Food at nursery

It's a really personal thing, I was initally really strict but realised that if she doesn't have it every day, it's OK for her. My nursery gives crackers and ricevakes as snacks and I initially wanted more fruit etc offered but she eats really well at nursery so I became more lenient as she's now happy and settled However if you're outright asking them not to and they aren't listening or ignoring and it's important to you then I would ask to speak to them and get it sorted.

Do you mean things like cake, biscuits etc? If you don’t want them to have them then yes I would escalate if you’re not being listened to. The only thing they might say is that it’s difficult if others are having sweet treats and they don’t want yours to be left out, but even so I’d say it’s your choice as a parent what they eat!

What else is she eating? At my nursery they cook lots of nutritious meals which she loves, like lentils & rice. (She never eats that with me but does with them!) Pastas, stews, soups - & then she gets occasional treats like cakes, sometimes garlic bread with meals. They aren't reliant on this - most days they give bananas or yogurts. It's entirely going to come down to your personal preference as a parent. I give my girl a bit of toast with jam at home. She's also allowed to try whatever I eat. My goal is to raise someone who has a fantastic relationship with food, doesn't exclude food groups and categorise them as 'treats' (to me if we 'other' sugar, kids want it more). So long as what they are offering her is part of a balanced diet, and she is eating one small processed thing in a day, it might positively teach your child that food is fun and social and delicious. This is super personal though. How I raise my child with food will be different to you. You have a right to have your wishes heard!

@Annem love this!

I don’t think you’re being too controlling, it’s about health and setting them up for future habits and tastes. Sugar is very addictive, and why introduce it when you don’t need to? I do think its more tricky in shared environments like nursery though, can you supply a healthier alternative for her to have during those eating times? I’m trying to keep all additional sugars away until 2yrs old as per recent research regarding early exposure to sugar and ultra processed foods and diabetes etc, but even then I can’t stop some people giving LO a bit here and there 🫣 I get why you would be upset because it’s a choice you have made as a parent and its not being respected; I think check whats happening reg communication and then go from there. If you decide to be more lax thats fine too, but it’ll be better to get some clarity on whats happening.

I think mum’s preferences should be respected. You’re not wrong for wanting that because I personally wouldn’t my child having sugars also. However, I have learned to let go as she is now 1, and to be honest what foods do not contain any sugars these days, feel like everything is packed with sugar. Also if your child is having nutritious foods I don’t see why they can’t have a little here and there as long as it isn’t sweets and chocolate and stuff. I let my baby try anything I eat apart from the really sugary stuff off course like the junk food. But I also let go because I didn’t want to limit her trying everything and being picky with foods.

@Hannah The research on ultra processed food is solid & a useful reminder for parents who rely on it too much. That said, the results don't really reflect the impact on kids with balanced diets who have occasional treats, so it’s not necessarily accurate to translate those findings directly to a child's health. There’s also research on picky eating & building a healthy relationship with food, including how making sugar feel forbidden can backfire since toddlers often crave what's off limits. I'm not disagreeing with your approach. I just think research needs to be considered in context since study methods don’t always match real life situations. That’s how tabloids twist ‘research’ into clickbait about what’s going to kill us next. For example, the research on ultra processed food & diabetes focused on kids with heavily processed diets, not those with balanced diets who occasionally have cake. Context matters!