Food shapes

I think it's completely crazy to buy into this stuff. Food is fuel and I am working hard to teach my son just that.Sometimes he refuses to eat anything. When he's in that mood, a food shaped like a star, monster or dinosaur makes no difference.
Anonymous

My almost three year old loves star shaped salad sandwiches. It is amusing to watch her tuck into them after rejecting the same sandwich cut into squares
Rebecca - NSW

Too much focus is put on MAKING kids eat. It's very rare to see a child starve themselves to death. If they're hungry they will eat eventually. Stop giving them so many choices. They're better off eating a few bites of something nutritious than stuffing themselves with sugary, salty or fatty foods to compensate. You are what you eat.
sarah - VIC

I don't buy any of this stuff - it's not real food, and I really hate the amount of packaging that goes into some of it - those animal-shaped cheeses for example. Kids will eat when they're hungry and when always presented with good food.
Liz - NSW

Shapes, eh? We don't really buy these sorts of processed foods, but any ideas on how to make broccoli look like a car would be most welcome!
Kaye - NSW

I have never purchased these types of foods and never will. To me this type of packaging indicates to me either high fat, high sugar and high salt levels, aswell as being more expensive. They are not necessary it is more of a marketing gimmick.
Anonymous

I've tried cutting things like sandwiches or french toast into shapes to get my kids to eat. They got excited at first, and have taken a couple of bites. But it ends there if they're not hungry -- the novelty wears off very quickly. At the end of the day they'll eat when their hungry, and not because the food is in cute shapes. Even if it's pre-packaged stuff. Why are we trying to get them to eat when they're not hungry anyway? Isn't that teaching them bad eating habits?
Anonymous

I think that kids today are given too many choices, and with too much processed stuff. What ever happened to frest fruit and veg. Seriously, why offer your kid a nutella or jam sandwich when they wont eat their tomato & cheese sandwich? Arent you just teaching them that the crap is okay all the time. Most packaged food made into shapes is highly processed, so is okay occasionally but not all the time. I dont see why we should teach our kids that eating this crap is okay all the time...will hey want their food in shapes when they are adults????
Anonymous

Hooray!!!!What wonderfully wise people choice subscribers are! As a diabetes educator, I was so thrilled to read the comments above and can assure you all that you are providing your children with the best opportunity of avoiding Type 2 diabetes later in life by teaching them about good nutrition from the start. A big gold shaped star for all of you!!!
Natalie - VIC

hey eating is meant to be a joy and fun, and if you give your kids dinosaur shaped chicken thingies once in a while big deal!! As long as there is no bad added nasties and you read the labels i think its ok. especially if you give them with lots of healthy veggies. The food marketers have copped on to the fact that kids can be fussy and thats the truth!
fin - NSW

As parents, it is up to us to ensure our children are eating balanced, nutritious meals/snacks. There is nothing wrong with the occasional 'treat' of this and other novelty foods as long as it is stressed to the child that these aren't really good for you, but are ok sometimes. My almost 3 year old understands this and does not beg for 'treat' foods all the time. (I am by no means a strictly no-junk-food parent )
Sue - WA