Hellobee Boards

@Sparkler: my little guy is almost 3 (1 month away) and I am still super vigilant. There are extenuating circumstances for is in that he is intolerant to soy protein. So that helps us control his food. He is also intolerant to something else I can't pinpoint but I am leaning towards sugar. We have relaxed some and I make him the same treats the kids are getting at school for parties (like sugar cookies for valentines day). I don't think he would notice if he didn't get the same stuff though.

Now that isn't to say he doesn't get hot dogs or sandwiches on white bread (the only one we can find without soy flour). But he doesn't get the typical Oreo cookies for o preschool snack day. His favorite treats are waffles and freeze dried blueberries.

@Sparkler: Agree -When I had my 1st I was very good about eating healthy meals - then along came 2 and things began to slide..... and peer pressure kicks in "well, M gets cookies every day!" or "J gets lunchables and I get yucky food!"

So now I do give him a cookie with lunch 1-2 times a week and sometimes a lunchable!

But for the most part like others have mention I try to do everything in moderation.

I believe I feed my child healthy, but some may not agree because she does have treats sometimes. We made the best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies this weekend and she had 2. I actually agree with @Bao: that it seems the opposite, at least here on HB. If someone was to come on here and say that their kid had a Happy Meal with chicken nuggets and French fries people would be up in arms.

BUT, your child, your decisions. Those should be respected. I've had people offer snacks and treats to LO that I wasn't comfortable with. I usually say thank you but no thanks, though DH is worse, he told this guy who offered LO a Honeybun at the playground, "Oh we don't like to feed her sugary treats like that!" I had to take him aside and smack him because then the guy got a little defensive about feeding his child one.

@brownie: Sounds delicious to me!! We ended up bringing green pizzas (to go with our "hulk" theme) -- not so healthy but not hot dogs and chips... and the teachers said the kids are very well!!! SO THERE, preschool. hahaha.

My situation is a bit different, because my definition of healthy is vegetarian, closer to vegan. Fortunately, close family and friends are used to this by now, but society at large gives me many a side eye! I try to be very live and let live about it, I don't want LO to grow up with any hang ups around food, if I can help it.

Oh yes. IRL hugely so, people think I'm nuts. On hellobee not quite as much, but I can sometimes feel the eye rolls.

It doesn't bother me that much though. People are going to judge any choice we make as parents.

Yes, LO has a list attached to her cubby of foods she can't eat and i am the only parent who packs a lot of extra food for her. I don't think i'm judged/unsupported but sometimes i get comments like, "oh i want to but i just don't have the time." I don't ever want others to feel as if i expect them to do what i do.

I sometimes also feel like you have to be extra careful as to what you post on HB, because others feel as if you're judging them for not following an organic/from scratch/no processed foods mentality.

@sarac: not to hijack but i was in Portland this past weekend and fell in loooove!!

I thought LO ate pretty healthily but reading trough this maybe not. Oh well, healthy enough anyway. I don't think parents get judged so much for feeding their kids healthy foods, but the holier than thou attitude that (honestly!) does come across (when people declare that "average" food is just not good enough for their kid) sometimes is what brings on the comments. And some of that probably is defensiveness on both ends. Maybe the healthy feeding parent feels singled out. Maybe the less healthy feeding parent feels less than. Not saying that's the case for anyone SPECIFICALLY but just in general.

I've actually gotten comments both ways, and I just don't take them very seriously because I trust my own judgment and none of the comments have come from a doctor or nutritionist. Daycare starts soon and we aren't even allowed to pack extra foods after around 8am, unless we make a last minute change to a different center, so that'll be interesting.

I just do what I feel I need to do and I honestly don't discuss it all that much with other people. I don't owe anyone an explanation!

@Bao: Agree! I feel like even my healthy options don't compare to what I see others on here feeding their kids. My daughter's favorite word is "cookie" and at 17 months, I don't feel bad about giving her the occasional treat. I do wish daycare fed her better though, that is one of my only complaints with where she goes.

I wish my Hubs and I ate better. I envision giving my LO, who just started solids, only healthy stuff, but I've already bent a rule or two. I've really got to make a change - thanks for the reminder/inspiration.

I grew up with sugar-addicted parents who were also emotional eaters, so I find my habits reflect that upbringing, despite my intentions. I don't buy treats for the house, but then my Mom, Gran or Aunt will come visiting and bring pies, cookies, etc. Its hard enough for me to resist when they're (the sweets) there.

Now that my LO is eating more foods, the family has started to "treat" her with cookies and things. Gah! (I keep fruit in the house and say if they want to 'treat' her, they can give her some berries, etc). I think this may be a life-long struggle with them.