Restaurants always have water. Always.

It's just not a part of our lives. We don't exactly have a policy on it, though they're young now (5 & under) so it hasn't really come up. Once they're 10, I'm sure they'll be offered soda at friends' homes and we'll have to think it then.

By the time my son hit late elementary, he started having soda on a regular basis. He'd never had it much before. We get the low-cal soda. He also likes lemonade and juice.

We went on a big campout this weekend with several families, and every kid was drinking soda. These are middle schoolers/high schoolers. These types of threads are self=policing; the rest of the world whose children drink sodas aren't going to post here.

I have no interest in giving my high energy 5 year old soda. She's never had it. I also don't drink it because I don't like the carbonation, so it's not something we keep in the house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a policy and never have. We have soda in the house. Kids can help themselves to whenever they want. They also have free reign over the candy, cookies, and pop tarts that are in the house.

Somedays my kids crave the sugar and others they don't want it. I let them decide and they're learning to listen to their bodies.

This is close to our habits.

My kids are all skinny.

Same. Five kids. Four grown and out of the house. All five are thin, athletic, and healthy. I think we've had a total of four fillings between the five kids over 27 years. When they were all at home, I really tried to enforce a one soda a day rule until they were older teens. They learned to self-moderate. They were involved in sports, so that helped.

I've seen what happens when parents are strict about candy and junk food - Those are the kids that try to clean out my fridge when they are at our house.

+1

I think it's so much worse to ban things. It's just like any diet - we allow everything in moderation. 95% of the time, we are a very clean-eating family (mostly veg, but very little processed food). But nothing is off limits - if they want chicken tenders and fries out at a restaurant, fine! Pizza night a few times a month, fine! A soda occasionally, candy, ice cream, etc (you get the gist). This is exactly how I was raised too, and we are a very fit, thin family.

I don't keep it in the house but I have never banned it while out. All three DCs hate carbonation so it's a non issue. They do love Minute Maid drinks from the soda machines, which I consider to be an equivalent. I draw the line at fake sugars and diet drinks though -- those aren't allowed.

Anonymous wrote:In the colonial days the children drank beer. So I serve them beer.

It was probably because they couldn't trust certain sources of water, my great grandparents lived through WW2 in Western Europe, and although that was not colonial times, everyone drank beer because they knew it was safe to drink and had no germs, vs the water supply which was unsafe. They still drink it for breakfast. If you go to developing nations with questionable water, you will see most people drinking beer and soda for the same reason.

My kids can order soft drinks when we go out, but we don't keep it at home. They usually don't ask for it. Like anything else, if you don't make it taboo, it's not as interesting. My youngest almost always asks for milk at restaurants, and my 13 yr old prefers water. My older daughter usually wants tea.

Anonymous wrote:In the colonial days the children drank beer. So I serve them beer.

My boys are almost old enough for the coal mines. Little miners are so damn cute.

Anonymous wrote:There is not one ounce of nutritional benefit to drinking soda. Why would you give it to your kid. My DD went on a playdate and the mom gave it to my child. Thankfully she hated it!

What is the nutritional benefit of any treat? Do you also ban cake, cookies, chips and icecream? You must be fun.

The only thing I am hardcore about is no treats at lunch during the school year. But that is not a health issue. Lunch is 15 min. He doesn't have time to eat food and a snack. We know what he would pick when short on time so I pick for him. But honestly you are not doing your kid a favor by being too restrictive. Being healthy is 100% important but a healthy lifestyle does include occassional treats.

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure all restaurants have water

My 7 year old hated fizzy drinks until he asked to try some of my limonata this summer. As long as it's not an everyday thing, I don't think it's a problem.

Never at home. Typically only when we go to California Tortilla or the movies since those are rare outings during the year and they have those great make your own soda machines.
DS is 7, almost 8 and loves them.

When we eat out 90% of the time he will ask for milk. Sometimes he will get to have a soda at dinner out but if not milk, we usually do water or lemonade.

Summer time all bets are off so I would say maybe once a week he has a soda. My best friend is more lax with her kids so when we visit them her rules go.
We also go to the movies more often so every other time he can get a soda. DS is thin and very healthy. Just about everrthing in moderation is my policy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a child of the 70s and drank Coke pretty much every day! I'm a healthy weight today. All of my siblings are the same. Soft drinks alone will not doom your child.

Enjoy your diabeedus.

Sorry. All of my checkups have been perfect. I have been a runner for 20+ years. Diabetes is nowhere in sight.

Parenting is so hardcore!

My son (7) has had two Sprites of his own in his entire life, and a few sips of my Coke on rare occasions when I order it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you let your kids drink soft drinks/soda pop? If so, starting at what age? If it were totally up to me, I would never let my kids have them, but sometimes we go to restaurants and that's all they serve.

You should consider moving to America. We serve water over here as a substitute for carbonated beverages, in every restaurant.

Do they charge you for water or frown upon you, since they have to pay for the disposable cup they serve it in?

Huh? What sit down restaurant is using disposable cups?