Sausage and Grapes for Tea - Unhealthy?! Post Reply

[minxymoomoo]

Until recently I thought I was feeding my children on the whole relatively healthy meals and what I considered a balanced diet. A recent encounter with other mothers made me feel terrible as they poo pooed sausages for tea as they were unhealthy (a firm favourite in our house) and heaven forbid grapes due to the sugar content (another firm favourite in our house).

Help is it me feeling picked upon or am I really giving my children an unhealthy option?

[shopper]

IMO, sausages completely fine as part of a balanced diet. So wouldn't feed them every night but i definitely wouldn't worry about them eating them. I go for butchers / supermarket chipolatas (organic ideally). As for grapes - they are a fruit!!! Totally over stressed view not to eat them! My older kids have eaten both sausages and grapes for years (along with salmon, white fish, veg, fruit etc etc) and are fit and healthy on it

[stayathomemuminsw11]

I agree with shopper, sausages are not for everyday, but perfectly fine as part of a balanced diet! I use 'The Good Little Sausage Company' ones for my daughter, and she loves them.

Grapes are also fine-I don't know why anyone would think otherwise?!

Children's diet is SUCH a minefield, and there is a lot of conflicting advice, but basically my view is as long as they're getting a balance, getting their 5 a day (or more), eating 'proper' meals and not getting too many 'treat' foods, and getting plenty of exercise and opportunities to run/scoot/climb etc it's all good!

[tamara]

Wow!

If thats unhealthy I'm waiting for social services to come and take mine away.

Grapes are brilliant and I love the way they allow children to "snack" on fruit. Don't get me wrong, not saying they should be eaten all the time but I'd rather they got into the habit of going to the fruit bowl for food than opening the fridge.

As for sausages, unhealthy? WFT?

Mine once turned up their noses at those french things with entrails and guts in them (annuu something) but apart from that sauasages are fine. Like previous poster I buy "good" ones but thats like saying burgers are bad, its missing the point.

T

[dandelion53]

It depends how often they eat them. For me, they are my 'lazy' offerings... I know the kids will eat them but I know I shouldn't serve them too often. Sausages are really high in salt and fat, even organic ones, and they are processed meat. Grapes are one of the fruits will the highest (natural) sugar content so I try to offer them with another fruit too and not let my children say that they only like grapes and no other fruit.
I wouldn't think twice about serving them at a playdate though - I just think what most children will eat with no hastle...
As long as its not every day and all that!

[sezwedz]

Have you tried Tofu sausages, they might be a healthier option?? We are vegetarian and this is also my lazy meal as I know the kids love them, but they are also served with vege and salad. My husband even gives them the thumbs up and he hates most vegetarian food.

[ding]

I agree with most people.................the key is, everything in moderation.

I think it's important to let children try out different foods, whether they be deemed healthy or not. I let my children try everything as i want them to be broad minded when it comes to food. I do however try to educate them from an early age about what they are eating. For me balancing the good and the bad is what really matters.

Surely it's the same with an adults diet........................

[supergirl]

In my view a balance diet means children AND adults should be able to eat everything. It is the variety that is important and the combination. Maybe not offering sausages and chips the same day
Sausages are fine in my opinion but not for every meals. My kids love sausage rolls, but they also love brocolis, they love fries snd they love steamed fish... As someone said it is all about learning to indulge in moderation. Yesterday they got nutella in the afternoon and after 2 toasts (small) they asked for more. I said no, they asked why and i said chocolate taste better when we can learn to eat a little bit often rather than a lot once. We also have some food that i will never cook at home, it is only for when we have lunch out: sausage rolls, fries, burgers, etc. so they know when we are out we can have whatever we want! And no juices at meal times inly water.
My advice go with your instincts and forget other paranoid mums. If your children eat grapes you should congratulate them!

[juliantenniscoach]

We follow the 'French diet' - everything in moderation..............