On lying to kids

[Jusenkyo no Pikachu]

http://www.slate.com/id/2176564/?GT1=10538

My opinion: it's still lying. That said, however, I won't debunk anything anyone says about Santa, the Easter Bilby or the Tooth Fairy. Unless some kid brings up the Easter Bunny. They shall be corrected.

[Tiff]

o.O;

That whole article seems to be abuot making vegetables more "lively" and presentable so kids are more apt to eat them.

So?

It's a smart thing. In fact, we're taught in early childhood classes that if you happen to have to serve food as part of your job, to make it a presentation, because kids respond better to bright colors, patterns, etc. That's why they like fast food so god damned much. Look at the Happy Meal.

I...don't get how this equates to LOLZ I R LYING TO YOU.

As for theSanta Clause thing...don't even get me started -_- When I was with Derek, he like INSISTED we don't do it with our future kids (pft, like there was a chance for any) becuase it might "Traumatize" them and all kinds of bullshit. When I got with Joe and we talked about kids, that was one of the first things I brought up. Thankfully, he agrees with me. Neither one of us was traumatized upon figuring out Santa wasn't real. Hell, to this day, my mom still puts out presents only on christmas morning that say "santa" on them.

[Passions55]

where did this mentality come from that our kids are made of glass and will shatter some where done the line over small little things, like no tooth fairy or Easter bunny, or jolly old St. Nick not being real?

And any way I don't think that is really an issue any more, since in this day and age I think kids are becoming less innocent and more sophisticated that they know that the one putting the twenty dollar bill under their pillow is daddy fumbling around in the dark trying to get a single bill out of his wallet to put under your pillow, and that your their toys that show up under the tree on Christmas day came from the mall rather than Santa's work shop.

[Tiff]

where did this mentality come from that our kids are made of glass and will shatter some where done the line over small little things, like no tooth fairy or Easter bunny, or jolly old St. Nick not being real?

And any way I don't think that is really an issue any more, since in this day and age I think kids are becoming less innocent and more sophisticated that they know that the one putting the twenty dollar bill under their pillow is daddy fumbling around in the dark trying to get a single bill out of his wallet to put under your pillow, and that your their toys that show up under the tree on Christmas day came from the mall rather than Santa's work shop.

Exactly. Our kids aren't made of glass. And if they are...well, it's time to deflate the bubble around them.

[Starscream]

That whole article seems to be abuot making vegetables more "lively" and presentable so kids are more apt to eat them.

No, it's talking about those recipes that grind the vegetables into a pulp, then mixing them in to sweets and things like fries and mashed potatoes so that kids DON'T know what they're eating; you tell them "here's a brownie!", but don't inform them that there's spinach in it, the idea being that they'd eschew it if told so.

[Tiff]

That whole article seems to be abuot making vegetables more "lively" and presentable so kids are more apt to eat them.

No, it's talking about those recipes that grind the vegetables into a pulp, then mixing them in to sweets and things like fries and mashed potatoes so that kids DON'T know what they're eating; you tell them "here's a brownie!", but don't inform them that there's spinach in it, the idea being that they'd eschew it if told so.

Eh, to me, same thing just different method. Either way, it's going toward the same goal: Tricking kids into eating veggies.

I personally think sticking veggies into a brownie has a huge WTF factor...there are better ways to guide your kid toward veggies, and the thought of a spinach brownie just...XD;

Mixing veggies into mashed potatoes isn't a big deal at all...a lot of people do that ANYWAY.

I've noticed, too, that lately, kids are eating more veggies. At least, the last two years of pre-k kids have shown me that. They ate brocolli, salad, carrots, and more with their lunch, and actually ate it all. With my previous job this year, I had two girls who everyday requested "salad with tomatoes" from the lunch line XD

[Senshi_of_Vision]

Well as a parent myself I think that if you have to go to those measures to get kids to eat veggies to keep them healthy have at it. Parenting is not an easy job nor is there a way to be perfect. Sometimes you have to play by your own rules to get a decent job done. I dont consider telling kids about Santa or the Easter Bunny or any fantasy or faerie tale creatures detrimental or lies. I think its a good folk legend that has been passed down that helps with the holidays. I look forward to when my son can understand about Santa. Its apart of many peoples childhood all over the world and yeah eventually they will find out the truth specially with the smart assed kids that he will probably go to school with. But till then I like the thought of my kid passing out by the window waiting to see if he can capture the tooth fairy or santa just like I did growing up.

