- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Kids Diets
Posted on 1/8/18 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 1/8/18 at 12:27 pm
A bit of a different topic than you normally see on this board, but reading the thread about fruit got me thinking...
Since Oct. of last year, we have been working hard to cut as much processed sugar from our kids diets as possible. 3 boys, ages 2-9. All active and a good build. Geez it is difficult though. Just breakfast alone is hard when trying to do something quick but healthy. They used to eat unfrosted strawberry poptarts but when we really paid attention to the added sugar involved we cut that out. Now it is berries, bananas and whole grain pancakes with a smear of peanut butter.
The 9 year old is very conscious about the nutritional value of his food. I had a good conversation with him about added sugar and how it affects you and now he checks labels when they are available. That's not to say that when with his friends and they are all eating candy, he doesn't join in, but he doesn't fight the whole grain bread for sandwiches and the fact that we have no unhealthy snacky foods in the house. The other two just pretty much do what he does. It is crazy the difference in behavior that we have witnessed with them as well. More focus and less hyperactivity in school and at home.
Any suggestions on different healthy snacks I can offer them. Like I said, we do quite a bit of fruit (apples, manderin oranges, banannas, plums and blueberries), plain greek yogurt, organic peanut butter, carrots, popcorn, but it can get a bit boring. We try to cook with real ingredients, not heavily processed foods. I figure if I can get them in the habit of eating well now, it will lead them down a better path as they get older. TIA!
Since Oct. of last year, we have been working hard to cut as much processed sugar from our kids diets as possible. 3 boys, ages 2-9. All active and a good build. Geez it is difficult though. Just breakfast alone is hard when trying to do something quick but healthy. They used to eat unfrosted strawberry poptarts but when we really paid attention to the added sugar involved we cut that out. Now it is berries, bananas and whole grain pancakes with a smear of peanut butter.
The 9 year old is very conscious about the nutritional value of his food. I had a good conversation with him about added sugar and how it affects you and now he checks labels when they are available. That's not to say that when with his friends and they are all eating candy, he doesn't join in, but he doesn't fight the whole grain bread for sandwiches and the fact that we have no unhealthy snacky foods in the house. The other two just pretty much do what he does. It is crazy the difference in behavior that we have witnessed with them as well. More focus and less hyperactivity in school and at home.
Any suggestions on different healthy snacks I can offer them. Like I said, we do quite a bit of fruit (apples, manderin oranges, banannas, plums and blueberries), plain greek yogurt, organic peanut butter, carrots, popcorn, but it can get a bit boring. We try to cook with real ingredients, not heavily processed foods. I figure if I can get them in the habit of eating well now, it will lead them down a better path as they get older. TIA!
3
Posted on 1/8/18 at 12:47 pm to LSUlove
we don't calorie or grams of sugar count with our kids, but we do try to make sure that if they're having sugar outside of a treat (we eat the hell out of blue bell) that it's coming from a fruit.
just a few things:
my kids eat way more veggies than i ever did because we don't do veggies out of a can. we grill/bake and sea salt, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kale, and potatoes. all about the seasoning. my experience with veggies growing up was opening a can of green beans, corn, or whatever and adding butter and salt to the pan and firing up the stove.
they get cokes when we eat out and that's it. we never keep it in the house. they drink OJ, !00% apple juice, 2% milk, almond milk, and water. my youngest drinks coffee.
we're not perfect parents, so we fail a bit on this of course.
without coercion, my youngest son, 8, loves salad, fruit, eggs, sushi, kale, omelets, coffee, you name it. he runs a sub 8 mile and will do 5ks with me.
my oldest i have to force healthy food on and he has nowhere near the endurance or fortitude that his 3 year younger brother has. the few times we have run he gets angry at me less than a half mile in. so the diets to play a big factor there.
just a few things:
my kids eat way more veggies than i ever did because we don't do veggies out of a can. we grill/bake and sea salt, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kale, and potatoes. all about the seasoning. my experience with veggies growing up was opening a can of green beans, corn, or whatever and adding butter and salt to the pan and firing up the stove.
they get cokes when we eat out and that's it. we never keep it in the house. they drink OJ, !00% apple juice, 2% milk, almond milk, and water. my youngest drinks coffee.
we're not perfect parents, so we fail a bit on this of course.
without coercion, my youngest son, 8, loves salad, fruit, eggs, sushi, kale, omelets, coffee, you name it. he runs a sub 8 mile and will do 5ks with me.
my oldest i have to force healthy food on and he has nowhere near the endurance or fortitude that his 3 year younger brother has. the few times we have run he gets angry at me less than a half mile in. so the diets to play a big factor there.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 12:56 pm to LSUlove
quote:Honestly, that isn't much better - it's just carb/sugar in a slightly altered form. Do they like eggs? Because you can boil eggs ahead of time and just serve them cold. Do they like cheese and coldcuts? Because you can also roll those up ahead of time like little appetizers and just grab and go.
