Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

DS is 17 months, and I am so anal about what I buy and what I feed him. I am obsessed with reading labels and comparing brands. I didn't really think much of it until my MIL was over today and commented on how I obsess over organic fruit & veggies, and yogurt with not much sugar, and as little processed/boxed stuff as possible, and one day he is going to be old enough to go to a friends house, and am I going to die if I found out that he had Kraft mac & cheese? Well, no of course not. But I can control everything he eats in my home, so why wouldn't I feed him what I feel is best for him? The junkiest food he has ever had besides his birthday cake are the sun maid dark chocolate raisins. He has never had fast food, unless you count pizza or some bites of my veggie lo mein. Am I setting him up to go on a junk food binge as soon as he gets into elementary school? Should I allow more sweets? Right now his dessert after dinner is either fresh fruit or vanilla frozen yogurt. Should I start giving him ice cream or cookies, like once a week as a treat? I don't want to deprive him and make him end up at McDonald's every day in high school because he was stuck eating lentils and whole wheat pasta throughout his childhood.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

He's still really young. I was the same way! I loosened up a bit when he turned 2. He's so much fun now and we love going to our favorite bakery or going out for lunch.

He is turning 3 in December and still hasn't had fast food or boxed mac & cheese

He actually doesn't even like french fries!! When we go out to eat, he doens't eat typically "kid food" - he usually gets grilled chicken & rice.

He does get treats, but mostly homemade! Just this past week we made iced pumpkin raisin cookies. I don't deprive him, but I do try to be conscious of what goes into the food he eats. We don't stay away from sweets, but I do like to give him homemade instead of store-bought.

We try to instill healthy eating habits overall.

If my kid LIKES greek yogurt with honey, I see no reason to feed him Trix artifically flavored yogurt. If he's happy drinking water, I see no reason to give him apple juice. If he turns away from french fries.. I'm not going to force him to eat them!

We don't eat a lot of processed foods in general, so why would our child? If it fits in line with your family.. stick to it! My son will definitely not be going crazy when he gets older because he hasn't been deprived... he's just been given many of the same things, but homemade and natural!

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

hi there my twin

I'm a little obsessed too, my mom took DS for the day so I can prepare him a month worth of organic veggie soups, frozen and ready to go.

I read labels, I try to educate myself on brands, farms, etc etc. But if someone offers him a lolly, its fiine with me too. He's a had a chicken mcnugget a few times in his life, its okay because he gets so much good food.

everything in moderation, even craziness

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

There is nothing wrong with watching everything you feed him however, I also believe there is nothing wrong with any food in moderation. As he grows up there will be parties and play dates and he will be surrounded by junk food and goodies and like any kid, he'll probably want them too. But at least if he has good eating habits in general he won't go crazy and binge out like a maniac. Some chicken nuggets or a cookie every so often won't kill him, ya know?

I personally don't go nuts over everything I feed my DD, she has junk food in moderation, she's eaten at fast food places since she was little, and she lives for Mac n cheese (lol) but at age 4, she is also healthy, thin, and active so I feel like having these things in moderation is perfectly fine.

Ultimately, you have to do what you feel is right for your child but just realize that as he gets older you might not be able to be so restrictive so maybe it's not a bad idea to try and be a little more flexible, just as practice for yourself. lol.

Message edited 10/8/2012 6:06:03 PM.

Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

You do what you feel is right for your child. I am very lax with this stuff. I mean don't get me wrong she doesn't eat cookies every day, but if we are at a friends house or party, sure she can have cake & cookies. I try to stick with the food chart everyday, but I don't buy organic. It doesn't make you crazy, and it doesn't make me crazy for not doing it, it's just preference.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I was very strict with ds, until I realized he was very underweight. Now he can eat what he wants within moderation

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

One of my oldest friends grew up in a household that was strictly all-natural and healthy foods, long before it was popular to be organic. I remember going to her house for dinner and being served lentil burgers and whole wheat pasta, and thinking it was all gross (of course, I make whole wheat pasta all of the time now). Anyhow, my friend continued to be a health-food eater her whole life. To this day, I don't think she has ever tried soda. However, her younger sister rebelled against it as soon as she could. I think it all depends on the personality of your child.

Nothing wrong with the choices you are making for your son. We haven't fully decided what we are going to do for DD, but we'll probably end up doing some organic for her (even though we are not generally an organic household), with other stuff in moderation.

Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

Thank you everyone for your input. I agree that everything in moderation is key. DH and I have discussed this since he is far more laid back than I am. DS gets home baked treats- his favorite is applesauce muffins. Also, when we go out to eat, probably 3x a month or so, he gets food that is not organic, or not even always healthy. He loves to eat the french fries off of DH's plate. I know I am going to have to relax a bit, especially with another child coming in March. I don't think I will ever be ok with McDonald's/Wendy's- DH and I never eat it so he would never have a reason to anyway. But I need to learn that a bowl of boxed mac & cheese or the occasional chips ahoy cookie won't kill him. I love that he eats up fresh fruits & veggies, lentils, beets, yogurt, cheese, cous cous, salmon, tilapia, sweet potatoes, etc. But I don't want him to be the wierd kid who doesn't know what a DD munchkin is. Thanks for being honest ladies, I ned to work on this!

