Toddler/Food question?

Question

I am also worried that if I limit her chocolate/biscuits type foods she will eventually see them as something she "has to have" (forbidden foods and all that). I just worry that if I do give her a treat she will prefer it to her normal, healthy diet and refuse them altogether in favour of the "treats".

Answer 1

My son has a healthy mixed diet. There is nothing wrong with a treat now and again. I am overweight (though working hard at the mo not to be, 2 stone so far!!) and so is my husband, so I am terrified that my son will be. But, I also think that if I am strict, like my parents were, then he will do the same as me. I wasn't allowed sweets or chocolate, so I used to save money and on a day my parents were both working I would spend it all on crisps, sweets, bubble gum etc and would binge eat. Sadly that led to many years of binge eating, and at my heaviest I hit 20 stone! So I allow my son 'treats' but he understands that he can't have them all the time. He still has lots of fruit and quite often he favours a banana over a milky way!

Answer 2

What your doing is mainly correct.Don't allow your daughter's body to get used to high levels of sugar.Sugary things should be given,and made clear,that it's a treat and not the norm.If your too persistant though,your daughter,as she grows will see it as something to be had.Sugar consumption is addictive and your body gets used to more and more.So a small amount is okay,but no more

Answer 3

I think what you're doing is ok.  Just remember that she is still young and she should have a variety of foods.  Have you tried talking to the relatives that give her sweets?  I'm sure if you explained to them that you are trying to keep her on a healthy diet, they will understand.

Also, you could look up recipes for healthy and organic cookies or something small like that.  You could have fun making them together, and they're not bad for her.  Back to the relatives, you could give them a few of these recipes and tell them you'd prefer her to eat those instead of regular cookies and sweets.

Good Luck!!

Answer 4

just keep reminding her that we eat for nutrition, not taste.

since shes only two just tell her we eat good foods so that our bodies stay healthy.

she should understand that and it should not make her tempted to eat "forbidden food". and giving her fruit wont kill her. it will show her that healthy food can also taste very good as well. if she develops healthy eating habits naturally, you will never have to talk to her about weight gain or loss.

i don't think strict parents are the problem now and days, its parents who give their babies hot Cheetos's for dinner and Twinkies for dessert.

your daughter is lucky to have you as a parent

Answer 5

My sister has 3 boys and only gives them treats on rare occasions.

They do not share their sweets as they don't have them very often, which then makes them greedy when they do have them.

My children are given sweets pretty regularly (not instead of healthy food) and they will share anything with anyone, I've known them to share a full packet with school friends and only have one themselves!!

They also eat lots of fruit and vegetables, even the dreaded sprouts.

Food is not just for nutrition, it is to be enjoyed as well.

Answer 6

as long as you give her lots of variety and don't limit the amount of food she eats, just the types, I thing what your doing is good. Make sure not to talk about weight or anything like that around her.