"Organic.. crap"

Calimama wrote: I'm getting a TON of flack about the foods I choose to feed Bella. It's mostly organic, non-processed or non-packaged foods. She eats a ton of veggies, fresh fruits, chicken.. etc. Every one thinks I'm nuts basically (except for DH). I mean, I'm not trying to be a health nut but she's 14 months old and will eat whatever I'll put in front of her. So why put a french fry when she'll eat peas... kwim? I guess I'm just worried I'm being too crazy about what she eats. My best friend came over last night and brought Bella a happy meal but I wouldn't let her have it and she told me I was going to drive Miabella crazy with "organic crap". I don't want her to end up being one of those kids who never gets candy or soda and then goes crazy when they are able to have it, but I'm a firm believer in the foods we eat and how they correlate with how we function mentally and physically. Tell me I'm not crazy...

PrairieMom replied: You are not crazy.

I try to feed my kids that way too. I don't go overboard, We get happy meals if we are out, and they get treats, but When i grocery shop I pick foods that have a organic alternative.

I also try to limit the amount of sugar they get. It hides in certain foods. Did you know that there is as much sugar in one bowl of instant quaker oatmeal (flavored) as there is in a bowl of captain crunch?

Ignore your friend, let her think your are quarky and weird, and do what you believe is best for your baby.

Kaitlin'smom replied: your not crazy. While Kaitlin does get some junk it suprises me when she will chose healthy things over junk, okay it makes me proud. I wont deny her junk nor will I let her go hog wild on it everything in moderation. I say keep up the good work mom, heck here is one for you we are out at dinner and I let Kait pick her side what did she pick? Broccoli, she could have had anything, but she wanted that, she ate some if it thats all I care about.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Oh wow, I can't believe your friend could say that. First of all, you're her mom, how dare she make you feel bad for what you feed your child. I don't think you're crazy, but I'm an organic mama too. Not all the time, but I try to buy most of our fruits, veggies, cereal, grains, milk, eggs, yogurt and cheese..all organic. I do buy processed snack items at times like chips and fruit snack things, but they are special treats. It's like you said, why not teach her now when she will eat whatever you put in front of her. My kids will eat all kinds of veggies, brussel sprouts and even spinach (most things kids hate), so I have to feel that I'm doing the right thing by offering it to them while they're young. You are in some ways laying the path for how they eat as adults.

I do have to say though, my DH and SIL both have sortof weird eating habits due to a mother who owned an organic health foodstore all their life and NEVER allowed them to eat sugar, at least not white sugar - maybe carob or maple syrup sweetened, but rarely. And NEVER did they get fast food. And NEVER did they get regular cereal. So it's like you said, do it in moderation. You find a balance so that they won't go over board when they are out in the world on their own.

I think you are doing just fine! Ignore your friend.

My2Beauties replied: No you're doing just fine. I think I'd let her have a happy meal now and then though just my take on it. Especially if your friend bought it, just let her know not to make it a habit KWIM! You're doing a wonderful thing for your child, healthy eating habits is a good habit for kids to have for the rest of their life! WTG!

lovemy2 replied: I dont' think you are crazy - I wish I had enforced better eating with Olivia - she is NOT a good eater - BUT she was a good eater when she was Bella's age - it somehow got away from me - and I dont' know at what point it happened - Olivia isn't really an "eater" per se - she could really care less most of the time about eating - I think that was how it happened - we just started feeding her so she would eat - don't get me wrong - she doesn't eat junk all day and nite - she just isn't a "meal" eater - many fruits but little veggies....kinda stinks - but I have to say - a Happy Meal once in awhile won't hurt her - do it with the apple slices or something like that to balance it more - that is what I do....

