Should parents be providing sweets to their children regularly?
@IshidaMitsunari (1026)
China
February 6, 2007 3:54pm CST
I have read several posts today about one and two year olds not eating anything but sweets. I was a little disturbed to read this...why are parents giving their children sweets at such a young age? Is it not important to instil good eating habits in our children? In this age where childhood obesity and type two diabetes in youth is running rampant we are still feeding our children the junk that give them these diseases. I believe as parents we have the responsibility to teach our children the importance of healthy eating, and one way to do that is to feed them healthy foods. In doing so you are providing for their childhood health as well as their life long well being. Let me know your thoughts on this...
3 people like this
6 responses
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
6 Feb 07
That is really sad. No, children should not be eating so many sweets. I personally ate too many sweets when I was a teenager and I think that it has caused me to become borderline diabetic, although that may also have been inherited from my mother, as she has some issues of the same kind. But I was _really_ over doing it with sugar for years, and I realized that I was having many problems related to my sugar intake, and I have felt so much better since I have cut down a lot on my sugar intake. So starting kids out on so much sugar even earlier than when I was eating so much of it surely cannot be good for someone.
@IshidaMitsunari (1026)
• China
6 Feb 07
Wow, I am sorry to hear about your health. I know so many people that are diabetic so I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with keeping the possibility of getting in in tight check. But it is great that you are responsible about what you eat and how if affects you. I get really dizzy if I eat too much sugar, so I too only eat a little sugar.
Thanks for the reply!
@jennifer611 (2514)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I have to say I am guilty of letting my kids eat too much candy. I did the same when I was little..
but recently I have had a total change of heart on this.
my son's have diabete's in their family on their father's side. I dont want my kids to have to go through all the things that diabetics have to go through.. it is a scarey scarey thing.. diabete's kills.
I started replacing the candy with fruits. like apples, oranges, tangerines, grapes, pears, cherries and just all differant kinds of fruits, and you wouldnt believe how much they love it.
they want fruit. they snack on it and they love it and it is so much healthier then giving them all the junk foods..
@IshidaMitsunari (1026)
• China
13 Feb 07
Thanks for the comment! What a great story! Fruit makes an excellent replacement for candy. Especially sweeter fruits such as mangoes, honey dew, strawberries. They are healthy and teach your children much better eating habits. Thanks again for the reply!!
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
6 Feb 07
I feel the same way I think it is sad how people will give in to their children just so they don`t have to listen to their kids cry. Is that the way they were brought up. Their parents give them whatever they want so they will be good or won`t cry. My kids grew up wanting apples or another healthy snack when they were hungry, because that was how I raised them. Still to this day they look for healthy snacks , mind you they will eat some junk food , but who doesn`t?
@IshidaMitsunari (1026)
• China
6 Feb 07
Eating a bit of junk food is natural, we all crave a little. But giving it in excess, everyday, or with every meal, as a snack or something like that...it just leads to so many problems. Sounds like you raised some very good decision makers. I am glad that they will pass that on to their children as well. Thanks for the reply!
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
6 Feb 07
Sorry I wasn`t done. in reference No I don`t agree with giving them junk food sor treats not at such a young age. If they do that will be the only thing their kids will want.
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
14 Feb 07
I don't think parents shoul dgive their children alot of sweets. Every once in awhile as a speacil treat I can understand. But not an every day thing. As a child I only got sweets on a major holiday. As an adult I do not care for alot of sweets at all. I would rather eat fruits and vegtables. I think giving to many sweets causes tooth decay and hyperness in the kids today.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
16 Feb 07
It is extremely bad to give one and two year old too many sweets it is not good for them, children should have a proper diet or their bones and body to grow properly. Yes we do have a responsibility to feed our children correctly. It maybe cheaper to feed the children rubbish but in the end it shall costs them more due to their health.