[Tiff]

Well as a parent myself I think that if you have to go to those measures to get kids to eat veggies to keep them healthy have at it. Parenting is not an easy job nor is there a way to be perfect. Sometimes you have to play by your own rules to get a decent job done.

*Nods* I have to agree with that. When I was a kid, I was EXTREMELY picky (still am, but not nearly as much XD) when it came to food. I mean, I would eat like...spaghetti, chicken nuggets, ramen, noodles, or baloney sandwiches for dinner. That was it. That's ALL I would eat. My mom didn't even begin to know how to get me to eat better. To this day, she regrets letting me eat shit for dinner, becuase let's face it...I probably could have used the nutrition.

But I mean...on the other hand, I had to eat. So if it was a toss-up between "let's let Tiff eat another baloney sadnwich for the fifth day in a row" or "let's let Tiff starve", they were obviously going to go with the baloney sandwich.

I think it's important not to FORCE your kids to eat someting they truly don't like...so long as the child has TRIED it, and truly doesn't like it. If a child gives cauliflower a chance, and hates it, then don't make him eat it. Even children need to develop tastes with foods. Forcing a kid to "clean every bit their plate", especially when they hav eNO choice of what goes on it, can actually lead to eating disorders of some sort. Choice is important, but remember to be the authority with choice. You don't say, "what do you want for dinner?" You say, "Okay, we have macaroni and cheese and green beans, or grilled cheese with carrot sticks. Which would you like?" That way, he has a choice, but he's also picking from two nutritional choices that YOU picked.

[Senshi_of_Vision]

lol I was the same way very picky on what I liked to eat. And had several food allergies so I was limited to alot of stuff. But ugh I still remember the yelling when I wouldnt eat something. I dont want to put James threw that so I portion out what he likes with stuff he can try. Ive got lucky hes a peas and carrots kid its meats and fruit that hes not a big fan of save apple sauce, so instead for protein when he doesnt want chicken I'll make him pb&J or give him some cashews or nuts. There are plenty of good alternatives to feeding a kid without traumatizing them.

And I agree with Tiff with the choice thing too. Many parents think they do a good job by forcing a kid eat something they think is yucky and they just end up developing a hate towards that food. Even now there are certain foods I wont eat cause it reminds me of them days (scrambled eggs is one of them lol). Kids are funny one minute they hate something then the next you catch them putting it in their mouths. Specially toddlers they crack me up. I just dont like that they call it lying when its just parenting to me if the kid doesnt taste the ground up veggies then no harm done and it saves a trantrum and argument.

[Starscream]

That whole article seems to be abuot making vegetables more "lively" and presentable so kids are more apt to eat them.

No, it's talking about those recipes that grind the vegetables into a pulp, then mixing them in to sweets and things like fries and mashed potatoes so that kids DON'T know what they're eating; you tell them "here's a brownie!", but don't inform them that there's spinach in it, the idea being that they'd eschew it if told so.

Eh, to me, same thing just different method. Either way, it's going toward the same goal: Tricking kids into eating veggies.

I personally think sticking veggies into a brownie has a huge WTF factor...there are better ways to guide your kid toward veggies, and the thought of a spinach brownie just...XD;

Mixing veggies into mashed potatoes isn't a big deal at all...a lot of people do that ANYWAY.

I've noticed, too, that lately, kids are eating more veggies. At least, the last two years of pre-k kids have shown me that. They ate brocolli, salad, carrots, and more with their lunch, and actually ate it all. With my previous job this year, I had two girls who everyday requested "salad with tomatoes" from the lunch line XD

The point is, though, that you're lying to the kids to get them to eat the food. They don't know there are vegetables in it; all they see is something tasty, and it's certainly not the same thing as letting your kid try something in order to eat it. Doing it this "deceitful" way doesn't let the child know that he's having more than a brownie; indeed, all that's going to happen is that the child will start gaining unnecessary weight because the only way you're getting him to eat spinach or broccoli is by pairing it with things that are harmful for him.

[Tiff]

The point is, though, that you're lying to the kids to get them to eat the food. They don't know there are vegetables in it; all they see is something tasty, and it's certainly not the same thing as letting your kid try something in order to eat it. Doing it this "deceitful" way doesn't let the child know that he's having more than a brownie; indeed, all that's going to happen is that the child will start gaining unnecessary weight because the only way you're getting him to eat spinach or broccoli is by pairing it with things that are harmful for him.

