Do people think this is odd?

angiecadie · Do people think this is odd?

...to request that my daughter isn't fed juice with sweetners at playgroup, is not given food with E numbers and is provided with her own toothpaste instead of the standard stuff they use...

I don't want other mums thinking I'm weird what do you think, is it over the top to request these things?

wildgarlic

Not at all - I asked for exactly the same when J was at nursery.

monkey nuts

I don't think it is over the top at all, more parents should take more responsability for the food/drink their kids have outwith their home. (says she who ddn't have a clue about e numbers and aspartame when her two were little

). Good for you.

IainC

Everyone talks about E numbers, but what about the numbers that aren't "E" numbers (ie non EU approved ones), or tha fact that something may not have any E numbers on the side of the packaging, but still include E numbers as one of the ingredients has E numbers in it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_number

"products may promote themselves as "free of E-numbers" even though some of the ingredients (e.g. bicarbonate of soda) do have such a code."

Julie

You might even find that your fears of being thought odd are groundless. A lot of nurserys and playgroups have policies about these things nowadays. Ask - I'll bet you're not the first to do so

Kelly

nope, they are your kids and you have every right to choose what they consume outside the home.
good luck x

JoH

Nope, also did the same with all four of mine (except toothpaste)

Julie

I'm quite impressed that they make them brush their teeth

That was never an option when mine were young.

Fia

Not in the least odd, although you may find yourself having to explain to some other parents why...

Sometimes i think we need to turn round the "sugar is bad" propoganda, as imho sugar and honey in moderation, combined with good dental hygiene, is far better for the human body than aspartame, saccharine etc. To say nothing of the taste

MJ

watch it though, when i went through my list with the bairn's first 2's group the girl then tried to reassure me that they knew about "all those things" the always had the healthy option, low sugar and all their yogurts were half fat. Fortunately someone overheard and came over and corrected her.
another private nursery after going through the food thing then went on to tell me my daughter wouldn't require suncream, I handed them the factor thirty and sun hat.
My biggest problem was persuading the social work run preschool group that I did not want the child confused with a potty, still cant figure why the brits despite indoor plumbing being the norm for 50+years insist on 3 stage toilet training.

Julie

I agree with you Fia, I've been having this beef with family members for twenty odd years.
Not so much with the sugar issue (only learned about the horrors of Aspartame more recently) but fats. The additives and transfats in so called healthy spreads are not, imo, what the human body was designed to ingest. They are now finding that these transfats are probably responsible for most of the heart disease in the western world. The low fat versions of dairy foods have these emulsifiers packed into them to thicken them, as do most breads, biscuits and cakes. They hide them under other names such as mono and di-glycerides of fatty acids sometimes, immoral imo.
If we just eat food in the state it comes in but in moderation, there is no need to worry about low fat, low sugar. Children ought to be getting enough playtime exercise for it not to be an issue.

Fia

Well said, Julie.

I've said this before here, but think it's worth repeating:

Full fat milk (the fat containing the fat soluble vitamins- where do they go in skimmed milk?) is 93.4% fat free. And folk buy expensive stuff full of additives because they feel good it's 90% fat free

Education, education, education

Give children the facts, be involved and creative with their food, eat at a table and converse. Take walks, enjoy our fabulous surroundings. The schools don't do it, imho it's our job as parents.

PurpleDragon

Our nusery only offers water or semi skimmed milk.
There is also a daily fruit option.

One thing I must point out is that people often make the mistake of buying 'sugar free' drinks thinking they are doing their children's teeth good. Unfortunately, they replace the sugar with aspartame. I will not allow my kids to have that, I would rather they had the sugar - at least I can brush that away afterwards!

I believe you have to stand up for your beliefs. I know Stonehead is often aghast with what his boys are offered in school and 'looked at' funny, but I think h'es used to it now LOL I would rather be looked at funny (and often am!) than compromise on what I offer my children both in and out of the home.

angiecadie

Thanks guys for the confidence boost! I am going to stand up for maggies healthy choices...

Potty training - I went straight to training her on the toilet, I could not be bothered with the potty, you just have to teach them twice - I don't get it personally!

I don't mind her eating the odd bit of crappy food now and again because she eats so healthy but its just because she is at nursery/playgroup every single day and I don't want her consuming nasties on a daily basis - so I'm gonna stick with it and insist she is to get only the best!!!