Getting kids to eat a healthy, balanced diet can be challenging. Families are busy, and there are some days when it is more convenient to grab food on the fly so we can pack everything we need to do into those 24 short hours. But sometimes, the easy way isn't always the best and can harm our kids' health.
Kids and parents need balanced diets that feature a variety of foods such as protein, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Having sweet treats and fast food occasionally is fine, but too much of a good thing is never a good idea. Ultimately, the parent is responsible for making good food choices for their kids, right? Not in some families, apparently.
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For some parents, the children are entirely in control of what they eat.
Yes, children can be picky eaters, and so can adults, for that matter. This can make life exhausting for parents whose kids seemingly don't want to eat anything they offer them. And when they finally find something their child will willingly eat, they make those foods a staple in the kid's diet to save their sanity.
Trust us, we get it. Three families from Cardiff in the United Kingdom agreed to be filmed for a Real Families documentary highlighting their young children's eating habits. One little boy, Cuba, seemingly survives on only fast food because his parents can't get him to eat anything else.
The family eats takeout a lot.
Cuba's parents, Sam and Simon, explained that Simon works long hours and the family often eats fast food because it is a convenient alternative. The couple's three children, Cuba and sisters Cleo and Shea, are used to fried foods with a lot of salt and fat.
"He likes McDonald's, he likes KFC, he likes an Indian," Sam explained in the film. "He likes his pizzas, also his chips with plenty of salt."
The girls seemingly know when to slow down, but Cuba doesn't appear to have the same self-control as his sisters.
Cuba helps himself to the pantry throughout the day.
Sam and Simon have not put many restrictions on their young son and said he would go back and forth for more food all day. "He helps himself. I've got no control over what he eats," Simon said.
In addition to eating junk, Cuba also reportedly drinks as many as six cans of soda each day. The documentary claims Cuba consumes more than 3,700 calories daily.
Cuba's diet could be dangerous.
The little guy is surviving on sugar and fat, affecting his physical health. He has trouble sleeping at night, and when his parents try to offer him healthier alternatives, he often rejects them.
"I'm totally conscious of it now," Sam admitted. "I just think maybe I need to just be reining him back in and start from scratch with him."
Realizing things were getting out of control, the family decided to make changes and went to only serving takeaway food once a week.
"What we were giving him before with fried chicken and takeaways was way too much for him; we didn't think it was affecting him. But when you see it for yourself, you have to change that," Simon said.
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The documentary made a lot of people upset.
Lots of comments condemned the parents for allowing their children to consume such unhealthy things.
"6 cans of a drug, which caffeine is? Oh goodness I'm almost crying for that child," one person wrote.
Many agreed. "The mother of the little boy Cuba saying she feels 'a little bit guilty about his diet' he's 19 months and drinks 6 cans of coke a day. U shouldn't feel a little bit guilty, you should be ashamed of yourself!!!!!" one person wrote.
The parents' mindset was mind-boggling to some people.
"I don't understand how this is even allowed. It's devastating to see. These poor children and babies aren't being provided with the nutrition and education on food they need," someone commented.
"Parents are in total denial. They are responsible for what their
children eat. They are too freaking lazy to prepare healthy meals, so they turn to take away," another comment reads. "When you train your children too eat healthy, they don't wind up with rotten baby teeth, or become obese. Parents just don't want to admit their at fault, they remain in 'DENIAL '. I feel for their children."
Someone else pointed out that everything in moderation is OK.
"I think it's absolutely fine for children to have some unhealthy food but chips, pizza, kebabs, coke every day for toddlers, is bloody crazy," the person wrote.
