Inspired by "sleepover" thread..

[Calliaz]

I have two that are either "no" or extremely restricted.

First is soda. My son is six and it's sort of a "don't offer" thing. I don't think he's ever been told he can't have it, but he hasn't really asked. I think it's because I always said it was for adults when he was little. He gets juice a few times a week and the occasional "fruit punch." The fake juice fruit punch stuff is just as bad as soda.

The other is artificial sweetner. It's just crap and I'd rather him just have sugar in moderation. I will tell him no and offer an alternative. I've knowingly given him something twice and my mother once. I won't be heartbroken if he has some at a friend's house or something, but I would rather he didn't. It is not something I'd tell another mom about or worry about.

If I limit something, I do my best to explain why. That way he can make his own choices when the time comes.

 

[Becky2005]

the only thing that is 'forbidden' is gum. But they are still young and haven't figured out how to just chew and not swallow. Once they figure that part out, I'll relent.

My gum rule is you have to be 5 before you can have it. The funniest thing is my 8 year old does NOT like gum. My youngest has *just* been allowed to have it since he only turned 5 in October. He doesn't have it often but I think I'm a broken record the few times he has had it "REMEMBER, you only CHEW gum you DO NOT swallow it. Spit it out in the garbage when you are done with it." He's been good with it but I'm still nervous on it since it's fairly new thing.

My DD on the other hand, I think she considered it torture to not be allowed to have gum when she had her braces on (poor thing...she's going to have to get Phase II on soon, so no gum for her...she won't be happy).

We don't really forbid anything, we restrict some stuff. The only thing I really try to avoid as much as possible is things like Nutrasweet, artificial sweetners. If we can get real sugar, we'll take it. We've never had any problems with it if it's snuck past us but my mom & brother have gotten severe headaches from Nutrasweet. Therefore, I don't want to take the chance so try to avoid it if we can just in case.

 

[shelly3girls]

Everything in moderation except I do not permit them to have artificial sweetner. I do not like them having soda but do not mind it once in a while. We have junk food in the house but the kids don't really ask for it as long as it is out of sight.

Apples are not permitted in the house b/c DD is severely allergic.

 

[TwinsinCA]

There are things I would prefer they not eat, but there isn't much that is forbidden. The only thing I do not allow are jawbreakers. They have other kinds of hard candy and at age 8 should be far beyond that choking stage. But when I was a kid my friend's older sister choked on one and let's just say that left an impression. I know it is irrational, but I still won't let them have them.

(My friend's sister was ok.)

 

[teacups]

I have some things that I dont want them to have often... but nothing that I'd pitch a fit over. For instance, sugar cereal is more of a dessert thing around our house. Rarely is it considered a meal. BUT... once when I was sick I poured them each a big ol' bowl of Fruity Pebbles and I didnt seek therapy afterwards. Everyone survived. My kids dont act different when they eat different things, but that lack of sleep part of sleepovers really gets them. Gets me too.

 

[teacups]

I don't allow soda but if my nine year old decided she wanted to try it at a friends or party that would be fine. It's just something I believe should be treat, not a staple in my child's diet.
Fortunately all she ever wants to drink is water or milk, so I've never really had to deny it or give permission.
I tend to view parties/holidays as a free for all...my family generally eats healthy so special occasions are a time to indulge.

Not to start a big ugly thing, but its possible that the stuff in the milk is worse than the stuff in the soda. Antibiotics, growth hormones, who knows what else. I hope she drinks organic.

 

[bumbershoot]

We're vegetarian, so meat is off DS's menu.

And he can't have HFCS, corn syrup, or corn syrup solids, or he becomes an absolute monster (violent tantrums with hitting, biting, trying to smash the face of the person helping him through, kicking... running around in circles without the ability to hear or react to people talking... and more). He doesn't *want* those things, and is very careful (impressively so), because he can't stand the way he feels when under the influence.

Sugar, however, normal sugar, does NOT have the same reaction (take THAT, HFCS ad people), and we try to let him self-regulate with that and all the other foods that are fine.

