Bad Habits

I also buy "treats" in for grandchildren. At the moment I have Naked bars, small cartons of fruit juice, 2 pomegranates and yes, I have also bought chocolate covered peanuts and raisins.

I also bought a huge variety of fruits including melon, kiwi, mango, pineapple, cherries as well as various berries. We will make fruit "kebabs" tomorrow and probably have fruit salad for pudding on Sunday.

Even though I struggle to buy "genuine junk" it does mean they will probably eat more sugars than usual - and so will I.

I have crisps here too. I have roasted a tray of mixed nuts and also made a sort-of "trail mix".

These are all "extras". We probably all like to provide something different that's edible.
Maybe there is a half-way house though OP!

P.S. I did make a Normandy tart last week though!

There are lots of things wrong with my diet like most people's but if the "treats" are definitely now and again it's not going to mess up anyone for life.

I can’t help wondering exactly who the child is is the OP. It certainly doesn’t sound like it’s the GD, who seems very grown up.

“A finger of fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat!” 🎵 🎶 😊 and why not - now and again eh?

I have a treat tin for my granddaughter when she comes to stay. It has a couple of mini bars, or bags, a small bag of crisps, some orange juice.
She also eats lots of fruit, vegetables, 'good' food and drinks mainly water.
Her tin is there for the duration of her visit, so if she eats and drinks everything in the first 5 minutes, that's fine, but there is no more!
She has learned to eke it out 😅

Everything in moderation.

My DGC have lemonade with sugar at our house simply because I won't buy anything with that disgusting aspartame. They don't drink much of it anyway, DGD asked for water last time she stayed. She also ate so much dinner there was no room for sugary sweets or foods although we had bought chocolate which we ate later.

She never stops moving, so is still really thin.

If I am told when we visit GC no treats I don't take them. I have a treat tin in ours if they visit I ask before I offer a treat. I don't want to cross their parents wishes.

Arnt GPs suppose to spoil thier GCs. If your GD is as you say she is then she wont be gobbling down lots of sweet treats anyway but its nice to have a few on hand.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202308/medium-66704-img-1941.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202308/medium-98787-img-1942.jpeg

I think most of us know where you’re coming from in terms of wanting to indulge your GC. But if the GD is good at eating sensibly, perhaps the treats could be healthier ones? Both DH and I have some heart problems, so I often use recipes from the BHF website. These strawberries are very nice, and perhaps your GD would enjoy making dips?
Perhaps the ‘treats’ could be more, say, craft related? Have fun!

I am really lucky as I don’t like sweet things so never buy them. Neither of my adult children aged 42 and 45 have any fillings. However I do sometimes give the DGC ice cream.

Sidelined you are funny your posts have got more diluted as the thread has gone down 😂
it started we added chocolate biscuits, full sugar lemonade, ice cream, giant marshmallows
Now it’s A few items and small sizes, in case she asks
Wouldn’t really been worth posting if it’s only a few little bits 😂
Never mind I hope you have a great visit with her and she stays slim and willowy and healthy

A few treats doesn't hurt, but maybe if she doesn't ask for any don't offer. I never had sweets or shop cakes in my house, it was different then though , advertising is everywhere now, there's so much choice and fast foods everywhere, it's constant,

I give my youngest grandchild ‘treats’ too because her parents don’t. Within reason, of course. Her parents don’t mind because they know it is only temporary and not that much that it would make her ill. Grandparent’s prerogative. My other grandchildren are older and if you offer chocolates they will take just one, never more. Well trained! Unless the little ones live with you permanently or see you all the time, where’s the harm?

Enjoy having your granddaughter to visit. I'm sure you will all have a lovely time.
She sounds like a sensible child and you sound like caring grandparents.
I doubt either of you will stuff your faces on sugary treats/unhealthy work of the devil rubbish (delete as appropriate.)
I'm having my grandsons to visit later this week and I have bought a packet of ginger nuts and some ice cream. They will at some point, visit our local sweet shop then spend the rest of their stay running themselves and me ragged.
Can't wait.

