote:Margarine

This! Also Cheez Food, particularly Kraft singles.

I don't actually forbid any food, but I don't see any advantages to those two over butter and real cheese, so I've never bought them.

In addition to most of the foods mentioned, i would add McDonalds (or any similar type of fast food place). I'm cognizant those eating habits may change, but the longer we can keep them off that crap the better.

Anonymous wrote:I don't not allow them anything except for caffeinated soda (they are under 8). I don't buy a lot of things. And i worked on making sure their palates are good so many things like little Debbie taste too sweet to them anyway. They take 1 bite and thats it.

Oh you parents of young kids... The most comical thing about you is your endless ability to ascribe a causal link between your specific parenting choices and whatever desirable traits your kids happen to be displaying at that particular time.

Anonymous wrote:Cereal as a breakfast food
Donuts as a breakfast food

I don’t eat meat, DD eats chicken and fish but has never had a hot dog or hamburger. Now she’s 11 she can, I’ve shown her the videos about how it’s made because she wanted to have the choice but it hasn’t come up in reality yet.

Did you show her videos of chicken farms and fish farms too?