Now it is berries, bananas and whole grain pancakes with a smear of peanut butter.
There's also this: just don't make them eat breakfast at all. If they aren't hungry, then I absolutely would not make them eat it.
quote:
Like I said, we do quite a bit of fruit (apples, manderin oranges, banannas, plums and blueberries)
Again - that is really just candy in another packaging. For snacks, I still find low-sugar beef jerky, Epic Bars or Duke's to be real winners. Also, pecans and macadamia nuts are healthy and filling. Ditto some good, high-quality full-fat cheese in individual portions.
Do they like dairy? Because a shot or two of heavy cream when you are hungry is a good way to stave off the pangs until dinner time. And it's super delicious!
Posted on 1/8/18 at 12:59 pm to 3nOut
quote:OJ and apple juice are arguably worse than cokes. You should think about cutting those out too.
they get cokes when we eat out and that's it. we never keep it in the house. they drink OJ, !00% apple juice
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:05 pm to Big Scrub TX
i'm not trying to be argumentative, but are you saying eating raw fruit is not better than eating processed sugary cereal and pop tarts?
i get that we need to avoid high sugars, but we also need sugar to stay alive. natural sugar with fiber and vitamins is a good thing.*
*i say good thing relatively. getting your sugar from a form that comes with fibers, minerals, and vitamins naturally is better than an additive just thrown in for flavor to an otherwise unhealthy thing like a coke.
i get that we need to avoid high sugars, but we also need sugar to stay alive. natural sugar with fiber and vitamins is a good thing.*
*i say good thing relatively. getting your sugar from a form that comes with fibers, minerals, and vitamins naturally is better than an additive just thrown in for flavor to an otherwise unhealthy thing like a coke.
This post was edited on 1/8/18 at 1:07 pm
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:05 pm to 3nOut
Thanks for the response! Yeah, we don't count calories but when you realize that for the last year, your 9 year old has left the house every morning having already consumed 34 grams of sugar (2 unfrosted strawberry poptarts), it is eye opening to say the least.
They only drink milk and water with the exception of orange juice if they visit the grandparents.
We have the treats too, ice cream here and there. I make homemade chocolate chip cookies that we freeze and bake off a couple of times a week.
Veggies are the one thing we need to do better with. I feel like all the veggies we eat are carbs (corn, potatoes, etc) not greens.
Believe me, not perfect here either. A parent in my son's class told me that about 50% of his third grade class (about 25 students) were being treated for ADD or ADHD and that blew my mind. But when I have lunch with him and see the crap that they bring from home, I would venture to bet that changing up their diet would correct most of that.
They only drink milk and water with the exception of orange juice if they visit the grandparents.
We have the treats too, ice cream here and there. I make homemade chocolate chip cookies that we freeze and bake off a couple of times a week.
Veggies are the one thing we need to do better with. I feel like all the veggies we eat are carbs (corn, potatoes, etc) not greens.
Believe me, not perfect here either. A parent in my son's class told me that about 50% of his third grade class (about 25 students) were being treated for ADD or ADHD and that blew my mind. But when I have lunch with him and see the crap that they bring from home, I would venture to bet that changing up their diet would correct most of that.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:08 pm to LSUlove
my daughter's snacks consist mostly of fruit, which I know are mostly sugar, but it isn't processed sugar, so if she is going to get sugar, I would prefer it to come in it's most natural state
but she does love vegetables, I can go out in the garden and pick raw kale and put it on her plate and it will be the first thing she eats, in fact, she prefers most of her greens to be raw
I can only assume she got this way by watching me eat raw veggies from the garden
have you tried to give them raw veggies for snacks? my daughter also loves raw carrots, okra, broccoli, cucumbers and whatnot for snacks
she doesn't drink any juice or sugary drinks, she drinks water 90% of the time and occasionally will ask for milk, but that is growing rarer these days
but she does love vegetables, I can go out in the garden and pick raw kale and put it on her plate and it will be the first thing she eats, in fact, she prefers most of her greens to be raw
I can only assume she got this way by watching me eat raw veggies from the garden
have you tried to give them raw veggies for snacks? my daughter also loves raw carrots, okra, broccoli, cucumbers and whatnot for snacks
she doesn't drink any juice or sugary drinks, she drinks water 90% of the time and occasionally will ask for milk, but that is growing rarer these days
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:09 pm to 3nOut
They're kids, just try to limit the complete crap. Don't listen to Big Scrub on this, fruit is not going to hurt a 10 year old. Yes, it's sugar, but it's better than them eating packs of M&Ms and Twinkies.