As a child in the 50's and early 60's my maternal Nan used to come over every Friday for tea. She always bought sweets and chocolate.

I was overweight, and at age 13 decided to do something about it as I was fed up with being called names at school. I asked Nan to bring fruit instead of sweets. She didn't like it as to her bringing sweets was her spoiling us. As she said in her Black Country accent...."our Jan, yow day have enough fat on yow to grace (grease) a pon (pan) . It wasn't just sweets tbf, I did eat too much of everything then.

She did as she was asked though, I lost weight, and the name calling stopped. No harm though in the odd treat though. I like to treat my DGD's occasionally, but always ask parents first.

Interesting how the word ‘ treat’ is generally equated with ‘spoiling’. So we are acknowledging that sugary things are spoiling our GC’s teeth or health.
But to be fair, how many adults see cake as a bit of a treat? Coffee and cake, birthday cake, taking cakes into the office….it would be rude not to……. It is ingrained in our culture.

Assuming this isn’t a wind up, honestly the best thing you can do is bin all that sugary junk.
If as seems likely, your granddaughter won’t eat it, what will happen? You and your husband will end up finishing it off, and you have already spelled out your potential diabetes risk.
I do understand the desire to ensure your granddaughter enjoys her stay with you but there are far better ways to do that than with awful sugary food.

I think we should all get away from automatically thinking of food when we want to treat a child. She is with you for a week, so nice days out will be treats enough, and yes of course an ice cream out is perfectly fine.
In addition you could take her to a good restaurant for a treat where they have a selection of healthy options for you all.

A shopping trip has been suggested and that’s a great idea.
Twelve year old girls are usually very clothes conscious and I’m sure she would love to be able to choose some new ones.

I haven't had marshmallows for years, I shall buy some later

Theexwife

I haven't had marshmallows for years, I shall buy some later

Tunnock's chocolate teacakes, Theexwife, three times as bad for you!

As long as it's a rare indulgence and you're not pre-diabetic.

Even better, I think Tunnocks have 6 in a box so it won't be a rare indulgence as I shall have to have one a day for 6 days.

😁 Enjoy

Make sure you eat up your sprouts and broccoli too.

Tunnock's chocolate teacakes - mmm. I buy them in B&M, but they only ever last 3 days because DH likes them as well.

It’s hard not to spoil grandchildren but my daughter is very strict about granddaughters diet. She only drinks water and rarely eats sweets, chocolates or bought biscuits. I look after her 2 days a weeks and everything she eats I make from scratch, she loves things like turkey bolognaise, chick pea curry, homemade pizzas or fish tacos. Her pudding is always fruit or Greek yogurt.
She is allowed one treat a day but this is raisins, malt loaf, homemade sugar free biscuit or homemade fruit lolly.
I buy her an ice cream sometimes when we are out but has been told once summer over no more ice creams.
She is very happy with what she has but I worry when at school she will rebel and eat lots of rubbish. But at least she has had a good start and it also stops me buying and eating unhealthy stuff as I am pre diabetic.

Staceyann

I think most of us know where you’re coming from in terms of wanting to indulge your GC. But if the GD is good at eating sensibly, perhaps the treats could be healthier ones? Both DH and I have some heart problems, so I often use recipes from the BHF website. These strawberries are very nice, and perhaps your GD would enjoy making dips?
Perhaps the ‘treats’ could be more, say, craft related? Have fun!

I am going to make these with GD next week, looks delicious.
Thank you good idea.

I'm with kittylester who I think started the For heaven's sake trail.
I hate the word treats applied to food, and sweet treats is even worse. Also hate the words healthy options.

Few foods are 'unhealthy' in moderate quantities. Most foods are unhealthy if eaten to excess. I think I feel more sorry for the visiting grandchildren we're hearing about existing on a diet of water and broccoli than the ones enjoying a Mars bar or two.