Calimama replied:
Yeah, I'm not anti-happy meals, but she's going through testing for Celiac's so she's on a wheat/gluten free diet so all she can have is the fries and the coke.

luvmykids replied:
Ditto. We're fairly healthy, Kylie loves salad more than anyone I know and they all love fish, veggies, goat cheese, etc....weird things for "kids" to like. But we do have some junk food around, and we do eat fast food once in awhile. It's cheaper to treat them to a Happy Meal than a trip to Toys R Us

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I think what you are doing is EXCELLENT for your child!!!! You are teaching her at a very young age how important proper nutrition is. I won't get on my soapbox. And I'm far from perfect when it comes to feeding my kids (and myself) all healthy all the time. Sometimes I get sucked into the 'convenience factor.' I just wish I knew then what I know now and would have started when Maddie was a baby.

Keep up the good work, hun!!

jcc64 replied: Ok, is it just me here, or is everyone tip-toeing around the obvious- your friend is the one who's nuts, not you. The information on healthy eating habits is everywhere you look, and yet people continue to poison (yes, I did say poison) their kids. I know I'm going to step on a few toes here, but a child Bella's age should not be eating the crap in a Happy Meal. Let's start with the Chicken McNuggets, which are essentially ground up parts of the chicken not suitable to be used for anything else, except maybe pet food. You know- the beaks, the feet, the organs, the skin, and maybe a little actual meat for good measure. (rent "Fast Food Nation") Or, if you go for the hamburger meal- you know Mickey D is not using the highest quality meat available, so keep in mind that if your kid happens to be the unlucky one that gets a burger included in an ecoli recall- her tender young age is most definitely working against her. Who usually dies in those sorts of tragedies- young children- b/c their immune systems haven't yet been sufficiently polluted enough to tolerate the toxins. Now onto the fries- and who doesn't love Mickey D's fries (I personally do). Because of a naturally occurring chemical reaction when starches such as potatoes are cooked at very high heat- they are, in fact, VERY carcinogenic. I used to give my dd fries all the time when we'd be out running errands (we basically live in our car b/c of my older kids' sports), until I read a study that claimed even one serving a week could increase her odds of getting cancer by a very scary amount (actual # escapes me now, but I'm sure Ed will google it ). My brother, a traditional pediatrician and hardly a granola crunching hippie, backed up the science, and himself hasn't eaten fries in years. And finally, what child needs the sugar in soda, really?
My boys are older, and believe me, it's impossible when they get out on their own to sanction everything that they eat. They have their share of junk, as do I. However, is it so awful to try and balance out all the junk with some basically sound eating habits, such as the ones you mentioned?
I think deep down, your friend is threatened by your views b/c they underline how badly she eats/and or feeds her own kids (if she has them).
Keep up the good work- you're doing the very best thing you can for your child, and too bad if everyone around you doesn't get it.

ediep replied: I agree with everyone else. think you are doing the right things.

I try very hard to watch what Jason eats, as a matter of fact he had his first happy meal this past summer (almost 5 years old)

Emma is a good eater so far, she'll eat veggies without a problem


did anyone see Oprah today? She had Jerry Sienfelds wife on and she was showing how she adds pureed veggies to everything she feeds her kids
I do that too with some thing, like mac and cheese... I add purees squash, carrots and I add extra cheese.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I agree that if she will eat peas with out a fuss why not encourage it instead of giving her "crap" Alex is the same way he would choose an apple for snack over cookies so I fill the cupboards with more healthy things to eat. There is vegetables at every meal, always has been. If it's what they are used to and those are the eatting habits you teach your kids then that is what they know.

MoonMama replied: Hon I can honestly say I am the exact same way with Braedin. And I too take a TON of flake for it! Braedin had never had a fry or soda (my best friends 5 yes I said 5 boys live off that stuff). Just try to let it roll off and know your doing a great job.

ETA: I NEVER got tons of soda or junk growing up, only on VERY rare occasions and I never went over board when I got to.

Twelve Volt Man replied: It sounds like you're doing a great job. I'd politely (or not so much) remind the person that it's your child, and you'll raise them as you see fit.