Also you're 8 year old doesn't ring sub 8 miles. Fastest in the world is 5 something. If he actually does he's one of the best so I take this as an comment.
quote:
without coercion, my youngest son, 8, loves salad, fruit, eggs, sushi, kale, omelets, coffee, you name it. he runs a sub 8 mile
Also you're 8 year old doesn't ring sub 8 miles. Fastest in the world is 5 something. If he actually does he's one of the best so I take this as an comment.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:11 pm to LSUlove
quote:
Veggies are the one thing we need to do better with. I feel like all the veggies we eat are carbs (corn, potatoes, etc) not greens.
just as a suggestion, maybe take some things like asparagus, kale, brocoli, etc. lay out on pan, brush some EVOO and crack some sea salt on top and bake. my kids will eat that shite all day. we try to stick to a mostly whole 30 diet. some things are a bridge too far for them, but they have definitely learned to love veggies at a younger age than i have.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:12 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
Also you're 8 year old doesn't ring sub 8 miles. Fastest in the world is 5 something. If he actually does he's one of the best so I take this as an comment.
i'm not getting in a pissing match, but are you saying an 8 year old kid can't run a 8 minute mile? i didn't post that as a "my kid is the best," just that he naturally eats healthier and is a better athlete than my 11 year old who likes junk food.
This post was edited on 1/8/18 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:14 pm to Big Scrub TX
For kids, I don't believe carbs are that bad, added sugar, yes, but natural sugar doesn't bother me. They need some form of carbs for energy, especially the complex carbs in whole grain. These aren't 20-30 year old guys trying to get cut. Try to get a 5 year old to drink a shot of heavy cream...lol.
They do like eggs and we have those a few times a week. Cheese and cold cuts are in their lunch kits. They are hungry for breakfast and if they don't eat at home, then they have the option of eating the crap their school is serving (think frosted poptarts, funnel cakes and sugary cereal).
Nuts are one thing that I haven't tried. Thanks for the suggestion!
They do like eggs and we have those a few times a week. Cheese and cold cuts are in their lunch kits. They are hungry for breakfast and if they don't eat at home, then they have the option of eating the crap their school is serving (think frosted poptarts, funnel cakes and sugary cereal).
Nuts are one thing that I haven't tried. Thanks for the suggestion!
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:14 pm to 3nOut
quote:
i'm not getting in a pissing match, but are you saying an 8 year old kid can't run a 8 minute mile?
I'm saying it's pretty rare and that it sounds like something that would be posted on the OT
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:20 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
I'm saying it's pretty rare and that it sounds like something that would be posted on the OT
fair enough. again, wasn't trying to be boastful, just highlighting the difference in diets between my two kids.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:20 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
quote:
I'm saying it's pretty rare
You're wrong.
Drop it. An 8 min mile for an active kid isn't something that should be controversial.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:27 pm to Salmon
My 9yr old daughter ran a 27min 5k and sure as shite could run a sub 8min mile.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:28 pm to Salmon
quote:
Drop it. An 8 min mile for an active kid isn't something that should be controversial
High school track meets are won with 5 something miles. An 8 year old running in the 7s is pretty damn fast.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:31 pm to Mingo Was His NameO
Save it for another thread.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:35 pm to Salmon
quote:
Save it for another thread.
i never thought giving an example would turn into an argument about HS track speeds.
my bad. i'll bow out.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:36 pm to 3nOut
quote:Substantively, it's not better. Now, to equal 2 pop tarts, you might have to eat 2.5 apples to get the same volume of bad. But don't trick yourself into thinking that it's actively good.
i'm not trying to be argumentative, but are you saying eating raw fruit is not better than eating processed sugary cereal and pop tarts?
quote:I understand what you are saying.
*i say good thing relatively. getting your sugar from a form that comes with fibers, minerals, and vitamins naturally is better than an additive just thrown in for flavor to an otherwise unhealthy thing like a coke.
Posted on 1/8/18 at 1:38 pm to 3nOut
quote:
my bad. i'll bow out.
You're fine
it's the other guy
Page 1 of 3
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News