..^^;; which is why I said the hiding-veggie-in-a-brownie method wasn't the best way to do it. Hell, it's not even an appealing way. The thought of throwing broccoli in a brownie...x_X;;

But I figured the topic was on lying to kids about eating in general, getting them to eat, etc, becuase it seemed far more broad than "veggies in a brownie", so I just embellished on other thing sregarding the topic.

[Queen Of Hearts]

My mom has tried the "hiding food in other foods trick" with chocolate cake. Those people LIE to you. They say it doesn't taste different but it tasted like vomit. Bleh.

[Tiff]

My mom has tried the "hiding food in other foods trick" with chocolate cake. Those people LIE to you. They say it doesn't taste different but it tasted like vomit. Bleh.

Yeaaah. Again, veggies in chocolate cake/brownies/sweets = NO.

[peachvampiress]

A couple of years ago my mom put zuccini into some chocolate muffins she made. I didn't taste a difference, but there were these small, stringy bright green things in it that I thought were worms (although I ate the whole muffin because, common on, it's chocolate. You don't through chocolate away :D) I asked her and she told me it was zuccini. She said she put it in because I didn't eat enough vegtables. I didn't care because in the end it tasted normal.

The moral is, make sure the vegtables aren't noticible in the food because you're kids will think they're worms >_>

[Senshi_of_Vision]

LOL Peach and I will agree with Starscream about the putting it in sweets thats ridiculos but mixing veggies over certain meats or in potatoes I dont think is bad. I also use games to get James to eat his veggies like Brocolli are trees he can cut down and chomp on. Or the dinosaur game see how many little men (grean beans) he can gobble up before mommy can. There are plenty of ways to get a kid to eat but then again there are very picky kids out there to. Its a rough road trying to get a kid to eat healthy.

Ugh spinach brownies? blech..

[NameGoesHere]

I agree with the article. There's plenty of faulty logic in this plan. Kids get the wrong idea that junk is good for them, and, hey, a little bit of spinach in the brownie is not going to make up for the fact that they are eating a brownie. It's almost like saying that fries and ketchup count as vegetables underneath all that "other stuff."

Why not just keep the really unhealthy stuff out of the house, and let the kids choose from healthier options? Kids like it when you let them choose. In fact, they like it so much that they won't pay nearly as much attention to the fact that donuts are suspiciously absent from the menu. It's a lot better than wrapping a vegetable in cake, or forcing them to eat a plate of broccoli.

[Tiff]

Why not just keep the really unhealthy stuff out of the house, and let the kids choose from healthier options? Kids like it when you let them choose. In fact, they like it so much that they won't pay nearly as much attention to the fact that donuts are suspiciously absent from the menu. It's a lot better than wrapping a vegetable in cake, or forcing them to eat a plate of broccoli.

*Nods* Yep, that's the key right there.

[yoshmaster5]

*nods*

Forcing you to eat food won't help... I remember my parents doing that with me and my sister... needless to say, with bad results. 0_o; Plus, the stuff my parents forced us to eat they got sick of anyway.

And hiding it in other, junk foods just makes me think of marijuana browines. It's teh first thing that pops to mind, and that says something about hiding food in junk, IMO. There's a time for that, and it's called college/high school.

Yeah, remove the horrid stuff, and people wont' care too much. I'm personally elated that my school district has stopped putting Frosted Honey Buns out for dessert, and have healthier things. VERY happy.

[Tiff]

Yeah, remove the horrid stuff, and people wont' care too much. I'm personally elated that my school district has stopped putting Frosted Honey Buns out for dessert, and have healthier things. VERY happy.

You know, I never understood why school districts considered honey buns a "healthy" breakfast. -_-

[Senshi_of_Vision]

Now I dont want to sound like im playing devils advocate but Junk food isnt always the enemy. A parent who is smart enough can still allow their kid to have a brownie or cookie every once in awhile without it becoming the kids only snack. I know that at least in my house their are some kinds of not so healthy snacks for when I get that occassional sweet tooth or want that occassional dorito. But as long as my kid sees that mommy prefers fruit and nuts and only has a cookie every once in awhile I think it can have the same affect as just having only healthy stuff. Cause im sorry even with my diet there are them times specially when your a lady that if ya dont have a piece of chocolate heads are gunna roll