Nina J replied: Your not crazy. Honestly, I have never known anyone who gives there 14 months old a Happy Meal. The occasional McDonald's french fry, yes, but a whole happy meal. Nope. Everyone I know with young children, or who have had young children, feed them mostly organic foods like vegetables, fruit, yoghurt, etc. I think it might be different in the US, but in Australia, with most parents (or at least from what I have observed over the years in restaurants and around the place) it isn't the norm to feed a child so young anything but a healthy, organic diet. Bar the few occasions when your kid might have one french fry when you're out with friends. Most people take the food there 14 month old is going to eat with them, so they have the food they need in case they're at McDonalds or somewhere.

You're doing the right thing when it comes to Bella's diet, she will develop healthy eating knowledge. If you never, or only rarely as a treat, let your kids eat junk food, then they aren't going to eat it constantly and develop health problems assosiated with obesity. I will allow my children the occasional treat, but not until they are old enough and have experienced stacks more healthy foods that they love. That way when they are presented with a choice in there diet, between something like watermelon or potato chips, they will be more inclined to chose the watermelon.

Mommy2Isabella replied: My own FAMILY makes fun of me. LOL, for doing Organic, we shop at Whole Foods and such. Those were MY habbits before Bella was born. I am one of those CRAZY health nuts. Im not ashamed LOL ...

Isabella WILL NOT eat Mc Donalds's. Sorry guys, the thought of it makes me want to PUKE! I don't do fast food, chik fil a every BLUE MOON. Eating that kind of food upsets MY STOMACH, I can only imagine how she would feel if she were to eat it.

We didn't have soda or SNACKS when I was a kid and I don't do them now ... I prefer Water or Juice ...

Cece00 replied:
I think you are wrong about the chicken, at least the chicken these days.

I'm not saying I think they are the best food ever (cause I certainly do not...) but this is what they are made of...

>>The Chicken McNugget is a small piece of minced chicken and mechanically separated meat held together with phosphate salts and chicken skin. The pieces are coated with batter, lightly fried to set the batter, individually quick frozen, packaged, and sent to stores. At the McDonald's stores, the McNuggets are deep-fried and sold.

In November 2003, McDonald's switched to using all white meat for McNuggets instead of the traditional combination of white and dark meat. This was heavily promoted as an effort to improve the item's flavor. McDonald's state that they use mechanically separated breast meat in the production of their McNuggets. A small amount of chicken skin is recovered with the breast meat.

Cece00 replied:
You arent crazy. Your friend should be more concerned with her child's nutrition.

I will be the first to admit I dont buy into the whole "organic craze". But you dont have to only feed your children/family organic to feed them NUTRITIOUS foods, the two words are not mutually exclusive.

My kids eat very healthy. We eat lots of lean meat, veggies, fruits, etc. I allow my kids snacks/junk occasionally, but its definetly in moderation. And generally when I buy them "snack" foods, I buy healthier ones, I will search for ones with less calories/fat & more nutritional value.

My kids, except for my oldest, actually LOVE salad and always eat multiple servings. My kids love water and milk, and while they like other drinks, they never complain about drinking water and actually ask for it a lot of the time. They will ask for apples or bananas or a sandwich for a snack, they have turned down junk food a lot of times.

I think kids need to learn moderation when it comes to the "bad" foods but I also think it can be harmful to completely ban them- my husband had a mother like that. Not good.

