Kids and Halloween candy
For those who have children or had children in the house, how did you end up getting rid of all the extra candy after the holiday was over? Did you decide to let them eat all of it? Throw some away? How did you manage this.
As several of you know one of my sons is heading straight into being a mini me. I have always let them eat out of their own candy bag for a few days (a few pieces a day), and then mix them up in one big bowl for a few extra days. Then probably by the end of the week I toss the remaining in the garbage.
Am I wrong doing this? Lately I've been watching him and he is so out of control with whatever he eats. He's now eleven, five one, and 155 pounds and gaining. No portion control, no self control...at ALL. Although he's only eleven, it is making me wonder if I'm going about doing all of this the wrong way. I don't push a "diet" on him, because I've always been told not too. So I observe, and try to portion his foods as much as I can. But I'm wondering if I'm doing the wrong thing now by taking things away. And his he going away every weekend at friends house just so he can pig out. I literally can't figure out why he's so big. Could I be forcing him into wanting to eat more? This is a kid who will sneak frozen fish sticks (as example) out of the freezer and eat them while he's in bed at night just because he likes them so much. Am I missing something?? His doctor acts like kids at this age doesn't have no self control and theres nothing you can do about it. He's going to explode if I don't figure out a way to help him! He's a big kid! I'm so confused on this.
Also...same kid...doesn't want to eat breakfast anymore. Sort of unbelievable..lol, he loves food. I'm pushing breakfast on him because I know you suppose too and I don't want him to get in a bad habit. This morning he snuck out of the house without eating anything. Do you guys think protein drinks are suitable for eleven and eight year old for breakfast. Or those carnation breakfasts. I'm really thinking I would have better luck with them drinking thier breakfast than eating one. Any suggestions?
I have mixed emotions about kids on diets. My best friend was put on a diet when she was in the third grade and I think that may have contributed more to her lack of self esteem than being heavy. Her meals were fixed separately from her brothers and sisters, even though her brothers were heavy!
Maybe you could get him involved in sports or activities that burn calories. I'm not sure what the answer is, but keeping his spirit in tact is the most important thing at his age, and you wouldn't want to crush that with anything extreme. Just my two cents.
Mary
on 11/3/08 9:53 am
I agree with Mary. Although I don't have children, I was a fat kid and my mother was constantly putting me on diets and I believe, actually made the situation worse. I was the only fat person in my family. Interestingly enough, when I was a child, my mother made separate meals for me - not because I was the fat one but because I wouldn't eat what everyone else was eating - typical southern meals - everything fried with gravy, bread, potatoes, and the "vegetable" was corn. Although my mother cooked healthy foods for me, she constantly wanted me to diet with her. I wasn't an idiot - I knew that at 104 pounds and a 19" waist, my mother didn't need to diet but instead she was trying to force that on me and being "sneaky" about it and I resented it and felt I couldn't live up to her expectations. When I got older, I started binging and I believe I did that because of my low self-esteem - due to being a fat kid and never feeling like I was good enough. I don't blame my mother; she did what she thought was best at the time and I'm sure it was hard for her to have a fat kid because when I was a child, it was rare for a kid to be fat, unlike today.
It's a very difficult balance - to model good eating habits - but to keep your son's spirit and sense of self intact. I don't think I've given you any good advice other than to NOT force a diet on him. I think increasing his activity and modeling healthy eating is the best approach.
Best wishes Holly,
Kim
The best idea I have heard is to ship it over to the soldiers in Iraq!
My GS did not gather up that much, so this year we just let them eat away - all in one night, done and over with. Whilst they are still little, I would limit how much T&T time they get, which in turn limits the amount of candy in their hot little hands!
At a point, it is very hard to control.
Breakfast - i would pack a small sandwich and tell them to just eat it when they do feel hungry. I hate eating breakfast and didn't for a lot of years. I cannot blame all my fat on that fact alone.
But to answer your question, no, a small protein drink will not hurt them if they will do that!
PS: yup, gotta agree with Mary & Kim...do not harp on "dieting". You can only do your part to not drag home ding dongs and ho hos. Buy food that they have to work at to eat - or fresh fruit.
It is very hard. I had a sneaky eater kid, too. Lazy...that kid has never liked to ride bikes or walk....man that was very difficult to deal with her. It is not as easy as it looks, being a parent.
"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not." ~Mark Twain