I was raised with natural foods at home, with homemade desserts. At my dad's, it was fake food and it was always special, so my dad would let us gorge. When I became an adult I went crazy for too long with the fake foods, and am finally making my way towards natural foods again.

Hubby was put on a diet when he was 3 years old. His sense of hunger was messed with from the beginning, with his mom having his older brother give him a huge bottle of water in the morning, when he woke up *hungry*. He was "husky" and his mom decided he was "fat", and his food intake was modified every which way, and he's finally now coming to terms with that mentally, emotionally, and physically.


So other than meat and cruddy ingredients, we're trying to be good influences for self-regulating with healthy foods.

 

[barkley]

I limit some things like sodas and candy, but they aren't prohibited from having anything. When they are spending the night with friends, they can have whatever the parents let them. I kind of follow the everything in moderation rule. I guess it worked out fine because my kids were always active and never had weight or health problems.

When kids spend the night at our house, I expect either the kid or parent to tell us if they can't have something. If not, we let them have whatever we are having. Usually the kids tell us if they aren't allowed to have something.

One friend couldn't have caffeine because his parents thought it might trigger migraines. So we always had plenty of caffeine-free drinks on hand when he spent the night.

that's interesting-ds started getting occasional sodas BECAUSE he gets migranes. since most migrane meds are loaded with caffene i asked his pediatric neurologist if i should try giving him some when he starts feeling one come on to keep from having to give him his migrane meds as often. doctor said to try it-sure enough it works. we keep some of those small airline size cans on hand just for this purpose.

 

[PatsGirl]

Nothing is forbidden because it then because the "forbidden fruit" and you know what happened with that

I never allowed my son to drink coffee. By the time he was driving at 16 though, Dunkin Donuts was the rage with teenagers and he has since become addicted (like me).

I also frown on gum although both chew it occasionally. It just seems that kids have a tough time chewing gum and exhibiting good manners at the same time -- lots of bubble blowing, snapping, chomping, yucky noises (and again, like me, so I avoid it as well).

 

[Axel]

The only thing that was ever forbidden was alcoholic beverages. Other than that, I pretty much allowed everything in moderation. Milk was served with meals but if DD wanted soda when we ate at McDonald's, that was just fine with me. Candy in moderation was OK. When she was little, she drank regular soda with sugar mostly just because she likes it the best. But because I drink diet soda, she developed a taste for it since that was what was around the house.

She tends to eat a lot of fruit and veggies. Not much meat. Loves pasta. All in all she has a fairly healthy diet. I don't worry about additives, artificial sweeteners, etc.

 

[mjkacmom]

Everything in moderation. I prefer my younger kids to stick with decaffinated beverages, especially at night, and my ds10 is never allowed more than 2 sodas at a party - because he WILL throw up if he drinks too much (he was a reflux baby).

 

[bellebud]

No orange soda - my ds7 is a MONSTER after drinking orange soda.

Other than that, I stay away from any artifical sweetners for all of us - I'd rather the real sugar. I buy what I can organic, but I'm not fanatical about it. And when we're out and about, whatever is available is what we eat. I also try to avoid HFCS, but it's in SO many things, so again, I do what I can when I can, but don't worry about it otherwise.

Both kids (and dh) have a genetic potassium condition (they have too much potassium), so we limit bananas, spinach, pineapple, and other foods that affect them, but we haven't banned these foods either (of course banana has always been my kids favorite food - sigh...)

 

[NMAmy]

Rutabega. I hate it and she'll never have it in my house. I guess if she gets it somewhere else, I can deal with it but she needs to brush her teeth before coming in the house.

Just kidding. I never forbid anything, offered healthy choices and special treats occasionally. I guess it worked--she's 18 and very thin but a fairly healthy eater. Her stepmother has a strange fascination with boxed foods like Hamburger Helper and already prepared foods but I'm hoping dd will choose not to eat it when she's not at her dad's house.

 

[SydneyBristow]

Not that I can think of, my kids don't like soda.

 

[lulugirl]

Not to start a big ugly thing, but its possible that the stuff in the milk is worse than the stuff in the soda. Antibiotics, growth hormones, who knows what else. I hope she drinks organic.

Yes, we all do.