# Stop feeding your kid!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 3, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157 "2006-08-03T05:42:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![MogTM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@MogTM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MogTM)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/181 "2006-08-04T18:13:32Z")
Back to the childhood concerns of the OP, do y’all think its appropriate for parents to stop their kids from eating as much as they want? I mean, assume the parents prepare healthy food for their kids and don’t allow them to snack on junk. But if the kids want seconds (or thirds, fourths) on their vegetables, what then? What about if they – perhaps more realistically – just want more meat? My inner libertarian has always resented being told what to do, and desired anything “forbidden” so I tend to think that prohibiting them from eating might just exacerbate the problem, not to mention potentially instilling the type of mindset that can lead to anorexia. On the other hand, kids certainly can get fat off of Good For You food consumed in sufficient quantities, so I am torn. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/182 "2006-08-04T18:14:37Z")
> [@The Swan](#): > > Do you honestly think that the obesity problem in this country in a result of a bunch of poor saps who just have no idea? I believe that’s what I’ve been trying to hammer into your head, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/183 "2006-08-04T18:23:09Z")
Wow, this is more complicated than I thought. It is amazing how many reasons there are to be overweight. [ul] [li]Books about nutrition are confusing and misleading.[/li][li]Websites on nutrition are confusing and misleading.[/li][li]I have a disease.[/li][li]The government lies to us about nutrition.[/li][li]I have a slow metabolism.[/li][li]I am poorly educated.[/li][li]I don’t have a car.[/li][li]I don’t have a local grocery store.[/li][li]Healthy food is expensive.[/li][li]Healthy food take too long to prepare.[/li][li]Food labels are misleading.[/li][li]I don’t have a kitchen.[/li][li]My school doesn’t make me exercise.[/li][li]I have a sedentary job.[/li][li]Portion sizes are too large.[/li][/ul] No matter how many times someone says “eat fewer calories than you burn” there is always another reason not to. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/184 "2006-08-04T18:28:54Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > Wow, this is more complicated than I thought. It is amazing how many reasons there are to be overweight. You should have stopped there. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/185 "2006-08-04T18:37:28Z")
> [@kimera](#): > > Davenportavenger, I have been very, very poor so I know what you are saying is bullshit. When I was REALLY poor I lived off potatoes. I learned 2493465 different ways of cooking them so that I wouldn’t get tired of eating them. When I was a step above that, I would steal a cart from the grocery store so that I could shop in bulk. **kimera** , You’re not really denying the link between [poverty\*\* (pdf warning)\*\*](http://www.hungeractionnys.org/ObPovCSAs.pdf) and [obesity](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040105071229.htm) are you? Raising a family in poverty is not really like being young, single and poor. It’s only a part of the problem, but it does contribute. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/186 "2006-08-04T18:46:02Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > No I wasn’t. It makes me actively unhappy to eat vegetables; they taste bad to me and I get no pleasure from them. Ice cream on the other hand makes me feel good, it tastes good, and it gives me pleasure. The prospect of not getting to eat the things I count on is devastating and intensely uncomfortable to my body and spirit. > > I thought for a moment that I was overstating my case to be a devil’s avocado, but I honestly feel this way. OK- here you’re saying that it makes you unhappy to eat healthy foods, and if that’s the way you feel, fine. But in your earlier post- the one I previously quoted- you said that you can’t understand why anyone would waste time eating a salad. Please tell me that you can at least \*recognize \* that eating a salad is more beneficial to ones health, and may be more desirable to some people than eating ice cream, and that those people don’t consider it a waste of time. Surely you can _understand_ why a healthy person might prefer to eat healthy food rather than Cheetos and Twinkies, even if you choose not to. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/187 "2006-08-04T18:46:59Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > If 60% of the public is failing at something that you think is “just that simple”, perhaps what’s simple is you. (Not directed to anyone in particular.) Regardless of how many fat people there are, the recipe for weight loss is \*extremely \* simple: eat less, eat better, and exercise. Works 100% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/188 "2006-08-04T18:54:05Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Regardless of how many fat people there are, the recipe for weight loss is \*extremely \* simple: eat less, eat better, and exercise. Works 100% of the time. Of course. Until you get into the nuts and bolts of what it means to eat better. Then it becomes extraordinarily complicated. Add in emotional factors, poverty factors, and a dozen other factors, and things aren’t so simple anymore. The recipe for overcoming depression is simple as well: Just be happy. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/189 "2006-08-04T19:00:11Z")
