For those who are health conscious and avoid processed foods

I don’t give my toddler any processed foods or junk. He learned starting 6 months with baby LED Weaning good choices. He chooses veggies and fruits over anything.

My little refused cotton candy from my mom - she only wanted fruit and such. Now that she’s a toddler. We allow some candy / processed but she chooses yogurts and fruits over much of anything else. She eats well so I can’t complain. With baby #2 - I plan to take the same course of action with her

I’m the same way my dad thought it would be funny to give my daughter processed food when I specifically asked him not to it didn’t go over well I’m very mindful about what she eats and want her to eat as clean as possible while she’s young mainly because I’m trying to avoid pickiness and because no one really taught me health/clean eating when I was young and it’s something I wish I would have been taught at a younger age.

Just tell whoever watches your baby what your rules are. Bring whatever food you want baby to eat, and anyone who tries to feed baby anything else despite you telling the rules does not get to be alone with baby. Blame the pediatrician if you’re shy about setting down the law (you can say the dr says it’s really important to avoid sugar and processed foods at this age due to risk of obesity, heart disease, allergies and endocrine disorders - which is true)

I have a two year old who I've tried to keep as healthy as I can and am still breastfeeding, etc. and buy organic, no sweets and low sugar, lots of fruits and veggies etc etc. Over time I've learned that I've had to loosen up a little bit to facilitate my kiddo being part of normal social situations with ease (e.g. lots of parents give kids goldfish & will share with other kids & I've decided in those moments it's more important for her to learn the value of sharing and being connected to others). I also realized that I don't want her to learn rigid food rules if there are too many forbidden foods that she starts to learn about, which can cause issues later. So, she still eats generally well at home but there's a slightly bigger list of exceptions now than there used to be and I think it's more well balanced psychologically that way. But if it's going to be someone seeing my kid regularly (like at least weekly, a nanny etc.) we request they don't give her desserts or junk, etc.

That doesn't really answer the question about family but all our family lives out of state so visits are a special thing and they might give a treat or two while they're in town but generally we're pretty straightforward in just saying 'please give/don't give her too much xyz' the same way as with foods that are choking hazards, etc. while still letting it slide when grandpa gets her ice cream or whatever because again I've realized there's also value in the social connections/memories that those kinds of foods bring. I would try to avoid explaining or justifying yourself too much, just saying it in a polite but direct way the same way you might with rules about safe sleep etc.

@Brittaney same here I want to avoid picky eating and wanna teach my child what’s healthy cause most people don’t know