That being said, I dont blame you for not wanting to give your child McDonalds. Even though kids need to learn moderation, I think when they are very young, its better to give them the good foods- they will want the "junk" later on once they are more exposed to it- no need to load them down with it now, esp because you dont have any other (older) kids to teach your daughter how tasty the "junk" can be

jcc64 replied:

Fyi:
http://www.alnyethelawyerguy.com/al_nye_th...at_really_.html

and off of Mc Donald's own site:
Chicken McNuggets®:
White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, chicken flavor (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, natural extractives of rosemary). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil ((may contain one of the following: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, partially hydrogenated corn oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness), dimethylpolyPay particular attention to the fact that they do admit including TBHQ. siloxane added as an antifoaming agent). CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Man, totally not crazy!!! I think it's VERY important to teach kid's about proper nutrition and set good eating habits from the start. I will admit we don't eat a whole lot of organic and we do the occassional fast food stop, but we eat pretty good round meals (veggies, lots of salad, lean meats, etc.) and have always taught Tanner good eating habits. Yes he likes sweets, what kid doesn't like some sweets...but he also likes his veggies and fruits too because those good eating habits have been instilled in him from the start.

Cece00 replied:
Am I missing it? I am failing to see where it says beak, feet, organs...

I do believe they are actually using chicken in the nuggets...other stuff, too, obviously...but I think they use real meat and not "essentially ground up parts of the chicken not suitable to be used for anything else"

Before 2003, well....who knows

A&A'smommy replied: I think your doing a great job!!!

I hate that I missed Oprah yesterday and I was going to try and watch the rerun BUT i fell asleep... I personally have LOT of problems with Alyssa and getting her to eat, let alone eat healthy always have. If you can get her to eat healthy then i agree why give her a french fry, that is crazy IMO!!

Calimama replied:
That is disgusting. I don't even know what half of that stuff is.

My2Beauties replied: Jeanne I have a whole new perception on french fries now

I will admit guys, I think what she is doing is great, because I eat fast food almost every single day and I know it's so bad for me but I'm always on the go and I find myself not bringing my lunch because I'm so buy at night or in the morning to pack it. This thread has certainly opened my eyes a bit. Makes me want to try and cook more decent balanced healthy meals, even if they're not organic, at least they're homemade. Man I feel like I've ate myself to cancer with the fries I've eaten in the past month let alone my entire life

bawoodsmall replied: You know what. Even if you are crazy she can zip it. I have this problem with other people telling you and your dh how to raise your children. THEY ARE YOUR CHILDREN!!! Sounds like you are making the right choices. I am going to make dh look at the site tonight with me cuz i need him to see it. He is a junk a holic.

Jackie012007 replied: OMG you are so not crazy - Carly just turned 9 months old and I've been giving her Organic everything that I feed her. Her baby food is not organic (I simply cannot afford it) but I do feed her a lot of diced or mushed organic fruits and veggies. I want her to be healthier than I am now - I grew up on junk and am paying for it now. I say, good job mama!

Anthony275 replied:
i recognized "water, wheat, milk" out of that whole list

but yeah, that stuffs gross. last time i had it was end of january 2004, and it was because i was going to pass out from not eating. it yells "heart attack & clogged arteries"

jcc64 replied:


I know, LeaAnn- I did too after discovering that. I've always been leary of the meat products from Mickey D's, but I LOVED the fries, (who doesn't?!) until I heard this info. It wasn't just one source I heard it from- it was many places- and then when my brother confirmed to me that it's common knowledge in medical circles, it totally freaked me out. Everytime I put a fry in my mouth (and btw, this is not limited just to McD's fries- it's any fries), I feel like I'm eating poison. Such a bummer, isn't it?

And about the words "beaks, legs, organs" not being listed in the igredients- I'm certain they are not going to provide that information willingly- they will tell you only what they are legally required to tell you. Idk who it was that was even questioning this, but does any actual white meat chicken you've eaten in your own home look anything like what a chicken mcnugget looks like? If you ever peeled the breading off, it's a nasty looking piece of something. The eyes don't lie, kwim?

My2Beauties replied:
I have to say I did eat some fries today from Wendy's, I thought this only pertained to McD's, I went to Wendy's for that reason....YIPES! I'm done with fast food. I have cooked the past 2 nights in a row now since reading this article and am hoping to continue to do so now as much as I possibly can.