[maxkinzie]

Hi,

...from a different board, now I'm not sure which?

[b]"CUT the sugar, processed foods (watch out for yogurts, cereal bars etc) also, food dyes."[/B]

I've wondered about this for a while, if you cut out all the 'bad' stuff, what do you feed your kid? I try to choose reasonably healthy food for DD, and I've read alot about what to avoid. Might be too obvious a question, but what options are left for long term day to day eating and snacking?

thanx,
max

[brandydawn]

I don't know about others, but I watch sugar, sodium and fat content when feeding my daughter.

I try to buy organic when possible and feed my daughter lots of fresh fruit.

I still feed her processed foods, like mac n cheese and cereal bars but I check the labels.

Many of the toddler meals are lower in these items.

My hubby is a big one to avoid corn syrup. We try to get foods with as much natural ingredients as possible.

It also might mean that you are doing some more cooking so you can ensure fresh ingredients.

Regards,
Brandy

[kllee4]

Most of us were raised on a mostly healthy diet of fruits and veggies, lean meats, dairy, etc and an occasional treat of sugar in some form (cereals, snacks, etc.) but I think the problem today is that so many foods contain preservatives and most of it can't be healthy.

If you're feeding your child yogurt and the occasional cereal bar, I don't think it's going to be a problem. Some of the yogurts have more sugar in it than others and it may make the kids more prone to crave the sugar but a little won't hurt, I believe.

We see so many unhealthy kids, and not just the ones who are overweight. But also the ones who don't play outside for long periods of time but sit in front of video games. When we were kids, I remember playing outside (until the street lights came on, that is- hee hee) but kids today may claim that there's nothing to do. It's up to us, the parents, to play with them, and show them how to have fun and lead by example.

I'll bet you're doing a terrific job with your child already, so relax. If the good foods outweigh the bad, then you're doing an excellent job!!!

[ChristieS]

Originally Posted by kllee4

I'll bet you're doing a terrific job with your child already, so relax. If the good foods outweigh the bad, then you're doing an excellent job!!!

I agree. Also, kids are funny in some of the eating stages they go through. Right now my son only wants yellow food (go figure?) so we load up on bananas and yellow apples, cheerios we are working on - and he used to love ALL fruits and vegetables.

My DH says I worry too much about it and feeds him some junk food (yellow of course) - but as long as he gets at least some fresh fruits and vegetables each day and some calcium (cheese can be bought which looks sort-of yellow) then he's okay.

I asked the doctor about it at our last visit as I was really concerned - she said he is doing fine and growing fine and so don't worry so much about it.

Good luck! (I'm wondering what color he'll pick next?)

[brandydawn]

Originally Posted by kllee4

When we were kids, I remember playing outside (until the street lights came on, that is- hee hee) ...

I don't know about you, we were locked out of the house. We came in to use the restroom and eat lunch. If we were thirsty we drank from the hose.

Different world today!

Regards,
Brandy

[alwaysus]

I agree that kids are too inactive. We have a rule at our house. The kids can only play video games on Saturdays. And thats IF they have gotten their work done all week. They are only allowed 20 minutes a piece. ( I am almost anti video game) We limit TV as well. I am not as careful as I should be with food. I try. The healthy foods DO outweigh the unhealthy ones. With Elijah's diagnosis( Hep C), I am trying to be more careful about what we ALL eat and drink.
I think the secret lies in moderation. Let them have A cookie, not a handful. Limit sodas and candy to occasionally using them as special treats, not every day diet.

[kllee4]

Did anyone see the show about kids and their diets? I forgot what the name was but it was something catchy, like "Honey, we're overfeeding the kids" or soemthing like that. They took this family of four and challenged them to change their lifestyles. They gave them a shopping list of healthy foods, recipes and exercise and smoking cesation plans. Their boys began boxing and doing more things outdoors and the parents (at least the mom) stopped smoking for good. Their boys complained a lot in the beginning, but lost some weight and, at the end, agreed that all the changes were for the better.

I took away some really good things from the show, like th recipes and things. I want to try new things with my kids but sometimes it's hard to change things that they are used to. Not unhealthy things but getting away from the same thing all the time - spaghetti, soups and salads, grilled chicken. They did a great paella recipe and a nice fish recipe that I will try to duplicate.

And, no, we weren't locked out of the house, but I can STILL hear my dad yelling, "Stop running in and out of the house!!!" And I bet the water from the hose was the most refreshing!

[momofmykids]

Originally Posted by brandydawn

I don't know about you, we were locked out of the house. We came in to use the restroom and eat lunch. If we were thirsty we drank from the hose.

Different world today!

Regards,
Brandy

Me, too! Well, when I was at my grandmother's house. She was the babysitter, but my aunt also lived there with her three kids and the aunt would lock us out the entire day, hand us out a bologna sandwich for lunch and told us to drink from the waterhose.

I'm not scarred for life, although I have never been a person who liked to be outside. DCS would yank kids out of a home in a jiffy for that kind of treatment these days!

[traceyk]

We are a vegan family that eats no preservatives, dyes, sugar nitrates etc. and we do just fine. You have to be willing to put a lot into your shopping at first to get familiar with things and read ALL ingredients. Drihan also has severe food allergies so she carries an epi pen and we buy NOTHING that was processed where there were nuts. She doesn't eat wheat or soy due to allergies either so it is oat and rice milk for her and either brown rice or corn pasta. Our shopping is second nature now since we have been doing it for so many years. Drihan cries if I try to bring her inside now that it is warm and we have been playing outside. I am happy because I don't want her to be a couch potato like so many kids these days. We too were outside all day, but we grew up on a farm and there was plenty to do outside.

[momofmykids]

Tracey,
Oh my, what a DOLL Drihan is!!!!

I know what you mean about not wanting kids to be couch potatoes. Mine want to play outside ALL the time regardless of temperature or precipitation. Oh, and to my kids, shoes are always optional!

[alwaysus]

Momofmykids, Man oh man are you just like us! Shoes are only a necessity when we go out on public! (And if its cold.)
My kids LOVE to be outside. We recently got a pool and the nut balls are already in it! The water is FREEZING!!!!!! I'll wait till the water is 80, then I'm in. I think my kids have asbsetos skin......