Junk food for Kids

Do You Feed Your Kids Junk Food?

April 8, 2008

Growing up, I was a pretty healthy eater. But like most kids, I also delighted in junk food in doses — donuts every Sunday morning and an occasional trip to McD's .

Today, kids are bombarded by sugary and preservative filled advertisements that make the snacks nearly impossible to avoid. Even global mama Angelina Jolie is guilty of feeding her tots bags of potato chips.

Aside from kids loving the tasty treats, they offer many busy moms a convenient short cut, which is why many parents fall back on them.

Are you guilty of the quick fix, too?

33 Comments

edithaug 5 years 5 weeks

On occasion we will allow our 15-month old daughter to "nibble" on the snacks that we may be eating. As a general rule however we try to give her snacks specific to her age. ;o)

edithaug 5 years 5 weeks

On occasion we will allow our 15-month old daughter to "nibble" on the snacks that we may be eating.As a general rule however we try to give her snacks specific to her age. ;o)

Kimpossible 5 years 6 weeks

I have a different opinion of junk food than most people. For instance I think chicken nuggets (even from the grocery store)is junk food. Basically to me processed foods are junk, all those fillers and chemicals just can't be good. I don't keep alot of junk in the house, we do have cookies on hand for dessert after dinner, other than that it's on very rare occasions.

Kimpossible 5 years 6 weeks

I have a different opinion of junk food than most people. For instance I think chicken nuggets (even from the grocery store)is junk food. Basically to me processed foods are junk, all those fillers and chemicals just can't be good.I don't keep alot of junk in the house, we do have cookies on hand for dessert after dinner, other than that it's on very rare occasions.

gab6784 5 years 6 weeks

I believe in moderation, I rarely give my daughter sweets/junk but every once in a while I think its okay.

PJ PJ PJ 5 years 6 weeks

Everything in moderation. Healthy eating 90% of the time, but a trip to McDs, every once in a while, or a cookie here & there is fine.

graylen 5 years 6 weeks

I have been very surprised by what goes on with my nephew (2). My s-i-l has him eating very healthy with no sugar/junk food. It has been so hard to have OTHER people abide by their wishes of wanting to avoid sugar. Even her own mother "sneaks" him junk food when he visits. It's just kinda sad because he didn't even know it existed! I had no idea how hard that part would be!

lovehenry 5 years 6 weeks

We have some junk like Trader Joes alphabet cookies and pretzels. But we definitely don't keep "super junk" like Twinkies around. We are trying to potty train our little guy so a cookie or two as a reward for trying goes a long way.

lovehenry 5 years 6 weeks

We have some junk like Trader Joes alphabet cookies and pretzels. But we definitely don't keep "super junk" like Twinkies around.We are trying to potty train our little guy so a cookie or two as a reward for trying goes a long way.

MarinerMandy 5 years 6 weeks

I don't have kids yet and this is already an issue with my fiance! I was raised with home cooked meals every night and we rarely ate out so McDonalds was always a huge treat. He grew up eating out all the time and still eats fast food way more than I like. I think there is a balance you have to find. I want my kids to eat healthy the vast majority of the time, but the fact is junk food and fast food exists and I want them to learn to treat it like a special treat to have every once in a while instead of regular food choice.

faerymagick15 5 years 6 weeks

we don't do fast food much anymore. we used to about twice a week, usually a weekend if we were out and about a lot. Now we order pizza once every week or two and thats about it. All the snacks I buy are healthy snacks. I try not to keep junk in the house too often.

LiLRuck44 5 years 6 weeks

Definitely no junk in my house. Sweets yes, mostly because I love sweets, but we're talking made from scratch and all organic ingredients. Raw honey is a great sweetener but its health benefits are awesome, so it's not "junk". My kids don't eat processed food, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colorings, etc. in or out of our house. I'll admit it takes a ton of time to prepare each meal, every day. There is hardly anything in our house meal-wise that doesn't require preparation or cooking. I guess we're just used to it... when the bread is gone, pull out the ingredients and make some more.

LiLRuck44 5 years 6 weeks

Kristinh1012 5 years 6 weeks

We have junk food in the house but it's for their father. I try not to give the kids anything too bad and if I do only occassionally. Fast food and things like that can be hard if it's a night I don't have time for dinner or we are out on the go (which isn't but mabye once a week). My kids mostly eat apples or oranges, pretzels, raisins and baked crackers and things like that. But I also think society has gotten out of hand with some things. I do like that most fast food places offer some more healthy options. Like apples as a side, or oranges, salads. My kids love that stuff.

