it's really, really bad for her, that's why. We are struggling right now to find a balance between tasty and indulgent and healthy. At 9, it's really the time to get her into good eating habits that she can carry with her through life. I began to struggle in high school, where I only wanted to eat cheese fries and drink soda. I don't want the same for her but it is proving a significant challenge, especially because she is a picky eater. There's a line that, as a parent, I feel I'm faced with. And that's making the better, healthy choice versus making my child happy. Then again, that opens another problem can full of worms. Why should food be what is making her happy? Ugh. Both my parents gradually gained weight throughout my childhood. My mum was very slim until she had my sister when I was 4 and from then she's gained and gained. She has intentions of losing weight but doesn't do very well no matter how much I try to help her. My dad has his own ideas of weight loss, none of which work very well but he's a know-it-all and won't be told otherwise. My parents had a bad relationship so to make me and my sister feel better (then later on, just me), my mum would buy us food. Chocolate, McDonalds, KFC, cakes, fizzy drinks etc. she thought she was doing the right thing. We also had free rein to the cupboards