Let's talk soda.

My kids aren't allowed to drink soda at all. My friends allow their kid to drink it. Granted, they're bouncing off of the walls.

At parties, I feel like I am babying my almost 5 year old when he tells the mom that's just poured him soda "I'm sorry but I can't have that." I can't see introducing those little teeth to caffeine & sugar. He can have juice & chocolate but I can't get over the soda thing.

Thoughts?

Re: Let's talk soda.

I couldnt agree more ! I also get annoyed when John gives them iced tea
He thinks its cool to be the cool dad all the time and they get wayyy too many snacks and sweet drinks for my taste when daddy's home.

Luckily, Nicholas doesnt like soda, he made a face when he first tasted it. and John Anthony for quite a long time would say "thats spicy, I dont like it", but now he'll have a sip on a special occassion and thats it.

How do they (hubbies) manage to undo all that we do all week, in one day that they're home

Im a hound with brushing their teeth since I had so many cavities as a kid and dont want them to go through that.

Luckily they do love to drink water, so thats really what they drink most of the day until you hear them yell "DADDY'S HOME !!!!!!!!"

I cant tell ya how many refills they had at HErshey park, snow cones, daddy's just a big kids himself and uses them as an excuse to buy the big goofy ice cream pops (and one for him too, of course!)....
see ya got me rambling!

ETA: They had their first dentist apptmt in June, and they LOVED IT, esp JA, so we always mention her name. and I say how she would be so proud if he did NOT eat XYZ candy or how she'd be so sad if he DID eat something... and he'd always sit there deep in thought, because he really liked her and wants to make her proud at his next visit...
well last week, he finally said "well mommy, maybe we shouldnt go to her anymore"

Message edited 8/13/2006 7:58:43 PM.

Re: Let's talk soda.

I completely agree! No soda!

Re: Let's talk soda.

My son is only two and half, but I won't allow him to have soda and don't think I will let him have it for a long time. He is already bouncing off the walls, the last thing he needs is caffeine and sugar. It is not good for his teeth or his body. So juice, milk, and water it is for us!

Re: Let's talk soda.

I hear you on the snacks. At the Intrepid, my kids wanted ice cream. Because Maddie is the messiest eater on the planet, I told them that the ice cream was for the employees (yes, lies just fall from my lips). So they dropped it until Daddy walks over with ice cream for himself & them. I glared at him & said "When did you start working here?!"

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I drank coke with nearly every dinner as a kid. I've never had a cavity. That may just be good luck, and isn't to say that soda isn't bad...

While I don't plan to have soda in the house, I wouldn't stop my daughter from drinking it at a party. It can be a fun treat, not a routine beverage.

Re: Let's talk soda.

Message edited 8/13/2006 8:16:01 PM.

Re: Let's talk soda.

I will not allow Lauren to drink soda or try it at this point in her life. She does have an occasional snack treat with chocolate or sugar, however there is no reason for me that is to introduce it to her.

Re: Let's talk soda.

Its quite a shame that we try so hard to control our children's diets, what they eat and drink, and when they start school, Ive seen it all too often as a sub, I can imagine what f/t teachers see on a daily basis.

Come snacktime, the kids with the "junk" filled snack bags often feel bad for their "poland spring and carrots" buddies and BOYYY do they share !

Ive never seen a bigger grin than on a "Healthy snacks" kid

ITs funny but sad. and no matter how many moms give teachers "Strict orders" to not allow their child to trade snacks or eat anything else BUT whats in their snack bags,
the truth of the matter is, lets get real here... 25 famished bundles of energy, try keeping track of whose is whats and what is whose.
juice boxes going across tables, kids throwing out completely sealed and brand new "Healthy snacks" day in and day out (makes me NUTS!) whether a good piece of fruit, healthy cookies or chips, veggies, etc. because theyd look at their snack and say "I dont like that " and fling into the can it goes.
If I was able to catch them in time, Id tell them to offer it to a friend that didnt have a snack. (usually just in older grades-since they knew their own allergies, limitations, etc). and to make sure they went home and told their mom that they didnt like that snack.


