What Is In Your Pantry?

[Amy]

I wanted to put this in the beginner section, because I feel that if you truly want to succeed, it has to be a lifestyle change not just for yourself, but for your family. (If you disagree, let me know)
I do not want my kids to grow up with the eating habits I had. :sad:

What kinds of things do your kids have for snacks? Do they eat what you are eating? List as many things as possible. I think this would be great for those that are new to making healthy alternative choices.

[donnajo]

I wanted to put this in the beginner section, because I feel that if you truly want to succed, it has to be a lifestyle change not just for yourself, but for your family. (If you disagree, let me know)
I do not want my kids to grow up with the eating habits I had. :sad:

What kinds of things do your kids have for snacks? Do they eat what you are eating? List as many things as possible. I think this would be great for those that are new to making healthy alternative choices.

I am big on this. My husband is a chef and I believe in eating healthy so we both want her to try different things and be healthy. I have so many friends who give the kids the typical kid fare. I am proud to say my daughter does not like chicken fingers, french fries and all that junk. Why? Because she always ate healthy from day one and knew no different. She eats yogurt, fruit, raisins, natural PB, cottage cheese, eggs, veggies, She loves it all. The hardest thing is she is not a big meat eater so I try to get protein in other ways. She has protein shakes with me PWO. :lol: Now being a chef's daughter she eats sushi, edamame, and loves crab legs. She will try things because we always encouraged that and if she truly does not like it we do not force it.

As for treats like candy. Special occasions and once in awhile she can have a happy meal cheeseburger , but she prefers apples to french fries. :love:

Her favorite is popcorn. The child could live on it.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made with natural Peanut butter and fruit only jelly. No addes sugars.


No soda ever. I can't stress this enough. She drinks milk, 100% juice and water.

[Inatic]

Maybe i shouldnt answer this.........

think it matters a lot too if you have food issues or not. I tend not too.

With 5 i've had everything in my pantry at one time or another. :oops: Cookies, popcorn, pretzels, candy, sugar cereals, crackers. There are healthy varieties as well. You name it, it's there. I
I dont want my kids to grow up with my issues but i also dont want them overthinking it either. They see me weigh and measure everything, i often have to throw out 'to make sure im not undereating/this lifestyle you need xx of xx. to grow much and be healthy.

We have everything but they are taught to make choices and limit portions. Food is for fueling the body and we dont need treats though they are nice to have.

Editting to add: while they are young and not exposed to other kids/school etc, it's much easier to control what they eat or want.

[Amy]

Maybe i shouldnt answer this.........

think it matters a lot too if you have food issues or not. I tend not too.

With 5 i've had everything in my pantry at one time or another. :oops: Cookies, popcorn, pretzels, candy, sugar cereals, crackers. There are healthy varieties as well. You name it, it's there. I
I dont want my kids to grow up with my issues but i also dont want them overthinking it either. They see me weigh and measure everything, i often have to throw out 'to make sure im not undereating/this lifestyle you need xx of xx. to grow much and be healthy.

We have everything but they are taught to make choices and limit portions. Food is for fueling the body and we dont need treats though they are nice to have.

Editting to add: while they are young and not exposed to other kids/school etc, it's much easier to control what they eat or want.

Thanks Ileen for this post. I agree that it is about choices and how to control those portions. I know with my kids because we offer some of the treats and snacks, they know when enough is enough.
We don't have tons of twinkies or Little Debbies in the pantry, but we do have fruit snacks (yes they have sugar :p ) animal crackers, etc.

[donnajo]

Thanks Ileen for this post. I agree that it is about choices and how to control those portions. I know with my kids because we offer some of the treats and snacks, they know when enough is enough.
We don't have tons of twinkies or Little Debbies in the pantry, but we do have fruit snacks (yes they have sugar :p ) animal crackers, etc.

I agree to. The majority of stuff she eats 90% is healthy and then 10% of her diet is treats. She is actually having an ice cream cone right now. :lol: It is definitely knowing portions and moderation.

