I got onto the train and sat down in front of a couple with their three year old daughter. She was a cute chubby little girl with blonde curls. No wonder the parents cuddled her so.

She was eating something. It looked like a slice of ham, one of those pink circle pieces. She finished it and made a small noise. Mum peeled back the lid of the clear plastic container in her lap and gave her daughter another piece of ham.

After one or two minutes, the child had finished her ham again. “More!” she said. Mum took another piece of ham out, gave it to her and continued talking to dad.

At this point, I looked at mum and dad thoughtfully. They were both quite overweight. The toddler wasn’t overweight — yet. I started feeling a little anxious.

The toddler finished her ham and gestured urgently for more. Mum paused and said, “What do you say?”

“Please,” the girl mumbled. Mum smiled indulgently and gave her another piece. When that one was finished, the girl, of course wanted another. Mum exclaimed, “Don’t they feed you in daycare!” And gave her another piece.

By this time, I was quite distressed. Every time I thought mum would put the tub away, she acceded to another demand for ham. Are these people clueless? How can you live in modern society and not understand the basics of healthy eating? What about moderation? Processed meats for a child! Okay, one or two or even three pieces. Maybe more in a sandwich, even. But as a never ending food pacifier? Do you know how much salt and fat is in processed meat?

I usually give people the benefit of the doubt. I considered, “Maybe the kid hasn’t eaten all day. Maybe the ham is lean and organic. Maybe the ham is an alternative to her usual chocolates and chips.”

But in the end, nothing I could imagine could excuse the sight of parents blithely handing over a whole tub of ham, sliver by sliver, to a kid who should have the healthiest start to her life.

I wanted to say something. I wish I had some grapes to offer them. Why aren’t people licenced to be parents?