A 29-STONE mum has told how she gives her eight-month-old triplets McDonald's junk food.

Leanne Salt, 24, said she is "too busy" to properly feed daughters Deanna and Daisy and son Finlee.

So she lets them eat her takeaway and gives them Wotsits snacks and microwave meals.

A 68-strong team of medics delivered Leanne's triplets last year, costing the NHS £200,000.

She now dresses them just one day a week when she goes out to collect her dole money.

Junk ... the triplets' daily die

The tots eat 1,249 calories a day instead of the 765 recommended for their 17lb weight.

Leanne, who swelled to 40 STONE before the birth last August, eats an average of 3,000 a day — 1,000 more than is recommended for a woman.

She said: "My babies were six months old when they had their first McDonald's. They like fish and chips too. I chew the food first so they can eat it because they haven't got any teeth yet. I give them packets of Wotsits as a snack at 2pm.

"Sometimes I'll cook them a microwave lasagne. Babies are always hungry — sometimes it's easier to give them food that's already prepared.

Taste

"They're on the baby food jars and love the fish pie and cottage pie meals. But I see no harm in letting them have a few bits of my takeaways too.

"They like the taste of them and it's a treat. I let the triplets eat fries off my plate as I think it's best they try all kinds of food to see what they like."

'Healthy' ... Leanne Salt with her triplets

She added: "Anyway they don't always have junk food — sometimes I cook a microwave meal. My babies are healthy." Leanne, of Coventry, blames her obesity on thyroid trouble.

She got pregnant by her boyfriend of only four weeks in January last year. They split halfway through her pregnancy, and Leanne now lives with her brother and mum Jane, 46.

Their tiny house is strewn with laundry piles and toys.

Leanne receives £140 a week tax credit, £42 a week child benefit and £45 family allowance. She spends the £227 on food and ten cigarettes a day.

Her takeaways confession comes as figures show a shocking one in five children are raised on little but junk food.

The Infant and Toddler Forum poll also discovered that 65 per cent of mums NEVER cook meals from scratch.

Leanne said she also feeds her kids milk, scrambled eggs on toast and instant mashed potato with spaghetti hoops.

She told Closer magazine: "I feed my babies vegetables every Sunday, and a lot of the baby food has fruit in it."

Leanne steers away from healthy foods in case it makes her tots anorexic. She said: "I don't want them to think they have to watch what they eat. I'll tell them big is beautiful."

Mum Jane said: "I buy salad, but nobody eats it. They'd rather have sugary foods."

The Sun's Doctor Carol Cooper warned of the dangers of feeding kids junk food.

She said: "A balanced diet is important as it gives children the best possible start in life.

"A poor diet in the short term can cause bowel problems such as constipation.

"In the long run it may mean bone disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and maybe kidney failure."

Busy ... Leanne admits feeding junk food from McDonald's to her triplets

Closer magazine

Someone seriously needs to educate her in how to feed her babies correctly (and herself). Hopefully this article will draw attention to that fact. Sadly though, I think people will come down on her like a ton of bricks, making her depressed or angry, rather than solving the problem (but hopefully in the end it will). I find often that the media love to sensationalise, like to get people worked up. They could have taken a more constructive sympathetic slant (such as "Is our country letting our children down? Uneducated mothers are not aware of serious health risks of feeding their babies unhealthy food").

I dont know about her thryoid condition either, but I have Hashimoto thyroiditis and I take hormone pills everyday. When I first developed it (about 2 year ago) my weight did shoot up dramatically for a period of time (and dropped down dramatically at one point too), until finally leveling out. I eat healthy, with the occasional junk thrown in, and exercise. Although it may be that she really does have a consistent thyroid problem which makes it difficult to lose weight, I would think a person should be more careful with what they eat, rather than eating so much unhealthy food. But, my (limited) understanding of thyroid problems is that after working out the dosage of hormone replacement pills, your thyroid levels will be normal and will not affect weight (too much). If she is not getting correct treatment for her thryoid, then her health is at serious risk.

But, anyway..geez..I hope those kids will be ok...

Did the 'boyfriend' do her it for a bet or did she have a bag of flour laying around and not knowing how to cook the bf showed her a use for it ?

She should have the kids taken away from her, before she can do any permament damage to them. Being a relatively new parent, i cannot for the life of me understand how someone could wish to harm their own children and that is exactly what she is doing. If she was a Dog owner, the RSPCA would take the dog away on the grounds of cruelty.

And as for being "too busy". What the fekk is she doing all day. Watching Oprah and Emmerdale Farm, that's what she's doing. She's just an idle scrounger who should have her dole money cut. These type make my bleeding blood boil.

