kid question

[ankka]

Just looking for your 2 cents, especially from parents. My son is in daycare and he is 17 months old. I always send him there with snacks such as fruit, cheese, cereal "puffs", diced veggies, sweet potato pancakes and cheese sandwiches. He drinks water or organic goat milk. Most of his food is organic. Here's my question: he's the only kid who brings his food and I'm worried that he sees the other kids eat one thing while he eats another and that that makes him feel left out. I'm not super strict--I let him eat cheerios and cheese toast, or special treats they may have once in awhile (birthday cake). But they eat things regularly like fish sticks (msg), animal crackers, juice, and canned fruit (heavy syrup, I asked). I dont want him to eat this way, but I'm worried that he could somehow feel left out. What do you think.
thanks!

[Supermomm4]

At 17 months you have nothing to worry about.
Maybe refer to them as "special mommy treats" and he will not see them as something different, but something special that mommy gave him for the day. If anything he would share his treats with others so they can see what mommy packed for the day.
Your a great mom for doing this and he will learn as he gets older that you did this for a reason. I am sure the daycare appreciates one less kid hopped up on sugar too lol.

[Donna I.]

I don't think it would be a big issue at his age, unless he is telling you it is. I find it much easier to pack my 3 year olds lunch bag than the bigger kids. I know that my older kids are always asking for junk that other kids have in their lunches, those fruit gummy things and dunkaroos(gag!). I explain to them that those things are very unhealthy and are not really food. They need things with vitamins in them. I put my foot down with that stuff, but still give them something that is the "treat" in their lunch (oatmeal cookies, homemade pudding). Otherwise they trade it at school or worse, scavenge change that is lying around the house(DH and I are bad for that) and buy stuff from the vending machine. I can't believe that schools have those things, with all the media attention on overweight unhealthy kids. It is a lot of effort to keep your kids from getting sucked into the junk food vortex!

[Nancy LC]

Lots of kids who have allergies have to deal with this all the time. I think there's nothing wrong with showing your child early on what a healthy diet is about. If more parents did it, no one would find it odd.

[Beck01]

You are after my own heart with this question! We have a 6 year old and 18 month old twins and we all eat organic. Well, t is difficult to eat organic all the time but we try to at least eat clean food. I made all my own baby food, have a garden with fresh veggies (I seem to kill more than I eat) and I have tried to instill in them that fruits and veggies are not only health but yummy too.

I'll walk if it's a small trip to the store rather than drive (better for us and better for the earth) we pick up others trash that's thrown on the road etc. I really try hard to teach them that if everyone just did a little the world would be so much cleaner and healthier.

Sorry, I just feel really strongly about this whole subject. On to your question, my 6 year old is now in kindergarten and I know exactly how you feel. We have never made a huge deal of her not eating like other kids. If there are treats at grandma's house, school, etc its ok. She's never had an issue of eating differently than other kids in fact I think she really takes pride in how she eats and what she does for the earth.

I wouldn't worry a bit about your child feeling left out, we haven't had any problems with it and I'm sure you won't either.

[monster66]

I have 4 children and I try to send healthy snacks with them when needed and I do hear from one of my older ones "why cant I take potato chips, etc. like everyone else. I give her the lowdown and she gets to eat "junk" on occasion but I stress to all of them healthy eating. My son surprised me the other night when he asked for a snack and said he really wanted an apple! Something must be getting through! You are doing the right thing and I dont think he even notices that he is eating better than the others! Maybe they can learn from him!

[Lobstergal]

My son (age 15) has a tuck shop at his school where they can buy things and he regualarly buys pop tarts from it.
I don't know why the school allows garbage like that in the school when they recently tookout the pop machine

[ankka]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It's good to have support. I've often felt like "the weird mom" because I guess I'm not mainstream as far as eating is concerned. They asked me at daycare when he was about 6 months old when I would "start him on juice" and I was like "um--probably not for a really long time." They are wonderful people and go out of their way to be sure my son eats the way I want him too but I've just been obsessing over the fact that this could somehow make him feel different. I wish they could serve better food although I guess by the current guidelines it's what could be considered healty.
But you're right--I feel that in the long run this will be for the best although I will probably always feel like the weird mom. Isn't it funny that eating well makes you different from others?

[ReginaW]

Just looking for your 2 cents, especially from parents. My son is in daycare and he is 17 months old. I always send him there with snacks such as fruit, cheese, cereal "puffs", diced veggies, sweet potato pancakes and cheese sandwiches. He drinks water or organic goat milk. Most of his food is organic. Here's my question: he's the only kid who brings his food and I'm worried that he sees the other kids eat one thing while he eats another and that that makes him feel left out. I'm not super strict--I let him eat cheerios and cheese toast, or special treats they may have once in awhile (birthday cake). But they eat things regularly like fish sticks (msg), animal crackers, juice, and canned fruit (heavy syrup, I asked). I dont want him to eat this way, but I'm worried that he could somehow feel left out. What do you think.
thanks!

When my son (19-months old) goes to the sitter, I always pack his food and like your son, mine also drinks water and organic goat's milk (isn't that stuff great?)....occassionally I'll let him have some organic nectar - like 2-ounces with 6-ounces of water and he also likes "yogurt shakes" - plain yogurt, 2-ounces organic nectar and the rest goat's milk - making it that way has less sugar than the baby yogurt.

My sitter provides food if we want since she also takes care of other kids during the day too, but I prefer he eat organic, no trans-fats, no MSG, no modified food starch, ya know? Thus far it hasn't been a problem - In his diaper bag he's got some healthy handful cookies and organic honey-nut-O's but prefers the fruits or cheese or veggies or meats that I send....it's funny because I picked those up and put them in his bag in case one of the other kids was eating cookies or cheerios (I prefer the organic since I would rather he not have GMO wheat) - I didn't want him to feel left out - but he won't eat them!

I know, I know - thank my lucky stars!

My sitter is amazed at what he prefers to eat - asparagus tips, blackberries, blueberries, sharp cheddar, provalone, avocado, etc. - things most kids won't touch if they have a choice between that or a cookie. So while his bag still has the cookies and honey-nut-O's...I think they'll probably rot before he ever eats them. I honestly think at this age, they really don't know the difference - if they're given something they like, I don't think they care much what another kid is eating.....?

[ankka]

We are very much alike! I ended up buying some organic versions of cookies and crackers for him to have when the other kids are eating cookies. I found some fig bars sweetened with pineapple juice instead of sugar and some of those healty handful crackers. I also found a cookbook with recipes for making foods like chicken nuggets using your own ground chicken, organic wheat flour, etc. I think I will be giving those a try. I'd like to try that goat milk shake you mentioned, my son won't eat plain yogurt and I don't want to give him that sugary stuff like yo baby. This morning when I had all of his snacks and meals packed up I was thinking that it all actually looked pretty yummy and felt kind glad that I take the time to prepare and chop up good stuff for him. I feel alot better about the whole thing.