baby food..

[Idefix]

Mmmm, the 4 out 5 pediatricians will have been paid by the cereal parent company to endorse the product.

They are recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), not just on a company's website.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/712475_2

[Rosamunda]

Cheerios "is recommended by 4 out of 5 pediatricians as a finger food for toddlers."

i.e: they do NOT recommend them for babies. The ratio of calories to nutrition is too high.

It's not just the contents of the box though. For me, it is more about the messages you are giving your kids (from a very early age) ie: when you're feeling peckish it's fun to nibble on industrially prepared snacks that come out of brightly coloured boxes. So, it becomes a life-long reflex. I think it is a MUCH nicer idea to get kids used to nibbling on fruit, veg, a bit of bread, a hard-boiled egg etc rather than on industrial foods (or not snacking at all, even better). The way Cheerios are eaten... one by one (while watching a video?) leads to over-eating habits and is just asking for trouble. And after they get bored with eating Cheerios it'll be Dorritos... are they healthy too?

[hl_82]

From what I know (by observing Finnish families), most parents seem to use these:

http://www.maissinaksut.fi/maissinaksut.htm

GMO free, no salt. True, a load of carbs, but you're not supposed to feed your kids with these on an hourly basis anyway. Carbs pretty much come from the corn itself, the amount of real sugar is quite low. The link is in Finnish, though. Again, this is what Finnish families seem to use for finger food.

[Rip]

From what I know (by observing Finnish families), most parents seem to use these:

http://www.maissinaksut.fi/maissinaksut.htm

GMO free, no salt. True, a load of carbs, but you're not supposed to feed your kids with these on an hourly basis anyway. Carbs pretty much come from the corn itself, the amount of real sugar is quite low. The link is in Finnish, though. Again, this is what Finnish families seem to use for finger food.

We have had (some of) them. I do not feel guilty about them, but I don't consider them actual food (although they are surely worse things than them). I assume most use them as something to keep the child fairly harmlessly occupied and content when they otherwise might start making their discontent loudly heard in a public place. At least I consider the most important thing nutritionally about them that they are, on volume basis, pretty much void of anything except air.

[hl_82]

True, not really food. I've noticed that kids do end up becoming more and more attached to those snacks, just like giving your kid candy.

Somewhat off topic, but when I was growing up (um...30ish years ago ), my parents gave me a kid's handful of raisins. Did the trick, up until I had my first go at candy. Dried fruits aren't really suitable because of the sugar levels, but again, a great way to keep your kids away from other sugary stuff. Xylitol pastilles seem to be common too.

[Idefix]

or not snacking at all, even better

I think you need to learn some things about babies/small childrens eating patterns if you really hold this view. Adults don't need snacks, but children do. also, if you think babies/toddlers should watch videos while eating, you do lack some basic skills.

If seeing a box of snacks lead to kids wanting more stuff in boxes, it's because what you as a parent get them used to. To give babies/toddlers a variety of foods, including boxed/canned etc foods is not damaging in any way. What if the kids see you take veggies/fruit out of the fridge and freezer all the time, will that lead to them only wanting ice cream and majo for snack later (since that also comes from the fridge/freezer)? It's like common sense have totally gotten lost in some of these what-to-not-feed-your-kids- frenzies today. One snack/food item should not exclude the others.

Btw, why would you choose a bit of bread over a handful of Cheerios? Is bread so much better for you, and Cheerios in comparison so bad, you want to exclude it all together?
I have no idea from where you get some snacks (Cheerios) are to be eaten together with certain activities, i e watching videos. That's patterns you as parents set for your kids. Breakfast cereals like Cheerios are normally eaten at the kitchen table, in a bowl together with milk for breakfast. And for babies/toddlers they are a great snack they can pick up (eating them dry) with their fingers.

[Idefix]

We have had (some of) them. I do not feel guilty about them, but I don't consider them actual food (although they are surely worse things than them). I assume most use them as something to keep the child fairly harmlessly occupied and content when they otherwise might start making their discontent loudly heard in a public place. At least I consider the most important thing nutritionally about them that they are, on volume basis, pretty much void of anything except air.

Snacks are complements to food, kids are not supposed to live on snacks. And in situations like you describe, they are great. But some seem to rather pick up that messy boiled egg they have stuffed in their pocket when they go somewhere....

[Mook]

or not snacking at all, even better

I think you need to learn some things about babies/small childrens eating patterns if you really hold this view. Adults don't need snacks, but children do. also, if you think babies/toddlers should watch videos while eating, you do lack some basic skills.