> [@McNew](#): > > OK- here you’re saying that it makes you unhappy to eat healthy foods, and if that’s the way you feel, fine. But in your earlier post- the one I previously quoted- you said that you can’t understand why anyone would waste time eating a salad. Please tell me that you can at least \*recognize \* that eating a salad is more beneficial to ones health, and may be more desirable to some people than eating ice cream, and that those people don’t consider it a waste of time. Surely you can _understand_ why a healthy person might prefer to eat healthy food rather than Cheetos and Twinkies, even if you choose not to. A number of people were saying that they can’t get their mind around someone being able to eat a large ice cream, or wanting to eat that much ice cream in a sitting. I was merely stating that my mind can’t get around someone being able to eat a large salad or wanting to eat a large salad. That’s all I meant. > [@tdn](#): > > Unlike most fat people, I’ve tried numerous diets. That’s not always a fair assessment of fat people. Compulsive overeaters report trying every diet out there. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/190 "2006-08-04T19:09:13Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > That’s not always a fair assessment of fat people. Compulsive overeaters report trying every diet out there. I was hoping my sarcasm would have been more obvious. Yes, if there are learned sages about weight loss, it’s fat people. They are the undisputed experts on every diet out there. Which is why when some smarty-pants know-it-all comes along and says “It’s simple, eat less and exercise more”, you just have to say “Wow, you have no fucking clue.” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/191 "2006-08-04T19:19:31Z")
**tdn** , physically, it is that simple, but the physical battle isn’t the only one. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/192 "2006-08-04T19:19:42Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I was hoping my sarcasm would have been more obvious. > > Yes, if there are learned sages about weight loss, it’s fat people. They are the undisputed experts on every diet out there. Which is why when some smarty-pants know-it-all comes along and says “It’s simple, eat less and exercise more”, you just have to say “Wow, you have no fucking clue.” :smack: D’oh!! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/193 "2006-08-04T19:20:16Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Of course. Until you get into the nuts and bolts of what it means to eat better. Then it becomes extraordinarily complicated. Actually, for most people, it’s not complicated. It may not be _easy_ but that doesn’t make it too complicated for people to understand. There are the occasional pitfalls, like “low fat” treats that are actually high calorie, and “health” muffins with twice the calories of a cheese danish, but the vast majority of overweight people would see results if they were more active and ate fewer calories. It really is just that simple, instead of going to coldstone and shovelling a pound of ice cream and candy in your face, go for a walk. It may not be easy for people to make the choice, but don’t pretend they don’t know the choice exists. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/194 "2006-08-04T19:24:59Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I believe that’s what I’ve been trying to hammer into your head, yes. Interesting. So, when the obesity problem recently hit this country, what knowledge did we lose?? What did our ancestors know that we lost when the internet arrived? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/195 "2006-08-04T19:29:10Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > No I wasn’t. It makes me actively unhappy to eat vegetables; they taste bad to me and I get no pleasure from them. Ice cream on the other hand makes me feel good, it tastes good, and it gives me pleasure. The prospect of not getting to eat the things I count on is devastating and intensely uncomfortable to my body and spirit. > > I thought for a moment that I was overstating my case to be a devil’s avocado, but I honestly feel this way. Please please don’t take this the wrong way, as I don’t mean this next bit to be critical at all. Your post stuck out to me because that does not seem like a healthy relationship with food. Eating something should never determine your happiness. Going out with friends and eating at a restaurant- sure, that’s ok to make you happy. Having a particularly good meal might raise your spirits, sure. But if every single time you eat a certain item, your mood changes, well, that isn’t good. The fact that you say not eating something you like is “devastating and intensely uncomfortable to my body and spirit” is a huge sign of a problem. Have you ever considered talking to a dietician or a psychologist about that relationship? Unless, of course, you were just exaggerating to make a point. In which case, I’ll go back to my turnips. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/196 "2006-08-04T19:46:04Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > If so, that just exposes the depths of her ignorance on the subject. > > Half a pound a week is considered sustainable, healthy, REAL weight-loss. > > The things people say about eating and exercise. . .like it’s just “natural” to finish a pint of ice-cream, or a bag of Doritos out of boredom. > > I’m trying to work-up a “brain” analogy to how people treat their bodies. It might be like an athlete saying, “oh, I don’t actually read anything, and I haven’t since grade school. But, I like to huff gasoline, and get DVDs of Jerry Springer and just watch them on an endless loop. And, I’m teaching my kid to behave this way, also. It’s just my genetics that makes reading seem so boring.” My point is-you had a situation that prevented you from losing that weight. Other people may have something that prevents them from doing the same. Ideally, our bodies WOULD burn fuel properly, but sometimes things get fucked up. It would be nice if you didn’t automatically assume that everyone else is just fat and lazy, but when YOU have trouble losing weight, it’s for a LEGIT REASON. **Malacandra** , I’m amazed you remember that throw away remark. BTW, I said I only did that once in a while, if there were a bunch of broken chips left, and I didn’t want to toss them out. (My dad brought me up to feel EXTREMELY guilty about throwing food away.) Fuck off. > [@gigi](#): > > Because it tastes good? Because if one bite is good, two is better? We have to agree to disagree, because I can’t undertand how someone would spend time eating a salad. And salads don’t taste good? Ice cream tastes great, yeah, but it’s also very rich-I would get full way before I could finish the entire pint. (Yuck). Salads ARE tasty. Maybe not as good as Ben and Jerry’s, but I love salads. I always have. Lots of dark leafy greens-I love spinach!