I generally try not to keep junk food in the house, because I binge on it when it's here. But I have 4 kids, and I feel like an awful mom because they almost NEVER get to eat pudding or cookies or ice cream... I feel like I am depriving them, and when they get older they'll end up having food issues.

How do you balance allowing your kids to have treats, and NOT binging on everything you buy for them?

Honestly I wouldn't feel bad- they don't need junk food either.

Why not look for better alternatives like those healtheir fruit snacks or something?

How about having special treats be an "out of the house" thing- like at birthday parties, restaurants, special occasions. I agree with you that kids should have treats once in a while! But it's so much easier on you and healthier for them to not keep junk in the house.

i don't think you're depriving them. i agree it should be a special occasion thing. not a thing to keep in your cupboard. my nephew is 4 and i'm pretty sure has never even heard the word "soda" or "coca-cola" and he's doing just fine. if they don't know what they're missing then they're not missing it.
generally for sweets he eats fruity yogurts, fruit leather, apples, pears, pear jam on whole wheat toast with almond butter, and sorbet as a special treat. real live sweets like candy and cupcakes and cake are only at halloween and birthdays, in limited quantities.

You're doing the right thing for them Ya know, they could go either way when they get out of the house...they could rebel and go for the treats they feel they can have now, or they might hold onto the good habits you helped install. Maybe you could have a once a week treat night.

My kids thought I was a monster for only having things like graham crackers around, when I was a retail pastry chef at work

but I think they do 'come around' on their own when they're ready. Our 25 yr old son was overweight by about 30 pounds for about two years, then he got into motorcycling, and also mountain biking in summer. He has completely turned around his eating habits, joined a gym and shed ALOT of weight, well over 20 lbs. and is an interested calorie counter now (he has asked me for advice on that! oh joy )

I don't feel bad AT ALL. Maybe I wouldn't have as many problems if my parents had had better food in the house. We occasionally have ice cream or a treat outside the house. Plus they get treats at school or with grandparents. At home, we keep a lot of fruit around. Sometimes granola bars or fruit leather.

i don't think there's anything wrong with keeping it out of the house. but i also don't think there's anything wrong with having it IN the house. i just found a happy medium. i have a 2y/o, a 4 y/o and a 12 y/o step (all girls) and for the most part they snack on good stuff because it's what's around... string cheese, grapes, boiled eggs, apples, and pretzels are some favorites. but i keep other stuff around too like whole grain goldfish, ritz mini peanut butter sandwiches, sugar free chocolate pudding, etc.

if you want a few ideas i would check out the Eat This, Not That books. there's one for supermarket food and one specifically for kids food. i love them both. there's also one for fast food/restaurant food but that doesn't really apply here (although i have all 3)

hope you find what works for you!

Thanks everyone!

I do keep lots of healthy choices in the house, and we talk about healthy eating a lot. My kids don't drink juice, just water or milk. They can have Sprite on the RARE occasion we have fast food.

I guess my concern stems from my two oldest mainly. We adopted them from foster care almost 5 years ago, and they had been pretty deprived of a lot up until that point. They are happy and healthy now, BUT when they have parties at school, when I not around, they don't seem to be able to understand that they don't need to eat and eat and eat. Last week is a great example: at a Valentine's party in his class, my almost 7 year old ate 2 cupcakes, 6 cookies, and easily 10 or 12 pieces of candy. He came home with no treats left from the party! First, i was shocked that the teacher let him have that much, then I worried that because I don't give the kids that type of stuff very often, he ate as much as he could- not knowing when he would get some again. KWIM?

I've tried bringing treats home from the store for them, and either they get 1 cookie out of the package, because I've binged the rest, or they get none.....

I have used my kids for an excuse for so many years to eat poorly.I have actually learned that my 3 kids prefer fruit,veggies with dip,healthy crackers and cheese to sugary junk.I have actually learned so much from watching them eat.Kids truly eat when they are hungry and stop when satisfied.What a concept?!?!

We don't really keep anything in the house. They are able to purchase their lunch at school on Friday and I have "no restrictions" on their account which means they buy whatever their little hearts desire on that day only. Otherwise, I pack their lunches. Also, on Sunday afternoons they get a frozen yogurt with their dad after classes. They don't really expect anything more than that.

I try not to keep kid junk (or all junk, really) in the house. My 5 yo twins told me all their friends bring some chocolate for lunch. First, I doubt that. I know these moms. Second, I had just found hershey's special dark squares and I allowed them to bring one square. They were happy with that. We soon ran out and they don't really ask for it anymore.

good for you! and good for you kids!!!

I have an 8 year old daughter and allow her to eat cookies and chips, but she also eats fruits and veggies. She can have a couple of cookies after dinner time.