I agree with all of the above replies... the packing the lunch/snacks yourself and even giving a list of foods your kids are/are not permitted to eat.

I feel really strongly about this. See, my mum always had a weight problem, and she wanted us kids to be healthy. She raised us healthy... to an extent. When I was about 2 years old my dad's mum and sisters (my nan and aunties) would feed us massive amounts of junk food... because we 'were kids' and should 'enjoy our childhood' etc. Over a few years they convinced my mum that she was depriving us of all the good things in life.

So, over time, this reignited my mum's bing eating disorder, and as a consequence, my sister and I also have this eating disorder. I am now 27 years old and morbidly obese and struggling to lose weight, gain control over my eating habits and struggling like hell to try and have a baby. IVF is our only chance now.

Really push your point on this. A healthy lifestyle is best learned from a young age. It gets too hard as you get older. Trust your insticnts and judgements,and don't be afraid to voice your wishes.

having had a similar problem with my children's persistant (seamingly ignorant to my wishes of not feeding them piles of junk food) great grand mother and a well meaning but assuming grandmother (decided that my 6 year old could have coffee on one occasion and that they both, inc my 2yo could have soft drink!!). i can only recomend that you make a point of telling her what they can have each visit as well as making a point of what they cannot have. (perhaps write a list aswell) packing a box is a good idea too, i have done this and it has helped a bit but they still add to it. unfortunatly (because they simply think it is ok) it is a problem that needs ongoing attention. my grandmother still sent down 2 big packs of M&M's for my kids for my mum to drop off when she came down.

just keep reminding them and if they don't listen, don't let it slide, pull them up on it. rules with food are the same as anything else, if they are not followed and enforced by all your childs carers, your child will become confused and that can lead to bigger problems in the long run.

hope this helps, ::)'s from becca.

No you're not being a sook, they're your kids, your rules. If you want healthy eating then you should get healthy eating. Try talking to her, if that doesn't work, write a list of what you want the kids to eat and give it to her, if that doesn't work pack their meals for the day the night before and put them in the fridge. Good luck

Definitely let her know that you have the kids on a healthy balanced diet and that the type of food she is giving them is 'sometimes' food that you would prefer is left out of their daily diet.  There shouldn't be an issue since you are their mother and she should support your parenting style and be just as interested in the health of her grandchildren as you are.

Giving them this junk even a couple of times merely sets a pattern of bad choices up and they will be whining for more all the time and behaving badly either as a reaction to the food itself, or in response to not getting it from you.  Feeding junk food to kids on a regular basis really is a mild form of abuse, it is bad for them, sends them the wrong message and it could lead to eating disorders and/or obesity in the future.  It is natural for Grandmother's to slip kids the odd sneaky treat, however she is going over the top right now.

If it is really bothering you then I guess you should say something to her, maybe start sending them over with a snackbox with fruit or something in it?  She might get the hint.  Obviously overfeeding them with junk is not good for them, but is it a really obsence amount do you know exactly how ,much they get??  I would try and find out exactly how much she is giving before saying anything, as kids can over exagerate(sp?) things She could just be doing the grandma thing and just giving lollies, biscuits etc... 

I guess you've got to weigh up how much you like your time out  if you do say something she could get offended and not take the kids anymore.  On the other hand if it an obscene amount, and it is really bothering you then maybe you should.

Wish you the best with it.