Quote:
"Some may say the parents are responsible, but if a child is demanding food it can be very difficult to refuse it.''
|
True...it's difficult to refuse your child food (personally, I've never done that nor would I likely consider doing so), but that doesn't mean that you have to give in to every demand they make for JUNK food!
Let's make a distinction here. By all means,
feed your children! BUT...feed them healthy food without 1/4 cup of sugar added to each and every serving. Veggies, fruits, cheese, yogurt, nuts, whole grains and such. Encourage them to drink water when they are thirsty instead of sugar-filled pop or "fruit" juices that have very little fruit juice, if any, in them and instead are nothing better than high fructose corn syrup with a little flavoring (and maybe a few drops of real fruit juice) added.
Since I've been low carbing, I always offer my girls healthy snacks and it's my policy that if they turn up their noses at a healthy snack (something that they would normally eat), then they weren't really hungry after all.
You know you've had an impact when your kids get excited when they find a bag of baby carrots and ranch dressing in the grocery bag!
How sad for these parents who, I'm sure, had no idea that the life of their child was in danger. I know how devastated I would be if I were to lose one of my children.
Legislation? I would like to see stricter controls and guidelines in the marketing of junk food to children and I would definitely like to see pop machines and vending machines removed from schools. Manufacturers understand the power of "the pester factor" when they aim their ads at children. In fact, they're counting on it. What this does, though, is undermine parental authority and make parents "the bad guy" for saying no to unhealthy food. Think about it...how many commercials have you heard with the words, "Kids, ask your parents for _____ (fill in the blank with the latest rage junk food)"?
We're starting to teach our kids to think critically when it comes to commercials and the perfect opportunity came up last week. While we were watching TV, there were 3 different commercials for 3 different brands of laundry detergent within a 30 minute period, each claiming to be "the best" at getting out stains. We asked our girls if all 3 of them could be "the best" at the same time. They agreed that only 1 could be "the best" or at most, they might be equally good. It opened up a good discussion about commercials and what they are intended to do (make you want the product) and that not everything a commercial claims is necessarily the whole truth.