She should have the kids taken away from her, before she can do any permament damage to them. Being a relatively new parent, i cannot for the life of me understand how someone could wish to harm their own children and that is exactly what she is doing. If she was a Dog owner, the RSPCA would take the dog away on the grounds of cruelty.

And as for being "too busy". What the fekk is she doing all day. Watching Oprah and Emmerdale Farm, that's what she's doing. She's just an idle scrounger who should have her dole money cut. These type make my bleeding blood boil.

100% in agreement with you, I'm a father to four and even in hard times their diet is at the top of the priority list. That woman is abusing her children, herself and the system, it's a bl00dy disgrace.

'Scuse me for having nothing constructive to write but I needed a little vent!

JxP

but the question still stands, who would shag it in the first place so she can make children

but the question still stands, who would shag it in the first place so she can make children

I have it on good authority, that even a Sperm Bank turned her down

Being a relatively new parent, i cannot for the life of me understand how someone could wish to harm their own children and that is exactly what she is doing.

Im in the same boat as you bojangles (my boy is 5 months now), and completely agree. My baby's health is my highest priority and can't possibly imagine how she can contemplate feeding her baby junk food.

There should be entrance exams to breed.

This story is deeply sad. Something needs to be done. She is killing her children and herself. She needs education on what to do because she obviously knows nothing about health nutrition or fitness.

This story is deeply sad. Something needs to be done. She is killing her children and herself. She needs education on what to do because she obviously knows nothing about health nutrition or fitness.

..and THAT is why i love you tigs! xx

This story is deeply sad. Something needs to be done. She is killing her children and herself. She needs education on what to do because she obviously knows nothing about health nutrition or fitness.

..and THAT is why i love you tigs! xx

oh eek.

In this day and age of promoting healthy diets and living I just don't understand people like this woman. In the daily mail today she weighs 30 stone so has put on a stone!! And she's only 24.

I hope the Social Services do something to help her children - I think she herself is beyond help. Unless they scare her into doing something.

£200,000 for the birth with 68 medics (who probably could have been helping other mothers to be) is just unbelievable.

Gee, i'm glad i got the skinny gene!!

she was interviewed yesterday .........

Gaunty: Is it true you feed your kids McDonald’s and Wotsits?

Leanne: No, it’s not. I’m not saying not at all, but it’s not about what I feed my kids. It should be about me — about the substantial amount of weight that I’ve lost — then I read in the headlines about my kids.

Gaunty: Are you 29st then or were you heavier than that?

Leanne: I was 40st before I gave birth to my children. I’m 29st now so I’ve probably lost 11st, round about.

Gaunty: Well congratulations. How did you manage that?

Leanne: One, I was having three children. Looking after three children and getting them into a routine and stuff like that.

Gaunty: You’re 24 years old. Is it just these three kids you’ve got?

Shock ... Sun story

Leanne: It is, yes.

Gaunty: Three beautiful triplets. Now you had these, you don’t mind me saying, you’re not married at the moment?

Leanne: No, no, no, no.

Gaunty: How did these children come about?

Leanne: Um, I was out one night at a nightclub in Coventry and I met somebody and we were OK for five months and, being a large woman, I thought that I couldn’t get pregnant.

Gaunty: Sure. You probably enjoyed the attention, being a larger woman.

Leanne: Yeah. Being a large woman, sometimes the larger you are, it affects your fertility so when I got pregnant, I thought, ‘Oh my God’.

I was really shocked and everything. I found out I was having triplets and I thought, ‘Oh my God, how am I going to cope?’

Gaunty: What happened to the bloke who got you pregnant? Did he sod off, did he?

Leanne: He doesn’t really have anything to do with us.

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Gaunty: Is his name on the birth certificate?

Leanne: No, no, no.

Gaunty: Is this person helping?

Leanne: No.

Gaunty: What do you think about that then? Because I think he’s a piece of scum. If he gets you pregnant, he should support you, love.

Leanne: Yes, oh definitely.

Gaunty: I was shocked when I read this story this morning. Why do you feed your kids McDonald’s? That’s not good for them, is it?

Leanne: I don’t, like, take them to McDonald’s and buy them a McDonald’s. I buy myself a McDonald’s and they’ll probably have, what, a chip or something.

Gaunty: It says here that you give them McDonald’s and what you do is you chew it up in your mouth first then pass it over to them so they can digest it.

Leanne: Er, sometimes. They do eat fruit and vegetables but if they’re hungry, I’m going to feed them.

Gaunty: Surely you should feed them a more balanced diet? That won’t be good for them at their age, will it? And you give them Wotsits as well.

