Would you let your kids eat things you haven't purchased yet in a grocery store? This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I have gone shopping with my 4 kids and NEVER have I let them eat something they have not purchased first. In my opinion it's stealing especially when the food being consumed is produce that is paid for by weight. What are we telling our kids when we do this? That it's ok to steal? If you know you're going to the store do you pack a snack for your kids? I mean do you go into a restraunt eat and then leave without paying? NO I bet not. So why would you give your kid food you haven't paid for at the store?

I do, but never if it's something sold by weight. I will frequently pick out a six-pack of the little boxes of raisins and cranberries and let him eat one while we shop. I always have enough cash that I could pay for it even if my credit card was denied, and I always pay for the package. The cashiers and baggers have never seemed to mind, and that snack allows me to have more time in the store which brings them more money. I don't feel bad about it at all. It's certainly not stealing. My son does ask for bananas in the store occasionally, but he's not allowed to have those until after they're paid for. I don't have the luxury of waiting until after we've eaten to shop, nor am I able to pack a snack all of the time. I honestly don't see the problem with this.

I always have snacks in my bag for the kids if they're grocery shopping with me, but I still worry that it'll look like the snacks were picked up while we were shopping. So I usually give them a snack right before we leave the house (and, if it's a marathon errand-running day, they snack in the car). If there's something they really, really want and we're still in the store, they're allowed to hold it themselves until it's paid for and in the car (then I'll let them open it).