Vegan Watches Nieces For The Weekend, Her Brother Explodes Over What She Fed Them

Over the years, researchers have documented many positive impacts veganism brings to the table, including individual and public health, animal welfare, and even the fashion industry.

However, the vegan diet isn’t without its challenges, especially in social life.

In the wake of the pandemic, Reddit user Zealousideal_Lime_66 agreed to babysit her brother’s girls while he and his wife enjoyed a rare weekend together. Everything was going well, but there was one problem: her nieces wouldn’t eat the woman’s food.

So, she fed them frozen pizzas, burgers, and other easily available options—something their father was not happy about when he found out.

Watching over kids whose diet is nothing like yours can be more challenging than it seems

Young girl eating a large burger, illustrating the topic of feeding nieces junk food for multiple days.

Image credits: puhimec / Envato Elements (not the actual photo)

Even when they’re family

Woman feeding nieces junk food, highlighting concern about feeding nieces nothing but junk food for 3 days.

Text excerpt discussing feeding nieces junk food for three days and family favors during an overnight stay.

Text excerpt discussing feeding nieces junk food like frozen pizza and boxed mac and cheese over three days.

Text excerpt discussing feeding nieces junk food over several days and their reaction to healthy meals.

McDonald's restaurant at dusk in winter with snow-covered trees, illustrating junk food feeding scenario for nieces.

Image credits: Olavi Anttila / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt about feeding nieces junk food for three days including fruit smoothies, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and frozen pizza.

Text excerpt discussing feeding nieces only junk food during a visit, related to AITA feeding nieces junk food.

Text excerpt about feeding nieces junk food for 3 days, discussing criticism from a brother and consequences of junk food habits.

Man looking frustrated while talking on phone, possibly discussing feeding nieces junk food for several days.

Image credits: benzoix / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Text message discussing feeding nieces junk food for several days and debating healthier cooking alternatives.

Text excerpt from a discussion about feeding nieces junk food for 3 days and debating childcare responsibility.

Image credits: Zealousideal_Lime_66

Image credits: volodymyr-t / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Many kids are, indeed, eating too much junk

Children and teens in the U.S. do get a majority of their calories from ultra-processed foods like frozen pizza, microwavable meals, chips, and cookies, a study published in 2021 found.

According to the paper, two-thirds—or 67%—of calories consumed by children and adolescents in 2018 came from ultra-processed foods, a jump from 61% in 1999. The research, which analyzed the diets of 33,795 youths ages 2 to 19 across the country, noted the “overall poorer nutrient profile” of the ultra-processed foods.

“This is particularly worrisome for children and adolescents because they are at a critical life stage to form dietary habits that can persist into adulthood,” said Fang Fang Zhang, the study’s senior author and a nutrition and cancer epidemiologist at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and policy. “A diet high in ultra-processed foods may negatively influence children’s dietary quality and contribute to adverse health outcomes in the long term.”

Zhang said a possible reason for the increase may be the convenience of ultra-processed foods—industrial processing, such as changing the physical structure and chemical composition of foods, not only gives them a longer shelf life but also a more appetizing taste.

“Things like sugar, corn syrup, some hemp oil and other ingredients that we usually don’t usually use in our kitchen, that are extracted from foods and synthesized in the laboratory, those are being added in the final product of ultra-processed foods,” Zhang explained. “A purpose of doing this is to make them highly palatable. So kids will like those foods that somehow make it hard to resist.”

So, it’s really cool that the girls’ dad is trying to get them to eat healthy. Not that many do: during the same two-decade period when the study data was collected, the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods decreased to 23.5% from 28.8%. However, if the slip-up was just one weekend long, is it actually worth damaging the relationship you have with your sister?

Image credits: Brooke Cagle / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

But it was just for a few days, and the aunt did babysit the girls for free

After all, she’s a valuable resource. A few decades ago, paying your family for watching your kids may have sounded like a ridiculous idea. But, as the child care landscape grows more expensive and difficult to navigate, more and more parents are turning to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives for care they originally would have sought from a babysitter, nanny, or daycare.

“You have to think about the financial implications of all involved,” said therapist and life coach Abbey Sangmeister. “The amount of hours, what is expected during that caregiving time, acknowledging there is labor involved in caring for children, is the first step to having a successful relationship.”

As Sangmeister explained, lifestyle and community have changed over the years. “Generations ago, it was a village that helped care and raise children,” she said. “We are seeing less of this, and parents are struggling.” Add to that the rising cost of child care and a growing understanding of just how much labor is involved in caring for kids, and you get a completely different picture.

In 2024, the average two-child family spent $332 on an after-school sitter per week for 15 hours of work. Maybe a few pizzas and chicken nuggets aren’t that bad?

Most of the people who read the woman’s story didn’t think she did anything wrong

Reddit discussion about feeding nieces junk food for 3 days and the debate over parenting and meal choices.

Screenshot of Reddit comment discussing feeding nieces junk food for 3 days and parental responsibility in meal planning.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing the impact of feeding nieces junk food over a three-day period.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing feeding nieces junk food and managing kids’ eating habits at relatives’ homes.

Screenshot of an online forum comment discussing feeding nieces junk food for three days without harm or allergies.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing feeding nieces junk food and childcare responsibilities during family visits.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing feeding nieces junk food like nuggets and pizza for three days.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing feeding nieces junk food like mac and cheese and chicken nuggets for several days.

Comment discussing feeding nieces junk food, highlighting unpredictability of kids' food preferences and defending the choice.

But a few said she could’ve been more accommodating

Screenshot of a Reddit discussion about feeding nieces junk food for three days and vegan kid-friendly meal options.

Screenshot of a forum comment debating feeding nieces junk food for three days and the challenges of cooking healthy meals.

Reddit comment criticizing feeding nieces junk food and stressing the importance of healthy diets and food expectations.

Comment discussing feeding nieces junk food for three days and the importance of balancing meals with fruits and vegetables.

Comment discussing feeding nieces junk food for three days, debating unhealthy food habits and caregiving responsibility.

Some even thought that everyone involved could’ve navigated the situation better

Comment discussing the impact of feeding nieces junk food for three days and alternative meal suggestions.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing feeding nieces junk food and suggesting healthier alternatives like sandwiches and carrots.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing feeding nieces junk food for 3 days and the difficulty of making healthier food for kids.

Comment from Reddit user aitajudger discussing the impact of feeding nieces junk food and parenting considerations.

Comment discussing feeding nieces junk food, highlighting concerns about the quality of food given over three days.

Screenshot of an online discussion about feeding nieces junk food for 3 days during babysitting.

Soon after, the woman released an update on the conflict

Young woman in a kitchen holding a mug and phone, reflecting on feeding nieces junk food for several days.

Image credits: Andrej Lišakov / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt from a post explaining how nieces were fed junk food for three days, causing family tension.

Text excerpt about receiving $50 via Venmo for food bought, reflecting on feeding nieces junk food for three days.

Text about relationship dynamics with mention of feeding nieces junk food, highlighting main SEO keyword junk food.

Image credits: Zealousideal_Lime_66

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