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

My cousins who are in their 30's were raised in a house that never ever had sweets in it. Their mom was a nutritionist who who really obsessed over what they ate. She only allowed them to drink water, they couldn't have birthday cake at parties, never allowed them to go trick or treating to get candy. Both of them rebelled. When they went to someones house who had goodies they would run off and eat them. Now that they are grown and have kids of their own both of them say they would never do that to their own children.


I don't obsess like that but I try to feed my girls organic and healthy. I do have cookies in the house and let my older dd have a few a week, once in a while I let her have a juice box but for the most part she eats lots of organic fruit for snacks, and I always try to feed her balanced lunches and dinners. I just know its not realistic to think my girls will always be eating orgnanic, or healthy foods everywhere they go in life. I just try to give them healthy options now and hope they choose good foods in the future.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I'm pretty obsessed too! However, In times where our meat and vegetables are laden with hormones and pesticides, and so much of our foods have been genetically modified, I feel that I have to be very vigilant about what I give my children. Some may call me an alarmist, but I'm pretty convinced that the rise in allergies, behavioral disorders, neurological disorders, infertility, etc. Are due to the foods we eat (ie. GMOs) and the products we use.

I read labels. I hardly buy any processed snacks for the kids--their treats are earths best cereal bars and organic popcorn. My kids dont eat candy or drink juice. I don't buy chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese or fish sticks-- I try to give them whole foods as much as possible. We barely go out to eat.

But I do bend in certain situations like parties and such. They eat cake at birthday parties (although I remove the icing) and go trick or treating. And today for example, my MIL made fried plantains with veg oil (I don't use vegetable or canola oil bc of GMOs). I didn't want to offend her, so I let my kids eat it.

So no, I don't think you are crazy, just cautious!

Message edited 10/8/2012 8:55:48 PM.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

Up until DD turned 1 I was like this. Once she was mainly on table food I relaxed a lot. We buy some organic but not everything. I do allow her to have occasional sweets, a cookie or two (they're really small) after dinner almost every night. It just got to be too much and I felt like I was stressing myself too much. I now save that for other things, haha.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I am borderline obsessed but have loosened up a lot lately. I still buy almost all organic, and at home they eat very healthy, but I do allow them to have ice cream sometimes or some crackers, pretzels, etc. at home. When we go out to eat I do let them eat french fries, but we never go to any kind of fast food place like McDonalds, the only "fast food" they eat is pizza.
My twins just started preschool this year and I am really not happy with the snack they have. Its usually goldfish, cheezits, etc. and juice. I never give them juice, ever. Its only water and milk at home and I don't like them drinking juice three times a week, but what can I do? I could ask the teacher to give them water instead, but then they would be the outcasts in the class for not having what the other kids are having. So, it gets a lot harder as they get older for sure. And my younger DD gets more "treats" than the twins had at her age (19 months) because they are almost 4 and getting them.
It is also hard because DS has food allergies so I limit a lot of things because of that too.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I was like that but just got so tired of being so paranoid with it that I gave up much of it. It just got to be too consuming and it was interfereing with living normally.

Only you can decide.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

Mothers in law have a way of making a person feel guilty about anythng that they themselves would not have the willpower to do. However, I think that you will have to make some tough decisions about whether you want your child to have to say no to things like in-school birthday parties, goodie bags, etc. And then there is also trick or treating. Not only will your child want to fit in but if he is like most he will have at least some sweet tooth. I believe that children do pick up the eating habits that they grew up with. I see it in myself and DH. We are both breaking old habits right now.

Message edited 10/9/2012 2:08:17 AM.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

My mother was like that when I was little, she was a very faddy eater and made my life really unhappy when my sister and I were kids. She was vegan, macrobiotic, belonged to a co-op, didn't allow us sugar, chocolate, meat, processed food....my lunches at school were so embarrassing! Tempeh sandwiches, fake bacon, tofu mock egg salad, vegetarian bologna. It ws awful and I hated the food so I would throw it awqy and buy candy with quarters that I would hoard. That's not to say other people had great times eating those kinds of foods, for me, it was torture and it was a happy day when my mother started letting me buy lunch at school. I am overweight now, and I don't blame it on anyone but myself, but my food issues did start there.

I have two kids now, one who does not like eating and would rather eat nothing than eat something he doesnt want, and one who eats everything. Go figure!

Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I don't know what the best thing is cause each kid is different... My dh grew up only being able to have soda at a family party, when he got a little older he would sneak soda from where his parents stored it for themselves, and even put the empty away so they never knew........ as an adult he goes through soda VERY fast in the house if I buy a 2 liter.... If its not in the house though, then its not an issue.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I wish my DD would eat tbe tbinfs you listed! She hates eating in general and would rather not eat then eat anytbing she doesn't want. She is small cor her ave and the ped finally said to just let her eat something rather than not at all. And it's never anything great.
so I am jealous and I say if it's important to you and your child will eat it- more power to you!

Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

We don't buy organic because it's too expensive. But as a pp said, we can control what they eat in our home, so we do. My 3.5 yo has never had fast food (we do have pizza and chinese occasionally), boxed mac n cheese, canned soup, soda, etc. He hasn't even had pre sweetened yogurt. We limit sugar a LOT. I am probably paranoid about sodium and limit it too much.
If we are at a party, or someone's house, I will let him have pretty much whatever is being served, and he understands why. He also knows the difference between what makes a strawberry red, and the nasty (IMO should be illegal) artificial color that makes an M&M red.
Everyone always told me i'd chill out with the 2nd kid. I've found it's not a matter of chilling out, but at 1.5 he wants what his brother has, and when you have a 3 yo, you can't just NOT get a slice of cake at that party....

I don't think you have a problem. I think it's important for kids to be limited and educated. I also think there should be MUCH stricter rules and laws about what is marketed to kids, or labeled as "all natural".
IMO, food dyes are a huge contributor to the rise in ADD and too many medicated kids. And obviously, sugar and high fructose corn syrup contribute to the "fat america" problem.
I have a serious sugar addiction. I love junk and seriously can't control myself sometimes. I was allowed some, but not too much junk growing up, so I'm not sure where it comes from. I'm hoping that by limiting and educating my kids, they will have healthy eating habits as adults. We'll see. lol

edit: i am also lucky enough that my parents watch my kids when i work, and they are very respectful of my wishes when it comes to what my kids eat. If i had to pack my kids' food every day, I'm sure I would succumb to convenience foods much more often.

Message edited 10/9/2012 10:59:29 AM.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I don't think you're too crazy. If you are, so am I! Think about it this way - he's still a baby. My daughter eats very little processed food, almost all home cooked food, all organic at home, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. Now that she's two, we're more relaxed about what she eats when we go out, she can have cake at parties, etc. But we eat the same way as she does. As parents we don't know how our children will react to or rebel against our guidance when they're older, all we can do is give them the best foundation possible. For me, that means healthy, homemade food with the occasional treat (and by occasional, I mean birthdays, holidays, and maybe once a month otherwise). As she gets older, I'll teach her about why we eat what we eat and why we don't eat other things. If, as a teenager, she decides to spend her babysitting money on McDonald's, I can't stop that, but I don't think letting her eat McD's once a week when she's a toddler is going to anything to change that.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

I think that at 17 months, you don't have to worry about the kid rebelling against no cakes...

My son is 26 months.

I don't give my kid:
fried foods (no french fries, kids meals, etc)
cakes/sweets
juice

We try to do mostly organic (chicken & milk)

At a birthday party, we allow pizza. No cakes for now (he doesn't know what he is missing).

He will be getting a ton of crap when he gets older. I won't be snatching cake away from him at birthday parties when he is 5... But at this young age, I don't see the point of lollipops and french fries.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

When my DD was younger I was very cautious about what I fed her and looked at all ingredients' (before 1 years old)...now I am lucky if she eats anything she just turned 2.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

Honestly - even if you are obsessed, I think you should stick to what you're doing for as long as possible.

Like you said, you can't keep the kid in a bubble forever ........but if you CAN do it through the picky toddler stage then DO IT !!

I was very laid back w/ both of my kids about food - not that they eat junk, but I wasn't insane about what they ate, I just do not have the time (and my DH eats like a toddler !!) so frustrating .......

but now, I have two picky PITAs when it comes to food.

If he's happy w/ the lentils - LET HIM EAT THEM !!
B/c let's be honest, the mac and cheese and cookies and candy etc etc tastes way better than the lentils !

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

We have friends who are very into ingredients and organic food.

We follow a very simple rule - if it is good enough for us, it is good enough for our kids.

Re: Is anyone else obsessed with what they feed DC? I think I have a problem

Posted by maybeamommy

He's still really young. I was the same way! I loosened up a bit when he turned 2. He's so much fun now and we love going to our favorite bakery or going out for lunch.

He is turning 3 in December and still hasn't had fast food or boxed mac & cheese

He actually doesn't even like french fries!! When we go out to eat, he doens't eat typically "kid food" - he usually gets grilled chicken & rice.

He does get treats, but mostly homemade! Just this past week we made iced pumpkin raisin cookies. I don't deprive him, but I do try to be conscious of what goes into the food he eats. We don't stay away from sweets, but I do like to give him homemade instead of store-bought.

We try to instill healthy eating habits overall.

If my kid LIKES greek yogurt with honey, I see no reason to feed him Trix artifically flavored yogurt. If he's happy drinking water, I see no reason to give him apple juice. If he turns away from french fries.. I'm not going to force him to eat them!

We don't eat a lot of processed foods in general, so why would our child? If it fits in line with your family.. stick to it! My son will definitely not be going crazy when he gets older because he hasn't been deprived... he's just been given many of the same things, but homemade and natural!