Kristinh1012 5 years 6 weeks

j2e1n9 5 years 6 weeks

If I have kids, I dont think I will just because I personally cannot stand junk/processed/pre packaged foods and dont buy it anyways, so hopefully it wont ever be in the house. And I am hoping that since they will be raised with the idea that it doesnt even really exist, that they wont be asking for it for a loooong time. And even then, I think I will give them fake junk food, like organic treats, dried fruit or nuts or trail mix...something that might look like snack food but something that still has some nutritional value. Also, growing up we had so much junk food in the house. My mom is a big junk food junkie. However, both my brother and I grew up in disgust of it, I guess since everyone wants what they cant have! And we are now two of the healthiest eaters I know! ;)

anniekim 5 years 6 weeks

Annies whole wheat cheddar bunnies--great junk food fix and no so much guilt. I try to make alternatives to the junk--frozen grapes and mango are very popular in my house and we make ice pops with fruit, yogurt, flax and soy. I will sometimes indulge in making cookies or buying ice cream but not too often. I won;t buy anything hydrogenated or with corn syrup so that makes it easier to resist the serious junk. ThaT said, if we go to a playdate or party and there is junk food I don't worry about the kids eating it. They love chips!

anniekim 5 years 6 weeks

Annies whole wheat cheddar bunnies--great junk food fix and no so much guilt. I try to make alternatives to the junk--frozen grapes and mango are very popular in my house and we make ice pops with fruit, yogurt, flax and soy.I will sometimes indulge in making cookies or buying ice cream but not too often.I won;t buy anything hydrogenated or with corn syrup so that makes it easier to resist the serious junk.ThaT said, if we go to a playdate or party and there is junk food I don't worry about the kids eating it. They love chips!

SugarKat 5 years 6 weeks

I am a sweets junkie. Since having Izzy I don't do it quite as much, but I can't help it. Izzy loves fruit and veggies, but will give all of that up for a cupcake. She's just starting her terrible twos (she's still one though) and throws fits for everything. I think that the worst thing that I constantly let slide is fruit snacks. She gets the Legos ones and I know that they are laden with sugar, but they're better than chocolate and she loves them. Sometimes she won't eat anything except mac & cheese and those legos. It drives me crazy!

SugarKat 5 years 6 weeks

niklectric 5 years 6 weeks

My toddler is only 17 months and he's never had junk food. Let's see how long we can keep this up. It's only a matter of time before he starts noticing what other kids are eating.

RobinFabulous 5 years 6 weeks

I'm a moderation person. I believe they can have "junk" in limited quantities. We don't alwas have chips, cookies, etc, but we do sometimes. I also mix in health snacks and tr to give them variety. I don't normally keep soda, they drink water mstly, or milk or juice. I just believe that healthy eating is learned. Sometimes I feel like a cookie, so I eat one. And the are allowed to as well. Most of the time they will reach past the junk to fruit or whole grain crackers, but they are given a choice :-)

lickety split 5 years 6 weeks

we go to fast food about once a week, minimal junk and basically no candy. i don't mind cake or cookies in their lunch. dh use to love cheetos. once on the way home from the store my youngest (then 2) got into the bag and ate them until she threw up. after that they lost their appeal for everyone, lol.

jaxon 5 years 6 weeks

I dont keep junk food in the house b/c I dont eat it. I am not a big chip, cookie, pop junkie. If I am out and someone has it I will eat it and my daughter wants whatever Ihave so she will have a chip or a cookie too but not with ANY regularity.I'd say she'll have fast food every now and again. She loves french fries but I make them fresh at home baked in the oven not fried. She never gets pop (maybe once or twice with her dad)at home it is juice, water, or milk (I just now started offering her chocolate milk) but even that is a treat for her not the status quo.i agree with roxtarchic, if you are too nuts about it it makes them want it more and over-indulge when they do get it.

jaxon 5 years 6 weeks

I dont keep junk food in the house b/c I dont eat it. I am not a big chip, cookie, pop junkie. If I am out and someone has it I will eat it and my daughter wants whatever Ihave so she will have a chip or a cookie too but not with ANY regularity. I'd say she'll have fast food every now and again. She loves french fries but I make them fresh at home baked in the oven not fried. She never gets pop (maybe once or twice with her dad)at home it is juice, water, or milk (I just now started offering her chocolate milk) but even that is a treat for her not the status quo. i agree with roxtarchic, if you are too nuts about it it makes them want it more and over-indulge when they do get it.

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33 Comments

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