Kids too fat for their cars seats...heftier models on the way. - Page 2

A*O · April 3rd, 2006, 07:02 PM

Agree - if you want to do your kids a real favour teach them to cook (this does not mean showing them how to operate a microwave and follow instructions on a McCains TV Dinner packet). My late MIL wasn't always my favourite person, but she DID teach her son to cook and I bless her for it every day. Nothing fancy, but those things he can cook, he cooks well. Hint: If your kids are picky eaters, help them prepare a meal with sneaky healthy ingredients and make a bit deal of having them make and serve the family dinner. They will love it.

**Tati** · April 3rd, 2006, 07:10 PM

All good points. It's true that the best food tends to cost more than the worst (in terms of nutrition) but there is a middle ground. Maybe lower income families can't afford to serve their kids fresh salmon and organic field greens, but if you can afford junk food, then you can afford pasta, rice, oatmeal, beans, seasonal produce, soup, eggs, etc. All of those things and a lot more are very cheap.

Sojiita · April 3rd, 2006, 08:19 PM

I am finding this food thing out myself...(now that I am heading to the poor house faster than Britney to the nearest bag of cheetos). Rice, beans, canned and frozen veggies, sale meat products(I bought alot fo beef and chicken last week to freeze and it was ALL at least 50% off), lentils, potatoes(nutritous without sourcream smothering) sale fruits, etc. You can make stew, soups, casserole's, etc. and make alot fo food and it IS cheaper than fast food. I made two huge pots of different soups last week and froze many containers full..and it did not cost all that much for the ingredients..all kinds of veggies, some beef(in one ot them) potatoes, onions, canned tomatoes..etc. Also with working moms(or anyone working) slow cooking crockpots can make entire dinners-while you are at work!

problems: it is hard to motivate oneself to do the actual food prep
: kids don't want to eat healthy food. Well too fucking bad..My family went through some hard times and we ate what was put before us or did not eat at all! the problem is that these 'parents' have the mentality of a child themselves! Parents! Take control of your households!!!

*rant over*

Algernon · April 3rd, 2006, 08:38 PM

Okay, I know you guys are all referring to the grossly obese child whose parents are ignorant and cause the problem, but this is still hitting at the core for the exceptions. One of the children I work with is big. She's not obese, but at 3 years old I know she's got to be over 60 pounds.

Mom is a 'hippie' and makes uber-healthy food, she gets plenty of excercise, and her older brother is skinny as a rail. The little girl has NO health problems, she is just a large child. The carseat thing drew my attention, because she will not fit in a carseat made for her age. She sits in a booster, the same type as her 7 year old brother.

I love her to death and it breaks my heart to see her begin to realize that she is 'fat'. I would never refer to her as 'fat'. She's always been so happy go lucky, a ray of sunshine, never caring that her mom can't find clothes to fit her or that her tummy is sticking out of her shirt. Her mom has to buy size 6 and hem the pants. Anyway, the other day she was looking at her hand in an odd way and said "I think I'm getting skinny." I said, "What?" (she'd never shown any sign of thinking about her size). "I think I'm getting skinny like [her brother]. I won't be fat anymore!" Then she smiled and looked at me for reassurance. It really broke my heart.

Just remember that SOME kids are simply made this way, and can't help it that they don't fit in the carseat or the clothing made for their age...and will probably face a lot of self-loathing as they grow up. Just another perspective!

SVZ · April 3rd, 2006, 08:40 PM

paying for healthcare is going to lots of fun come 30 years.

i agree that some people are just big, that's the way there are born, but they are NOT the majority by a long shot.

Delphinium · April 3rd, 2006, 09:32 PM

We should tax all junk food, and also make obese people pay double for health insurance AND require them to maintain a healthy weight to qualify for welfare/medical benefits. and NO disability for obesity related inability to hold a job. It really is all about self control. calories in vs. calories expended.

And yes the parents should be held accountable for over feeding their children.

ralphycnan · April 3rd, 2006, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVZ

paying for healthcare is going to lots of fun come 30 years.

i agree that some people are just big, that's the way there are born, but they are NOT the majority by a long shot.