-tomatos, some chick peas, mushrooms, onions, a wee bit of cheese and a tasty, zesty dressing. Maybe something crunchy on top, like a few croutons. (Making your own from stale bread is pretty simple). It’s crunchy, spicy, and full of different flavors and textures-what’s not to love? **MogTM** , if they want seconds on the veggies-well, GREAT! Veggies are good! Let them have some more peas, or more carrots. As for it being “easy” to lose weight, well, it may be easy in theory, but in practice, it’s hard to change one’s life style habits. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/197 "2006-08-04T19:49:25Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > don’t pretend they don’t know the choice exists. I never did. Although I should say that some people feel that it’s hopeless and just give up. That’s happened to me a bunch of times. ---
**Author:** ![ShelliBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ShelliBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShelliBean)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/198 "2006-08-04T19:51:32Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Seriously, anyone who can eat an entire large size cold stone helping is doing themselves no good. The small size is more than anyone should want except for as a very rare treat. That was kind of my point: I have it once, maybe twice a year. For the rest of the year I can have a dessert that doesn’t involve getting a backhoe out to load the marshmellows without feeling deprived. I can eat a lot of food. Whether it’s ice cream, tofu or anything in between, I can eat a huge amount of it. That doesnt’ mean that I do. Except for a couple of times a year. And I’m not fooling myself into thinking at every pay day = twice a year. It also does not mean that I have a questionable relationship with food. I think I have a pretty good relationship with food if I can indulge every once in a while without obsessing over the calories and thinking about it non-stop. And that I can make healthy choices without getting out the calorie counting book to check. As far as “eating OK” goes, of course I’d like to say that I eat only whole grains and organically grown vegetables with the exception of a delicately steamed fish. But I’m not a liar so I won’t. When I say “eat OK” I mean don’t eat anything like those kids on Maury or even half of what I see when I eat out - the deep fried, extra cheese, extra meat people. I eat sensibly but also within my budget. That means canned vegetables, hamburgers, fruit, pancakes, and lots of frozen chicken. I know there is a choice between going to coldstone and shovelling ice cream and taking a walk. I choose to shovel the ice cream very occasionally. It’s not going to kill me. And as far as eating healthy being complicated: I’m no rocket scientist and I’m on a very tight budget. If I can do it and have healthy, normal weight, active, thriving kids I would think anyone can. Finally (whew!) I am logging out for the weekend (no home computer, there’s that strict budget) so I am not ignoring your replies or doing the internet equivalent of “la la la I can’t hear you”. \*\*Bippy \*\* - that wasn’t all directed at you, I just kinda got on a roll. A whole wheat one. 😃 \*\*Swan \*\* - I haven’t read the whole thread (guilty as charged) so I may be answering the wrong question. But what did we lose with the advent of the internet that our ancestors had? The desire to get off our asses, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/199 "2006-08-04T19:54:52Z")
> [@The Swan](#): > > Interesting. So, when the obesity problem recently hit this country, what knowledge did we lose?? What did our ancestors know that we lost when the internet arrived? My best guess is the knowledge of how to survive in the world we live in. Our world changed. We failed to change with it. We live in a world of automobiles and computers and fast food and giant muffins. That’s not the world our great grandparents lived in. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157/200 "2006-08-04T20:11:46Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > **kimera** , > You’re not really denying the link between [poverty\*\* (pdf warning)\*\*](http://www.hungeractionnys.org/ObPovCSAs.pdf) and [obesity](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040105071229.htm) are you? Raising a family in poverty is not really like being young, single and poor. It’s only a part of the problem, but it does contribute. Yes, many chronically poor people are fat. But correlation does not prove causation… often there is a third variable that causes both effects. (See [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_hoc_ergo_propter_hoc) link for more info on \*post hoc \* reasoning.) So why are chronically poor people fat? IMO the root cause is laziness. A lazy person is more likely to be poor (vs. a disciplined and motivated person). A lazy person is also more likely to sit around and eat. Ergo, chronically poor people also tend to be fat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeding-your-kid/367157.md?page=11)