Judging people by what they eat...

[QueenMab]

Blimey, it's one thing to think quietly to yourself that a person might be making poor nutritional choices for their children, but as for giving them the death stare.... Come on! That's a quick route to a smack in the chops in my view.

I am laughing like an idiot about the children secretly drinking sugar water from behind the toilet though. I have taken a pretty hardline view on sugar so far (although my son is 16 months old, so that's fair enough I reckon), and am now having visions of him snorting sugar in the shed by this time next year.

[Pickle]

Can I just reiterate my point that the "death stare" reference was tongue in cheek!

[shaunag]

I was told by the doctor to put my daughter on a high sugar high fat diet at one point-she couldn't have chocolate owing to allergy, and most of the fattening foods/sugary foods involve soy or dairy, so found myself loading her food with extra oil and dairy free spread. I think being a parent is really hard, and you just don't know the kind of kid people are dealing with at home.i used to babysit a child that ate nothing many moons ago. I had no idea how stressful it could be then, but having had a kid with eating issues, I now understand why his mum was happy if he ate anything, whatever it was. It is easy to judge, but really, I like to think we are all doing our best for our kids.maybe that's a naive rose tinted view, but, I like being an optimist. It's Saturday night and have had a glass or two, but kudos to all parents, it can be a tough gig!

[Monkey]

Each to their own. My mother in law practically force feeds my daughter ice cream and dodgy things (latest being a milky way yoghurt which littlemonkey refused to eat) but nearly has a heart attack when I give her a piece of camembert with gorgeous white baguette from the french bakery. But I do agree that a mars bar for breakfast is not a good idea. A brioche would be better for breakfast on the go.

[jennyh]

What a good post. The other day I saw a mother giving her toddler a packet of Doritos for breakfast whilst the baby (18 months I reckon) was digging into a packet of mint mentos at 8am. I definitely judged and was shocked at my response, in honesty it was actually sadness I felt rather than scorn. And that's just because since having a child myself I'm an emotional wreck over the smallest things. Having read this thread I will def check myself before passing opinion as everyone makes very valid points. I have a fussy 20 month old and feeding has been a pain since weaning so I will have more sensitivity as I'll prob be the one giving all sorts of stuff in the future! Come to think of it I have often raised eyebrows by giving mine the last dregs of a magnum and people have obviously thought the stick she's chewing on contained an entire magnum for a one year old! :)

[Jo'sEnglish]

My Mum told me the other day she over heard a toddler in the supermarket asking her Mum if she could have an apple and the Mum replied, "No you can't have an apple. I'll get you some sweets later". My Mum said she did kind of turn around and look at her in shock, she couldn't help herself!

You can try not to judge, and often there are things that we don't see on the surface, but sometimes it is easier said than done in all honesty!

[susyp]

When I was at secondary school I used to knock for a friend on the way who lived in a particularly chaotic household and her mum would chuck some money at her and we would have to stop at the newsagent on the way so she could buy some crisps and chocolate for breakfast. It made me sad at the time and even more so now that I am a mum. So I probably would judge at breakfast time - not at any other time. Before my daugther went to her school nursery she had only had a little cake and no sweets - then it seemed to be constantly someone's birthday and not only did they get sweets as they left for the day to celebrate then she would go to the party and we would have to make a cake or fairy cakes so that she could take a dairy free substitute - of course then we would have a cake for a week :-) . I do try and give her breadsticks on her way home from school (she won't accept fruit after school - a battle she has well and truly triumphed on!!) and only give her sweets on a friday. It's very difficult though especially when other people are giving their kids sweets (maybe they have monday sweet day - who knows!). She also has a chocolate milkshake every day as I give her oatmilk and she won't drink it any other way !! As long as she eats her vegetables with dinner I am not too fussy about it all though.

susypx

[womanofdulwich]

I do hate fussy adult eaters ! Recently met a vegetarian( ok) who did not like broccoli, olives or tomatoes OMG talk about hard work.

Not allergic just did not like.

She was from New York- and then her Mum did not like sauces or spicy food AGGHHHHHH.