I totally agree with you. Some people are just bigger than others. When I was a kid I was able to eat whatever I wanted and not gain a pound. My kids are the same way.

A*O · April 4th, 2006, 12:11 AM

Of course there are some kids who are naturally bigger than others, and some kids could eat junk 24/7 and still remain skinny (eg, my son). But the vast majority (pun intended) of overweight kids are that way because they over eat and what they do eat is crap and the people who buy/supply that food are their parents.

Sojiita · April 4th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A*O

kids could eat junk 24/7 and still remain skinny

damn those were the days!!!!!

..oh why does it have to change!

UndercoverGator · April 4th, 2006, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sojiita

damn those were the days!!!!!

..oh why does it have to change!

No shit! I could go for some IHOP right now but I'd just gain a couple of pounds. It's not fair.

I think one of the biggest reasons kids are fatter these days is so many average people don't have a clue what proper nutrition is. They thing a balanced meal is holding a slice of pizza in each hand.

moomies · April 4th, 2006, 03:16 AM

I have a friend like that, she can eat anything and not gain a pound. She's incredibly petite (she can wear her 3 yr old daughter's T-shirt...well it was stretchy material) But I tell ya she ain't healthy, all high calorie and high colesterol food and a horrible cook I might add (she can cook but her food is

). She has this attitude that you only live once so enjoy while you can and she'd rather die of a heart attack than cancer, you all die of something some day anyways sort of thinking.

buttmunch · April 4th, 2006, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by A*O
kids could eat junk 24/7 and still remain skinny

damn those were the days!!!!! ..oh why does it have to change!

Oh, I hear you, sista! Those days are loong gone for me. If I have an ice cream or whatever, I pay for days.

Anyway, one of the reasons we could eat anything we wanted is because we ran around outside half the time. We also had alot of activity at school. School days were shorter, and our free time was not spent in front of the telly but outside climbing trees or whatever. Also, we WALKED places, instead of being carted around in mom's SUV. I'm glad I live in teh city and my kids walk alot and play in the park all the time. We lived in the burbs for a short time and I swear the kids spent more time inside than they ever had in their lives before or since. Why? Because all the other kids were inside, too.

A*O · April 4th, 2006, 07:12 AM

We are extremely lucky to live in a quiet, wide street where it's safe for the older kids to kick a ball around, ride bikes etc. Apart from creating a sense of community, it's really great to see the kids just mucking about in the fresh air - very like my own childhood when all the kids more or less lived out on the street after school or weekends.

I know I bang on about The Good Old Days but when I was at high school (and earlier schools) some kind of sport or phys ed was timetabled into our day. We did SOMETHING every day and it was compulsory. I lived about 3 miles from the school and I cycled there and back every day. If my bike was broken, I had to walk. End of discussion. Mind you, we also attended morning assembly every day with hymns and prayers and shit. To this day I know the words of most hymns off by heart after the number of times we sang them. Happy days.

Sojiita · April 4th, 2006, 02:07 PM

When I was a kid during the summer months I lived at the local pool..and even in the winter we would all have snow battles and build snow forts and stuff. I have not seen kids climbing trees in years. I guess no property owner would allow it of course as they would be too afraid of getting their asses sued off!

DeChayz · April 4th, 2006, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Algernon

I love her to death and it breaks my heart to see her begin to realize that she is 'fat'. I would never refer to her as 'fat'. She's always been so happy go lucky, a ray of sunshine, never caring that her mom can't find clothes to fit her or that her tummy is sticking out of her shirt. Her mom has to buy size 6 and hem the pants. Anyway, the other day she was looking at her hand in an odd way and said "I think I'm getting skinny." I said, "What?" (she'd never shown any sign of thinking about her size). "I think I'm getting skinny like [her brother]. I won't be fat anymore!" Then she smiled and looked at me for reassurance. It really broke my heart.

Aww, Algernon, that whole story saddened me, but those two statements in particular really got me all choky. She sounds like such a sweet girl, and to think of all the torture she's going to have to endure at the hands of cruel people who will make snap judgements is just heartbreaking. Especially since it by all accounts is something that isn't her fault and that she's going to have to struggle with all her life.