Kiddos and food question....

Ok I know this is a little premature but I have been thinking about the kinds of things I'm gonna allow my baby to eat. Not so much as a baby but a toddler. I have a 17 month old cousin who all he eats most days is cookies, that whole idea makes me cringe. I don't want my kid to have Kool-aid and cookies and cupcakes and all that other stuff. I guess alot of this is WLS related but also b/c I know the path it took me down and it wasn't good. I know you ladies here will understand better than anyone else. I was speaking with a girl at work about it ( she has 2 kids and doesn't know about my WLS) I was telling her my concerns and she just acted like I was being unreasonable, now she wasn't rude but she made me think. I don't want to be the sugar nazi mama but I don't want my kiddo to get used to that kind of stuff. I guess my motto is " if you have never had it you won;t know you like it" make sense? Just wanted to get you ladies input on this. Am I being totally unreasonable or what?

I think the same way and struggle with watching her intake and my own. My little girl is 15 months and EVERYONE knows not to offer her "bites" of or any junk food snacks. Maybe I am the junk food nazi but I dont care, I once weighed 400 lbs and all I know is my child wont get there on my watch. I allow the occasional treat but the snacks I give are:

Teddy Grahams
2% Cheese Sticks
Gold Fish
Pretzels
Kiddie Yogurt (she loves the Dora one)
Banana
Animal Crackers
Toddler Cheese Puffs
Toddler Fruit Snack Sticks (they are small)
Toddler Yogurt Melts (baby aisle, I even eat them)

Good Luck!

Nope, you are not being a Nazi. But many people will think so. Me and some other girls were just discussing this very issue over an hour ago.

I do not have ANY, candy, chips, soda, cakes, cookies, etc. in my home at all. They think I am crazy. But you know what? When my kids are hungry for a snack, the get a string cheese, a handful of grapes, a granola bar, and things like that.

I am not COMPLETELY unreasonable. I do always have fruit snacks, pretzels, and popcorn in the cupboard. ONLY milk, water or SF Kool-Aid is allowed to drink. A soda a a BIG treat and it must be diet (9 & 11 yo only)

The only time they are allowed chips, and other goodies are when we are at a picnic, or special occasion somewhere. Then they are allowed to indulge.

I grew up eating junk constantly. I never touched a salad till I was an adult and still wouldn't opt for one when given the chance. So I want my kids to eat healthier. And really, they don't mind. Both of them say candy makes them sick to thier stomach, and chips aren't thier style. Too greasy and it makes them feel yucky.

I think letting them indulge occasionally keeps them from thinking it's forbidden, and realizing moderation and occasional "junk" food is ok, but not for everyday life.

At least I HOPE that is what they will continue to think. So far, it is working.

I haven't had my child yet, nor do I have other children (of a young age anyways) but I do have a cousin and a nephew - both of who are 4. My nephew - to this day lives off of Rice Crispies, pizza, hotdogs, Doritos, sunflower seeds, and Ramen Noodles. Anything else - he won't touch unless it's dipped in sugar. My cousin however was never given candy - her mother was overweight as a child (didn't have WLS, but did lose her weight) and didn't want her to form bad eating habits so early in life. So for example when Lexi was good or did what she was told or when she being potty trained, her mother gave her fresh fruit or dried food as her "prize" for being a "big girl" or a "good girl." Lexi thinks blueberries (which are her favorite) are candy. When she asks for candy, she's asking for blueberries. She does eat things with sugar seldomly but would much rather eat her fruit.

So I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. I plan on doing the same with my little one - as both myself and his father have had weight issues - it's not something I would wish on anyone.

All I can say is good luck..I completely agree..but no1 in my life is supportive of my decision.  They think I am some crazy person about the issue.  My DH was frustrated with me when I would not sign a permission slip for my baby to have treats from MR Frosty (i.e. the ice cream man)- I kindly explained over and over she was 10 months old and didn't need ice cream.  I do not allow  my daughter to have red meat...but she tries almost everything else.  That being said- she has healthy snacks, and wide variety of food.  I do not allow cookies, chips, or soda in my home-unless my husband brings them there when I am not around.  But I certainly do not offer them to the baby and monitor the older kids for their intake.  I figure if DH wants to eat that stuff he's an adult.  My daughters favorite food is chicken (grilled, broiled, boiled) she loves it...she also really likes fish.  Mind you many of the things she likes I hate..because I never was taught a taste for them...but I am teaching her to try things.  I was really irratated the other day when I found out that daycare started feeding the kids goldfish crackers...I don't give them to my daughter for a reason..but now they do. Ugh.  I give her juice 50% water...she eats all kinds of fruit..and I am hoping that she'll know fruit is a treat..not oreos.  Her favorite thing is my low sugar yogurt...I try to limit her intake of that because of the sweetners...but she loves it.  She can eat and will eat a whole container if she's allowed to.  I know I have many more food battles ahead.  Good luck and stick to your guns on this issue. 

Yeah several people have already shot down my ideas on this saying "oh candy won't hurt the baby" Well it hurt me enough said. My hubby is a big fella and he doesn't eat alot of fruit and veggies. I guess he was never made to try them so he doesn't eat them. He even said to me that he hopes the baby eats like me ( all the fruits and veggies) even before WLS I loved almost any type of fruit and veggie. He even said the other day that he's gonna have to pretend to eat his veggies in front of the baby so the baby knows it's ok. LOL He is too funny, but I guess it's true. Yeah I don't see myself giving too much on this subject. ALot of things are up for discussion but not this one. And I know it's different when they get here but I am really gonna try hard. There are so many healthy alternatives so maybe it will be easier than I think. Thanks again.

It's not that hard if that's what you want. I began this about 5 years ago. My kids were 4 & 6. They already had bad habits and I broke them, I then continued it with my toddler and will do so for the baby too.

If I can break a 4 & 6 year old after they already had bad habits, you can do it. There are so many things to choose from. Much more than when I started doing this 5 years ago.

If your daughter loves yogurt, maybe you can try making her some?  Then at least you know what is in it.  Libby also loves yogurt, but I don't want her to have the ones full of sugar or the ones that have all of the artificial sweetners.  Plus, there are a lot of other items on the labels that I don't even know what they are.  So, I started making her yogurt and she LOVES it.  It is just boiled milk and then to flavor it you can use fruit, fruit preserves, jellies (not the best for you), etc.  Just an idea :-)  I would have to say that the one downfall is that it can be time consuming, but you can freeze what you make and it is like having frozen yogurt. 

I have a yogurt maker, I just can't figure it out.  Where to get the ingredients you need...Perhaps I need to just take more time and do it.  Cause my daughter LOVES yogurt- or at least mine.  Family gave me a pack of baby yogurt- she wasn't crazy about that type (probably had lots of sugar, etc and tasted odd to her.  Mine is like 60 or 90 cals and low sugar.  I would prefer making it for her, then we could use that and add some real fruit.   Mine is vanilla but I am sure you can add that flavor in...Yummy!

What ingredients does your yogurt maker say you need?  You really only need milk (whole works best) and one small container of plain yogurt (for the cultures in it).  You boil the milk, add the yogurt as a starter of the cultures and then place in your yogurt maker for 8-10 or so hours.  A double boiler works best because otherwise you get burnt milk very easily.