If you have a picky or reluctant eater in your home, you know the struggle is real. Sometimes, just seeing your child eat, no matter what it is, can feel like a victory. You’re doing your best, so it’s bad to go on TikTok and see people shaming parents who feed their kids processed or gourmet foods. An example? Nutrition “influencer” Bobby Parrish comes to moms for shopping for all things Veggie Straws.
According to Parrish, parents who feed their children this popular snack are being “deceived.” In one video, he pulls a bag of veggie straws off a grocery store shelf and shows the camera the ingredient list (as if parents are too dense to read food labels or understand how ingredient lists work). His take: Veggie straws offer very little in the way of organic vegetables and, in his opinion, are fried in “inflammatory” oils.
Do not worry; the story does not end there. Andy Miller, a mother and nutritionist who debunks many of TikTok’s health claims, has joined the conversation. “These are not vegetables, and we’re aware of that,” she begins in a video response stitched to Parrish. Miller then shares her thoughts on all the moms out there just trying to keep their kids fed.
To begin, Miller explains why kids are so drawn to those veggie straws, saying, “This cucumber is cold, slippery, and has an inconsistent texture. Different types of cucumbers taste different. And that’s all characteristics that children do not like.”
“In opposite, [Veggie Straws] they are predictable”, she explains. “These are known. They have the same flavor, taste, color and texture every time, and your child knows what they are getting. Children like routine and predictability.”
The big kick, according to Miller? Vegetable straws provide food. “Even though these are essentially a bunch of starches and oils that are non-inflammatory, carbohydrates and fats are macronutrients, and calories still support growth.”
On dropping the mic, Miller adds, “Sometimes just getting the kid to eat something is a success. So leave us alone.”
It is safe to assume that most of us do not believe that Veggie Straws have any significant amount of vegetables in their composition. But Veggie Straws serve multiple purposes for parents, many of which other moms pointed out in the comments section of Miller’s video.
“The best thing about the veggie straw is that it has the word veggie on it, which has made my kid less afraid to try real veggies on occasion😂,” Gigi Dub shared.
“My kid eats these because he likes them, and I left them so they’re at least better than other chips,” Cave.lady said.
“Vegetables are the only thing that kept my now 10-year-old alive from age 1 1/2 to 2 1/2,” shared Kezunehop.
“As a mom of an allergic child, finding safe foods is the difference between getting enough calories or not!” Jobinjohnson commented.
Other parents noted that their children’s pediatricians accepted calorie intake with picky eaters, and they noted how nice it was to not be ashamed of it.
“I cried to our pediatrician in BC, my daughter would only eat chicken nuggets,” said Shelby Cobra Darling. “He said, ‘Sounds like a good high-protein diet.’ It helped a lot.”
Father Hugh Hastings added, “Our pediatrician always told my wife and I, if you get your baby one good meal a day, you’re good. Let them eat what they want and try to expand the variety a little at a time.”
“I told the pediatrician what my son eats and her response was, ‘Well, it’s a good amount of protein and dairy. Try to find a multivitamin he likes to help with the rest” 🙏” said Not So Crafty.
While there’s no denying that almost anything found outside of the produce aisle isn’t going to be as healthy, the fresh stuff isn’t always an option for many families. First, Parrish lists the alternatives he considers healthier — but most are significantly more expensive and potentially cost-prohibitive for parents trying to stay on budget with the rising cost of groceries.
Plus, processed foods offer something that fresh foods sometimes can’t: consistency. The delicious taste, texture and consistent shape appeal to children.
So your kid wants to eat grilled cheese with that plastic wrap twice a day, every day. It’s better than starving. Just dino nuggets and goldfish, please? Again, it’s better than starving. You are feeding your baby and that is the most important thing.
#Dietitian #mom #TikTok #claps #shame #veggie #straws
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