Im NOT looking forward to buying healthy snacks for the kid sitting next to my son

Message edited 8/13/2006 8:45:38 PM.

Re: Let's talk soda.

My kids dont have soda either, Im holding out as long as I can. I hate when they are given straight juice boxes at parties but its only once in awhile so I dont forbid it. My kids are pretty hyper already, I cant imagine offering soda...as I sit here with my 5th Diet Coke of the day in hand.

On a similar note...I'll post it under a spinoff thread re: cereal

Re: Let's talk soda.

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I totally agree with you. Julia will not be allowed to have soda also, I dont want to spend all my time at the dentist when she is older!

Re: Let's talk soda.

I want to keep soda out of Christopher's life for as long as possible. I basically have a diet coke addiction and I don't want he same thing to happen to him. We'll stick to juice for as long as we can and when he starts asking for the soda, it will become a VERY rare treat.

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My daughter will not be allowed to drink soda. As it is her Mommy is addicted to it ( I don't drink coffee so that's my caffine) and I working on getting it completely out of the house by the end of the month so she doesn't even see it.

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I agree with the no soda rule. We were out to dinner last week and I ordered water for DD and the waiter brought Sprite. Before I realized it was Sprite and not water there was no tearing it away from DD. I told her to enjoy it because she won't be getting it anytime soon.

I drink diet soda usually w/ meals and she is always asking to have some. I don't drink a lot but I feel like a hypocrite drinking soda (albeit diet, which is probably worse w/ all the chemicals) in front of her but telling her she can't have it.

Re: Let's talk soda.

fortunately my 3 1/2 yo DS wont drink anything but apple juice so I dont have to worry about it, but I would not want him to have soda. That being said the sugar in juice is no better and I dont weigh the caffeine in chocolate the same as soda, although I should.

Also my mother just reminded me this weekend that I was skinny until I was old enough to buy my own food. I hope the values I try and instill in DS will stick.

Re: Let's talk soda.

No soda for my son. Its pretty easy to enforce at home since the only soda we have on hand in the basement is for a party and people come over. (pizza is the only thing I really miss it with! )

He really only drinks- milk, water and diluted juice.
Juice boxes/straight juice when out and I can't mix it.

He's had seltzer a few times and doesn't like the bubbles so I don't think he likes soda anyway.... but I will continue to control it for as long as I can. No reason for a 2 yo to have soda in my book.

Re: Let's talk soda.

Message edited 8/14/2006 9:09:53 AM.

Re: Let's talk soda.

I guess, as per usual, I fall in the minority. I feel it's important to teach my children that things are ok in limited quantities. I feel that a treat of soda or straight juice or sweets are healthy. Gabriella didn't even like the taste of soda for the longest time and still will only have a sip when we have it. I do not like soda much, personally, and only order it while out at a restaurant or something. We rarely even have soda in our house unless we are having a party or something.

Re: Let's talk soda.

Well, if you've seen posts about my hyper-nutritious hubby, you can pretty much bet I totally agree with you. I just don't think it's good for children to take in that much sugar, without any nutritional worth. It's horrible for their teeth and their bones, makes them hyperactive, and puts them on the path of terrible eating habits. When I was a child we were NEVER allowed to have soda. Now, as an adult, I hate it even though I could drink as much to my delight... I prefer water. I can only hope that if I raise my daughter similarly she'll grow up to be an adult who picks the right things for herself...

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When Max was 2 to 3, when he asked for soda, we always gave him seltzer. He would spit it across the room and make the craziest faces.........How could you like that stuff???? He is 5 now, and he THINKS he HATES soda! When it is offered at a party, he begs for water instead. I plan to do the same thing with Bella, and hope it works out the same way.

Re: Let's talk soda.

Re: Let's talk soda.