[Amy]

OKay so back to this list (you know to help other newbies :wink: )

yogurt
string cheese
raisins
fruit
no sugar added fruit cups
cottage cheese
veggies
animal crackers
pretzels
goldfish (some may argue, but IMO this is much better than what some kids take to school)
whole wheat tortillas
baked chips
nuts
natural peanut butter



ADD MORE :thumb:

[donnajo]

Goldfish are a staple of kids life. You can not take them away. Plus I like them too. :oops:

[Ali]

Oh my. We have:

popcorn
granola bars
pop tarts
protein bars
rice krispie treats (but not usually)
Cereal - Cheerios, raisin bran, oatmeal (including Dinosaur oatmeal)
raisins
Crainsins
saltines (to have with sliced cheese)
string cheese
almonds
applesauce
peanut butter
apples
carrot sticks (with ranch)
oranges
yogurt
frozen Gogurt
ice cream
bread for toast
bananas
protein pudding and regular
Jell-O
protein powder (that I blend with ice/milk/fruit for a shake)
Cottage cheese
Lite canned fruit (usually eaten with cottage cheese)

They can have the stuff in bold any time during the day.

My kids are not that big of snackers, but if they ask they can have something healthy. They usually have a snack before bed...that habit got started a long time ago, but since Ron and I do it, too, it continues. They are not allowed to have the sugar stuff during the day...only at the night time snack...which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, I guess, but it limits the sugar consumption. They are also not allowed juice or pop.

[Inatic]

Confused?

how would the list make it easier for newbies. You can chose to eat or not eat anything, whether it is at home or out. . Just because there are snacks for kids in there, what does that say or not say?

again noting the age of your children, most are young. Mine are much older.

It still comes down to self control. The food as Erik says, will always be there.

[Ali]

Goldfish are a staple of kids life. You can not take them away. Plus I like them too. :oops:

Uh.... :sad:

[Ali]

Confused?

how would the list make it easier for newbies. You can chose to eat or not eat anything, whether it is at home or out. . Just because there are snacks for kids in there, what does that say or not say?

again noting the age of your children, most are young. Mine are much older.

It still comes down to self control. The food as Erik says, will always be there.

I think creating good habits is important. I think you definitely acquire a taste for junk. :yucky:

My kids hate pop...why? Probably b/c I never let them taste it until they were older and they were like :blink: when they had it. :funny:

And yes...age makes a difference. For my 4 year old...it's not time for him to make his own choices. I don't know when it will change for me, but it's not time for my 10 year old, either. :lol:

[Ali]

But I am not hyper about it, either. My kids get plenty of junk!! I just don't buy it for them to have on a daily basis, kwim?

[donnajo]

Uh.... :sad:

You have to have some things. Like I said 90% -10%. It is all about balance and moderation.

[Amy]

You have to have some things. Like I said 90% -10%. It is all about balance and moderation.

My 10% will NEVER be goldfish :sad:


:p

[donnajo]

My 10% will NEVER be goldfish :sad:


:p

What is wrong with goldfish?

[Amy]

What is wrong with goldfish?

Too clean :lol3:


No in all seriousness if that is your 10% off plan than that is great. For me, I tend to have something sweet or something I could not have even PWO. I could technically have goldfish PWO, so I would have something else.

Nothing wrong with liking the goldfish :thumb:

[Ali]

I like Goldfish. You just said they were a staple of kids lives. :shrug:

I think some parents actually think they are healthy. That is :sad:

[donnajo]

Too clean :lol3:


No in all seriousness if that is your 10% off plan than that is great. For me, I tend to have something sweet or something I could not have even PWO. I could technically have goldfish PWO, so I would have something else.

Nothing wrong with liking the goldfish :thumb:

I did not mean me. I meant Lauren has them occasionally. I like to steal a few. :hehe:

[Sandy]

I think it is important to teach my kids that some foods are okay to eat all the time and some foods are "sometimes foods". I hope to teach them how to eat healthy while enjoying those favourite "sometimes foods" in moderation without guilt.

We snack on homemade muffins made with whole wheat whole and decreased sugar and fat, fruit, cheese and whole grain crackers, plain yogourt mixed with fruit, honey, flax oil, flax seed, and cinnamon, whole grain breads with cream cheese, PB, or hummus, baked nachos with salsa.

The kids are allowed treats from a stash of "sometimes foods" a few times a week. They are allowed to pick one "sometimes food" to purchase on their birthdays (one year my son picked white raison bread instead of the usually kamut raison bread!). We baked many of our "sometimes foods" because I like to know that my "sometimes foods" are totally going to be worth it!