19-month-old Cuba from Cardiff is a fast-food baby.
His mum, Sam said: “He likes McDonald’s, he likes KFC, he likes an Indian.” And his dad, Simon added: “He likes his pizzas, also his chips with plenty of salt.”
But it’s not just the toddler who is a takeaway addict, the whole family is, and whereas some households have a takeaway as a treat on the weekend, this family has them every single night of the week.
Simon’s long working hours mean he spoils Cuba rotten, and in an episode of Real Families, he explained: “It’s hard to say no to him, he’s got a lovely big cute smile on him.”
Cuba, and his two older sisters, also have free reign to plunder the sweetie cupboard.
“If I would have to say a number, [Cuba is in the cupboard] at least 30 times [a day],” Simon confessed. “He helps himself, I’ve got no control over what he eats.”
Whilst the older two children have learned self-control, Cuba hasn’t, and he knocks the fast food back with an unbelievable amount of cola – up to six cans a day.
As a result, Cuba doesn’t sleep well, and his mum is now worried about his health.
It was then revealed the toddler was consuming 3,200 calories a day – 700 more than is healthy for a grown man.
And there was a lot of backlash from viewers, one remarked: “I can’t believe this actually happens… six cans of cola a day???!”
Another added: “Thirty seconds in and I see a baby drinking cola in a sippy cup. God help us.”
A third wrote: “What on earth possessed them to give their BABY cola in the first place??? They’ve got to know that is monumentally stupid.”
Someone else mentioned: “I barely consume 1800 calories a day, how is a toddler consuming 3K+ calories ??? That’s a health risk.”
Luckily, the family was visited by Jane, a local health professional who was determined to educate the parents and change their eating habits.
Jane wanted the family to “start cooking” and ordered Cuba to be on “three meals a day”.
The sweetie cupboard was also removed, but it was hard for one of the older girls to hear, as she burst into tears at the news.
Jane said she “had never come across a family that lived on takeaway food and did no cooking whatsoever”.
But as “motivation”, she allowed the family to have one takeaway a week.
Sam did her best to cook dinners for all the family, and much to her surprise, Cuba enjoyed what was made.
Cuba’s new diet improved his sleep, and most importantly, he was on his way to beating his anaemia.
Simon said: “What we were giving him before with fried chicken and takeaways was way too much for him, we didn’t think it was affecting him. But when you see if for yourself, you have to change that.”
