One thing I don’t get to do often due to work is watch daytime tv however this morning I managed to catch a bit of a debate on Good Morning Briton about a little 6 year old who had her spicy sausage snack (think we all know they mean peperami!) confiscated from her lunch box as it was not healthy.
Then what followed was one “expert” up against another about who was right, who needs to take responsibility blah blah blah.
Firstly I hate it when you have someone who is meant to be an expert in a field feeling the need to criticise parents for their decisions and then try to say it’s not the parents fault, they need better education when it comes to healthy choices.
If you followed what she said, I’m currently giving my children poison basically when I give them any sort of processed food. Parents take enough of a bashing about the way they are bringing up their children.
Yes some parents may need education on healthy choices but that doesn’t give you the right to tell them they are poisoning their children. They just need some guidance and to be put on the right path.
Everything in moderation – Kayleigh and Ethan eat a huge amount of fruit and veg. In our household in one week we go through 30+ apples, 2 melons, 1 large pineapple, 1 tray of strawberries and a bag of grapes at least. That is before you take in to consideration the vegetables we have with our dinner or the salad I have with my lunch and so on and so forth. I’m well aware processed food isn’t perfect but do you know what, once in a while isn’t going to kill them or make them obese.
Balanced diet doesn’t mean no treats – Everyone knows that to be as healthy as we can and get the right nutrients and vitamins we need in our body we need a balance diet however that doesn’t mean they have to be clean eating every minute of every day. They are children for crying out loud! Did these people never go to the sweet shop with their 10p to get a pick and mix or have a naughty fish and chips for dinner once in a while?
At school Kayleigh and Ethan have both had classes about healthy eating and what is good for them and whats not. They are both well aware that cakes, sweets and ice creams are not healthy and they are considered treats.
Do I feel bad for giving them treats occasionally?
No, no I don’t.
They eat healthy 90% of the time and do so much running around burning off the calories that they may have consumed that I am happy for them to have it occasionally.
For their lunches daily they will have sandwiches, yoghurt, fruit and a cheese product. Then occasionally we will pop a cake we’ve made in there or a peperami. Never has it been an issue at school and I’d like to think that it’s a fairly balanced lunch box.
At home they have water on tap from our water filter, though Ethan prefer’s milk. occasionally it will be squash or milkshake but again, it’s not a problem as it’s not an everyday drink so I don’t mind.
Rather than giving parents/carers and schools a bashing about food and healthy eating choices, why not take on the big supermarkets and food brands and get more healthy options out there but at a much better price for parents who are trying their hardest to get healthy food on the table at a cost they can afford as currently it is cheaper to eat junk than it is to eat fresh!