weight watchers for toddlers

[natasha]

Anyone know whether it's okay to give toddlers weight watchers stuff?
MY dd had been addicted to their fruit bars and fruit salads for about 3 months. She won't have any other fruit salad except weight watchers ones, she will only eat weight watchers ham etc! I know this is wierd and it's completely my fault as she always comes over and starts to eat mine so I let her have it. That's how she got into them.

I have tried to give her normal fruit salads but she won't touch them. DH thinks she likes all the weight watchers stuff because it has low sugar/fat/artificial stuff.

I'm wondering though, is this okay? She has a pretty healthy diet, eats vegies,meat,dairy. It's just like 5 weight watchers things, but i feel so odd getting her a sandwich with WW ham, and then a WW fruit salad for afters. My MIL thinks i'm trying to put my DD on a diet!!:rolleyes: (which im not)

Anyone know if doing this is ok????

[the_queen]

Just check the ingredients list (if I posted a photo of myself, it would be self-explanatory why I have never looked at any kind of Weight Watchers foods :laughing: ) I don't think artificial sweeteners are good for littlies. And fresh foods are always better than processed. But I can't see how fruit salad ( I'm assuming it's the one that comes in the little tub?) could be bad for her, unless it does have artificial sweeteners in it. It's just fruit and syrup, right? That would be fine IMO.

[SassyMummy]

I think it'd be okay - you can't really make fruits low fat...lol. It's probably better for her because the fruit is in fruit juice - not in syrup.

As for ham and stuff, I imagine it'd just be a leaner cut of ham...which obviously is healthier for ANYONE to eat compared to regular fatty ham.

When it comes to low fat dairy products and cakes and such though, I'm sure full-fat is a better option, and babies need full-fat until about 5 (or so I've read).

[Rhoxie]

Definately no artificial sweetners for kids -- it's a big no no
the most likely culprit is phenylalanine (sp?) it's usually present in diet yoghurts and deserts. Check the side of the fruit salad container if it doesn't say 'in natural juice' or the ingredients list an artifical sweetner stop giving it to her. At her age the 'in natural juice' ones are best... next comes the 'in a syrup' aka sugar ones (if it's only an occasional treat)... Artificial sweetners are not good for children -- actually they aren't even advised on a long term basis for adults. Scientists are still running tests for long term side effects.

Re the ham - If it's just stuff that is reduced fat shouldn't be a problem so long as it's not an every day part of her diet. (Growing children need a certain % of fat for growth and energy)

Another thing to watch for is 621 -aka MSG which is a flavour enhancer often added to diet products (esp rice crackers and puff rice thins)

along with anyother artifical colours, flavours and preservatives. (some Diet products have a lot more of these than standard products so double check the ham packet for artificial flavours and preservatives.

[Chickadee]

If you want to switch her off the WW and she refuses, here's a trick you could try. I owe credit for this one to my DH actually.

Some kids just don't like anything different than what they're used to. And it may not be due to the taste. DD recognised different packaging from an early age. We buy the Gouldon Valley fruit cups, which she likes. Distinctive label and cup. One day she had one, and wanted another, but we'd run out. DH tried to give her a bowl of the same fruit salad out of a larger Gouldon Valley container that we had in the fridge. She'd have none of it and threw a tantrum. So he took the small empty fruit cup, filled it with the same stuff from the container (right in front of her) and she happily ate it. :laughing:

So for the fruit salad at least, you might try washing out an old container and disguising new fruit salad by dishing it out of that.

[reAllytee]

Martha thats a great idea :yelclap:
That might be a good one to use in other ways considering i have a little Boof who has worked out different packaging also !