How much 'junk' do you give your child?

[*Vicki*]

ah cool...i will have a look for them - it seems really good, id like to have something like that for Meg 

[Diana1981]

I try to give ds all the healthy food i can, but I do tend to give some treats especially french fries (his favorites) every now and then. these last couple of days I have been baking healthy muffins (banana, apple, carrots, etc) he loves it, so I guess its more like a healthy treat

[skatty]

This is so interesting! I don't really feed Leorah any processed foods and she eats lots of fruit, veg and wholegrains, natural yoghurt with fruit puree etc but she does have treats! Lucky for me she doesn't realise you can eat more than one chocolate button or square and she can make that button last ages lol! Every week her great nan visits and that always means cake and today her grandad came and bought us all ice creams which she loves. I never used to give her juice but she has ongoing constipation so sometimes has diluted OJ instead of milk with meals, we like to save juice for when we are out and need her to sit nicely for 5 mins! I really don't mind Leorah having a biscuit or a slice of cake but I don't want her having fizzy drinks, sweets (she's only 2 at the mo') or crisps. Here in Denmark the schools and nurseries are very strict about lunchboxes so I wont have that problem. I have recently started enjoying baking so any healthy recipes would be much appreciated 

BTW my biggest concern about sugary foods at the mo' is for L's teeth, brushing her teeth are the worst points of the day 

[RyansMum]

Everything in moderation here.  I do not mind Ryan having chocolate, crisps, sweets or fruit shoots because he eats so much good stuff too, he loves mushrooms, brocolli, chicken, fruit smoothies, etc in equal measure to the junk.

The schools are very strict, and whilst I understand the message I do think a bit of common sense is lacking sometimes.

I do restrict Ryan if I think he has had too much of a good thing, like yesterday was a prime example. Had my parents down so we went out to swimming and he was so good he asked for a milkybar.  When we went out for lunch he got a cookie. He asked for sweets later and I said no as he had had a couple of treats and we were going out for dinner and he may get a pudding (ice cream). That is quite a lot in one day for Ryan and certainly not the norm.  But I see treats as a little bit of pleasure and so long as handled well can be part of a varied and healthy lifestyle.

[potlaura]

Toms eating has got much better thank goodness so in an average day I reckon he is getiing well over what is needed in fruit and vegtables.
His nursery has a no junk policy so does Jacks school so its just water/milk with fruit and school dinners.
Toms main vice is cup cakes he adores them and I have to admit he  has one a day - he may not get anything else.
Jack is not so bad he may ask for a treat daily but it is more often than not a mini choc bar or hot choc with marshmallows.
Oh and absolutely no fizzy juice it sends my spirited 3 year old up the wall !!!
I have a major sweet tooth and I can already see it rubbing off on the boys.
We eat out one night at the weekend mainly chinese food and the boys will have rice, chicken prawn crackers and chips .

I think it is all about balance and education if you get that right at an early age they will become accustomed to making correct food choices.
Lol do you hear me if I told you what i had to eat today you would be disgusted 

[clh]

Well, we're probably middle-of-the-road.  As far as sweets, we try to limit those to 1-2 on days that they have them, but that's not every day.  James knows about them and will ask, but Isaac still doesn't really realize.  He just eats it if we offer. 

Our downfall is processed foods...  at least once a week (and I try to hold it to *only* once a week) we'll stop at a fast food place for a cheeseburger kids' meal.    But we'll also get orange slices as the side & milk to drink.  Sometimes the boys & I will split the smallest order of fries on the way home (when we're all hungry & irritable) to tide us over.  Isaac drinks water or milk.  James has that or watered down (at least 50%) juice/gatorade.  No fizzy stuff.

We try to be healthy.  And if we're not healthy, we try to moderate it and balance with healthier things.  I do need to start explaining about nutritious food vs junk food, though...

[Mum to cool dude]

Forgot to say that what helps is that we don't have many treats at home. I don't like sugary stuff particularly and  as DH has a massive sweet tooth, I can't bring anything in the house or he'll scoff it in no time

[SFFC]

I believe moderation is defiantly the key. We go by 'every day' foods and 'occasional' foods, rather than good and bad foods