Do you feed your kids food you won't eat yourself?
By rachelcaron
@rachelcaron (1679)
United States
January 29, 2007 6:04pm CST
Do give your kids food that you, yourself wouldn't eat?
I do because I know he needs healthy foods. I don't really like tomatoes, but I will feed him tomatoes. There are also certain vegetable combinations that don't sound good to me and I would probably never eat them, yet I feed them to the baby because they are good for him.
15 people like this
52 responses
@trouble4u2avoid (2915)
• United States
30 Jan 07
I have found that my kids enjoy a lot of foods that I don't. Everyone ones tastes are different. Even if you don't like a food and it's healthy, you should make sure your son has the opportunity to try it for himself.
My kids loved broccoli and I absolutely hate it.
@cjthedog64 (1552)
• United States
30 Jan 07
I encourage him to try lots of different things. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean that he won't either. Of course, he usually eats off my plate, so he eats whatever I eat. Sometime DH will give him a bite of something else. As long as it's not too junky, I don't mind!
2 people like this
@megs85 (3142)
• Australia
30 Jan 07
I'm what most people would call a strict mum, lol, even though Im like the most unhealthiest eater I know. My son eats basically everything, all types of fruit and veg, most of which I don't. Im trying to establish good habits early- hes eight months old. He hasnt even been given juice yet. The way I see it is if he is happy to drink water and formula, and eat fruit, meat and veg (he cant have bread as he is allergic to milk) then why should I give him things that may damage his teeth, and I know they are baby teeth at this stage but as I said I am trying to get in early. I want him to be healthy and have a good and well rounded appetite, not like his mum. ;)
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 07
No I would not ever do that if I don't eat it then I can't expect my Kids to eat unless they like it
I will make my Son Steak as he likes it but I will not eat it
But I have never made my Kids eat anything they don't like wether I like it or not
They have tried things and said they do not like it so I do not give them it again They are both Adults now
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
30 Jan 07
Sure all the time! I feed them whatever they want, as long as it's healthy. If they only ate what I liked, they wouldn't eat very much, lol or very healthy, ha.....
@msqtech (15073)
• United States
8 Feb 07
some parents make wholly separate meals for the children this I disagree with and usually what the kids will eat isnt healthy. I know one parent who lets them eat chicken nuggets french fries and ketchup. for every meal this is rediculous and dangerous for the child.
@quispy (572)
• United States
30 Jan 07
This topic makes me laugh! Yes, I definitely feed my kids things that I would never eat. First off there are those Chef Boy R Dee thingys that my kids love. I hate the SMELL of them. Aside from that, my 7 year old loves jellyfish sandwiches. It's tuna with grape jelly! I won't even try it. Mine also eat tomatoes. I'll eat a tomato on a BLT, but I think I probably eat ONE tomato a year. Reached my quota for this year! Their babysitter turned them onto grits years ago. They love them. Another thing I won't even try. They eat okra.....allrighty then!
1 person likes this
@rachelcaron (1679)
• United States
30 Jan 07
Jellyfish? I have never heard of that, but blech... that is not something I would even try. It just doesn't sound good to me.
1 person likes this
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
30 Jan 07
A Jellyfish sandwich...that makes my stomach churn... Gorss! Of course my daughter would probably love that and I just might have to try that for her. She loves tuna fish and she eats jelly sandwiches all the time. If I can stand to make it, I think I'll give that a try for her.
Who says you don't learn from mylot? LOL
@Stelmaria (12)
• United States
30 Jan 07
I agree with you about Chef Boy R dee! That stuff is nasty, but my son loves it. Personally, I try to eat vegetarian as much as I can (notice I say eat vegetarian, not AM a vegetarian, lol. I do eat chicken still).
In my situation though, my husband has terrible eating habits. Cheeseburgers, fries, Vienna Sausages- if it's loaded with sodium he'll eat it. Meanwhile, I have salads, or veggie subs, or something ATTEMPTING to be healthy. MY husband will not eat the same food as me to save his life, but my son mostly does. I ask him to try what I eat, and if he doesn't like it, I don't force it.
Any food that I don't eat would have to be initiated by my son- if I don't eat it it isn't in the house, right? But the best way to encourage your kids to eat healthy is to be an example. If they grow up thinking "adults don't have to take care of themselves" then they will become adults who don't, right?
@Darkwing (21583)
•
30 Jan 07
Yes, I think you have to try your children on all foods. Their taste might be different to yours, and as you say vegetables and particularly tomatoes are healthy foods.
If they really didn't like anything I was giving them, I wouldn't force the issue though because that would make their dislike for that particular item all the stronger. Take it step by step... I think you're doing the right thing, and I would do it in exactly the same way.
Thank you for this discussion and brightest blessings.
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
30 Jan 07
Yes, definently. I hate tomatoes, and fish, but serve them to my son all of the time. They are very good for him, and just because I don't like them, doesn't mean he won't.
1 person likes this
@embattledsparkle (1072)
• United States
30 Jan 07
Right now the only thing I can think of is Spagettios. I don't really like the taste of them but for some reason all my kids love them (maybe it's a kid thing?) so I will get them for my kids from time to time.
My youngest son will pretty much eat whatever I eat in regards to veggies and fruit. But I have a hard time getting my oldest two to eat most veggies.
1 person likes this
@mkmissey76 (498)
• United States
30 Jan 07
yes i do I dont eat alot of things and pork is one of them but i will make them for my husband and son and I will eat chicken. or growing up I would feed him the beets and carrots and yet i dont eat either one.. and he loves them, all. :)
1 person likes this
@marjonelle (798)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
That's nice of you to give your child healthy food that you don't eat. Parents are really like that in nature. Thinking of child's welfare. Keep it up. :-)
@allshookup (598)
• United States
30 Jan 07
i don't have children yet, but actually i'd have to say i'd go the other way around... if we're in a rush and i have no fruit or "neat" snacks, i'd give them something a tad unhealthy like cookies or fries just so they wouldn't be hungry.
@rachelcaron (1679)
• United States
30 Jan 07
well, I bet things will change when you do have kids. Once you have them, you only want the best for them.
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I can't find it in myself to make my kids eat stuff that I don't like. If they want to try something I try to be encouraging but don't make them eat anything they don't like. It is great to give them a variety so they can find what they like, not just what mom and dad eat. We have some kind of fruit and vegetable every day though, I just try and balance everything out.
@anja31 (708)
• Canada
30 Jan 07
TO be honest, No, I have to eat everything and my children has to eat also everything, even though we dont like to food. I grew up with this and I foud it a good choice of my parents.
@_hope_ (3902)
• Australia
30 Jan 07
As children grow they develop taste for different types of foods and if we give varied foods with different textures so they can atleast taste them i see no harm in giving them a food that i wouldn`t eat.but on the other hand if i found a certain food they didn`t like then i wouldnt give it to them again until they were much older and their taste buds had beveloped furthur
@vekyengineer (1079)
• India
30 Jan 07
I really love kids food because they are too tasty and sweety. but i would not prefer to eat them because it is my kids food. I do not interfere in others plate when they are eating.
@jino_jacob (135)
• India
30 Jan 07
well i don have kids but my MOM used to do that , well she still does that. I understand, she forecs me to eat those as it is good for health.
