Comments on: Is it OK to lie to your kids about food?

By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:54:34 +0000

No, let them choose their own food. It works great, they will eat McDonalds everyday and continue to be healthy like every American. Wait… Maybe we should try to get them to eat more vegetables

By: Nic Fulton

Nic Fulton — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:07:30 +0000

In my house “special chicken” = fish, “special sausage” = all meat that isn’t sausage… (my kids like sausage and chicken). So long as you are consistent in the naming who says it’s lying?

“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;”
- Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.

Bit harder to call spinach “chocolate”…

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:54:40 +0000

In my opinion, the very question is absurd but a fitting punishment for narcissistic baby boomers who were spoiled rotten and are now reaping the rewards via their own spoiled children.

When our kids were small, my wife and I didn’t have enough extra money to waste food. We found that children will generally eat what they are served unless you make a big deal about it. Everyone likes or dislikes different things, so there is no need to force a child to eat spinach if they don’t like it, etc…But you can always find a suitable, nutritious replacement.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:40:29 +0000

I have part-time stepchildren. I think it may depend on the child’s age and what is said, how it is said. If it’s the only way to get them to eat healthy food then ok. I can’t get my stepchildren to eat fruit or vegetables. I don’t think lying will get them too though. They seem to have a lot of control. (too much in my opinion because quite often it leads to more work for me as if I need more)

By: Matt Blank

Matt Blank — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:21:20 +0000

Instead of tricking your children into eating healthy food, you should work with your children to educate them about having a healthy lifestyle. Teaching your kids about how eating healthy food will benefit them in the future and in the present ensures that they learn the right way to feed their bodies. Disguising healthy food with unhealthy food teaches kids it is OK to eat poorly and they never learn about proper nutrition.

By: Kristy Johnson

Kristy Johnson — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:00:52 +0000

I think lying to your children about what they are eating is counterproductive to teaching them good eating habits. Children should be given choices from groups of healthy foods, showing what a balanced meal consists of while giving them the opportunity to have some control over what they eat. If we choose to lie to them we are pretending that a meal doen’t need to consist of healthy components. As adults they will choose foods based on what has become their eating habits, only the foods they choose will no longer contain hidden nutritious ingredients. Lying merely sets children up to make poor choices as adults and perpetuates poor nutrition.

By: Abe

Abe — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:55:19 +0000

I think it’s never OK to lie to children, even about Santa Claus. (Well, come to think of it, perhaps it serves to teach them the important lesson to disrespect authority.) And I seldom lie to grown-ups either!

By: Andreus

Andreus — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:53:23 +0000

I think the best way is less “lazy” way. Which is to Educate them, and not Lie at all. Lying is for spies and businesses, not kids.

By: Cathi

Cathi — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:39:21 +0000

By the way…we love both the afore mentioned books! Purple rules!!!

By: Cathi

Cathi — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:38:03 +0000

I take great pride in preparing and educating my children on nutritious food. At 9 and 5 years old it is takes time and patience. I work a full time job and we sit down to dinner every night with a home cooked meal. Often times they are involved with the preparations as well. I don’t understand the “why” you would have to lie to your children about eating healthy foods. My children are concerned about what they put in their bodies and so am I!