If seeing a box of snacks lead to kids wanting more stuff in boxes, it's because what you as a parent get them used to. To give babies/toddlers a variety of foods, including boxed/canned etc foods is not damaging in any way. What if the kids see you take veggies/fruit out of the fridge and freezer all the time, will that lead to them only wanting ice cream and majo for snack later (since that also comes from the fridge/freezer)? It's like common sense have totally gotten lost in some of these what-to-not-feed-your-kids- frenzies today. One snack/food item should not exclude the others.

Btw, why would you choose a bit of bread over a handful of Cheerios? Is bread so much better for you, and Cheerios in comparison so bad, you want to exclude it all together?
I have no idea from where you get some snacks (Cheerios) are to be eaten together with certain activities, i e watching videos. That's patterns you as parents set for your kids. Breakfast cereals like Cheerios are normally eaten at the kitchen table, in a bowl together with milk for breakfast. And for babies/toddlers they are a great snack they can pick up (eating them dry) with their fingers.

The issue is that snacking is essentially "random comfort eating". Children need a structured diet, so while they may get a "snack" at 15:00 every day, it doesn't mean that their "snacking".

as for recomending Cheerios, well I guess it's better than MacDonalds, but's their still full of salt and refined sugar. Fruit is good. Also carrots work well when they're first teething!

[Idefix]

The issue is that snacking is essentially "random comfort eating". Children need a structured diet, so while they may get a "snack" at 15:00 every day, it doesn't mean that their "snacking".

as for recomending Cheerios, well I guess it's better than MacDonalds, but's their still full of salt and refined sugar. Fruit is good. Also carrots work well when they're first teething!

Snacking might be comfort eating for adults. Small kids don't eat for comfort. At all. I think that is what you are saying. I have never said anything else.

Raw carrot is not recommended here in the US for babies/small toddlers as a first finger food, since it is hard and pieces can be a choking hazard. The same with raisins, grapes, etc. Maybe they have other recommendations in Finland.

Btw, we ate McDonalds yesterday. We had sallad with lettuce,tomatoes, cucumber, mandarins, grilled chicken breast, sprinkled with almond flakes and bread crumbs and some dressing. To that baked potato with some melted cheese and steamed brockoli on top. Milk and juice to drink.

[Mook]

Raw carrot is not recommended here in the US for babies/small toddlers as a first finger food, since it is hard and pieces can be a choking hazard.

not when they ain't got no teeth...

[Rosamunda]

or not snacking at all, even better

I think you need to learn some things about babies/small childrens eating patterns if you really hold this view. Adults don't need snacks, but children do. also, if you think babies/toddlers should watch videos while eating, you do lack some basic skills.

I have three kids, who were all born in France and grew up (thankfully) in a country where people (including kids) don't snack. At least they didn't in the 1990s when we were there. Now although I am not French, I do think these people have a better take on food, nutrition, diet, health and gastronomy (and a few other things maybe) than the average American/Brit. The French are not obese as a nation and they have the longest life expectancy on this planet (after the wrinklies on Crete). That's good enough for me. I have never read anything that says babies and toddlers need to snack between meals. But then again, times change and maybe I am just old-fashioned (and arrogantly proud to be so).

My kids eat eggs for breakfast, maybe some rye bread, fruit, cheese, ham and sometimes muesli. I don't buy highly processed foods, not even for breakfast. They are too expensive and nobody in our house craves for that kind of stuff anyway.

And just for the record, the thing about watching videos while eating Cheerios was tongue in cheek (a joke). I might lack basic skills in lots of things (like speaking Finnish, basic DIY and IT literacy to name but a few) but one thing I do know something about is food and feeding kids.

[biscayne]

Yes, I have to say that I support Penelope's take on this topic. The countries where processed foods are most popular - the english speaking countries are particularly guilty here - practically have epidemics of type II diabetes which is usually weight and nutrition related. In these countries, kids as young as 10 and 11 are being diagnosed and I firmly believe it is related to the vast amounts of non-nutritional processed foods they are fed. How shameful it was watching Jamie OIiver's school dinner programmes, some of the kids could not even recognise common vegetables, and spat out fresh, delicious berries because the taste was so alien to them. The only thing I would say here is that some people are naturally "grazers", preferring to eat 5 or 6 smaller meals per day rather than 3 main ones, and I don't believe that is a problem as long as what is being consumed is healthy, and in small portions. I tend to eat this way, I'm fairly small and light, and find a big meal hard to get down, but I can eat 6 times a day easily.