Leanne: I know what you’re saying but sometimes it’s easier.

Gaunty: I understand it’s easier. It must be difficult for you all on your own when this feckless father has gone away. But can you also understand why a lot of people might say you are neglecting your kids, that this is almost child abuse?

'I don't give it to them all the time, my children are

happy' ... Leanne Salt talks to Gaunty

A lot of people in Britain will be outraged. Do you feel that you’re doing the best you possibly can for these children?

Leanne: Well, yeah, because my children are healthy weights for their age. They get a balanced diet.

Gaunty: Leanne, listen. I’ve said I’ll be fair to you but I’ve also got to be frank with you — that is not a balanced diet.

You cannot feed your kids crisps at eight months old, you shouldn’t be mashing up McDonald’s and burgers to give them.

You need to get your act together. I’m thinking these kids are in danger. Social services should be intervening.

You’re wrong and you need to get your act together and start getting decent food down them. If you’re not careful they’re going to end up fat.

I’m fat myself but let’s face it, you know you need to lose weight.

You don’t want to give your kids a lifetime of that, and also the problems of diabetes.

Leanne: I don’t have diabetes and I don’t have problems.

The fact is yes, I’m doing something about my weight, and it’s got nothing to do with my kids. I’m losing this weight and it’s got f*** all to do with my kids.

Gaunty: I know you’re getting passionate but try not to swear. The bottom line is, I’ve got an emailer here who says you’re Waynetta Slob. That’s Mark. Is he being fair?

Leanne: He’s being unfair.

Gaunty: Tell me why.

Leanne: Basically because they’re saying because I’m fat, as you want to put it...

Gaunty: You are fat, Leanne.

Controversy ... Leanne Salt

Leanne: Well, yeah, but my children have never been the same.

Gaunty: Leanne, sweetheart, they are going to be the same if you keep feeding them this crap. Of course they are. You’ve got to take some responsibility, haven’t you?

Leanne: Yes, I have, but what you’re trying to say is, what people are trying to say is, I give my children McDonald’s and fast food every single day. I don’t.

Gaunty: No doubt you love your kids to bits but do you not understand you could be damaging them with this kind of lifestyle?

Leanne: Well, obviously, yeah. I know they shouldn’t be having McDonald’s and this, that and the other but they don’t have it all the time.

Gaunty: Who do you blame for the situation you’re in?

Leanne: I don’t blame anybody.

Gaunty: Do you blame yourself?

Leanne: Well, no. Because as a mother of three, they’re my first children, so in my eyes I’m trying to bring up my children in the best way I know. If I wasn’t succeeding, my children wouldn’t be happy. My children are happy.

Gaunty: Stop giving them junk food. Try to give them more healthy food if you can.

This story is deeply sad. Something needs to be done. She is killing her children and herself. She needs education on what to do because she obviously knows nothing about health nutrition or fitness.

..For me. This still says it perfectly.

Thank you eek, but you're giving me a big head. I thought your post nailed it too.

I hope she gets help, for her sake and the sake of the children.

I just read this in my local paper and thought of this thread:

Toddlers might be better with Big Macs

Kate Tarala

May 5, 2009

CHEESEBURGERS, Big Macs and chocolate biscuits are healthier than some foods designed for babies and toddlers, many of which contain more sugar, salt or fat than similar products marketed to adults.

Full Story

I don't know about that chilli, however, there are some disturbing results. Just as you think that you are feeding your child something healthy you find out that it's laden with sugar and salt. Shocking!

I don't know about that chilli, however, there are some disturbing results. Just as you think that you are feeding your child something healthy you find out that it's laden with sugar and salt. Shocking!

I should really have put a disclaimer on my post expressing that the views or opinions expressed in the article were not my own. I personally wouldn't touch McRubbish with a 10ft barge pole.

Unfortunately, in a world where convenience is king, diets are only going to get worse. One upside though is that our internal organs will be so well preserved for future generations to study and see first hand just what this crap will do to you.

I have heard that many dead people are not decaying at the rate they used to and with more junk food being eaten this will only get worse.

I have heard that many dead people are not decaying at the rate they used to and with more junk food being eaten this will only get worse.

As long as we are living longer, i'm not bothered about the length of time it takes me to rot.

I'm getting cremated anyway. I bet the artificial preservatives can't stop that.

As long as we are living longer, i'm not bothered about the length of time it takes me to rot.

I'm getting cremated anyway. I bet the artificial preservatives can't stop that.

So am I cos, as my old mum used to say 'Keep the land for the living'

This is a terrible situation for those poor children and I wish she paid the same amount of attention to the kids, as she no doubt does in claiming all the related benifits.

Dave