30-stone mother admits to feeding triplets junk food... and to giving them their first McDonald's at just SIX MONTHS



She made history as the fattest ever mother of triplets, weighing in at 40 stone.

But far from ensuring her babies don't go the same way she did, Leanne Salt is happy to admit feeding them junk food, including fish and chips and McDonald's meals.

Yesterday the 24-year-old - still dangerously overweight at 30 stone - told of her approach to motherhood which doctors say is certain to leave them facing health problems.

Big girl: The 24-year-old, who blames her obesity on a thyroid problem, fell pregnant after seeing her then-boyfriend for just four weeks

'They were six months old when they had their first McDonald's,' she said. 'They had chicken nuggets and chips and loved it.

'They like fish and chips too, but I take the batter off the fish, so I guess that's healthy.'

Miss Salt's immense weight meant the safe delivery of her triplets - daughters Deanna and Daisy, and son Finlee - last August was a major challenge for medics.

It took a 68-strong team and a bill for the NHS of £200,000, including a specially-built operating table for her Caesarean section.

Now back home in Coventry and living on benefits, she says she is too busy to prepare proper meals for her triplets or do much in the way of housework.

Miss Salt, who blames her obesity on a thyroid problem, fell pregnant after seeing her then boyfriend for just four weeks.

They split up halfway through her pregnancy, and she now lives with her mother Jane, 46, and brother Blane, neither of whom is overweight.

The babies each consume around 1,249 calories a day, nearly double the recommended 765 for their 17lb weight at the age of eight months.

Danger diet: Leanne Salt, who weighs 30 stone, happily admits feeding her triplets junk food, including fish and chips and McDonald's meals

But their mother denies they are suffering as a result.

'Babies are always hungry,' she said. 'Sometimes it's easier to give them food that's already prepared.

'Anyway, they don't always have junk food - sometimes I cook a microwave meal for them. My babies are healthy.'

She receives total benefits of £227 a week - £140 tax credit, £42 child benefit and £45 family allowance - which she spends on her ten-a-day cigarette habit and food.

Health risk: Leanne is happy to feed her eight-month-olds junk food, such as chicken nuggets, once or twice a week



On an average day the triplets each have an 8oz bottle of milk at around 5.30am, another at 8am, and a crumpet with butter for breakfast.

Lunch could be scrambled eggs on toast, instant mashed potato with spaghetti hoops, or a jar of baby food, followed by a packet of Wotsits each at about 2pm.

Dinner at around 4pm could be a microwave lasagne or pie which their mother chews so they can manage it, and they sometimes have another bottle of milk before bed, although their mother says they're often too full.

'I'm happy to give them fish and chips or chicken nuggets and chips as a treat once or twice a week,' she explained.

'I feed my babies vegetables every Sunday, and a lot of the baby food I give them has fruit in it. The health visitor told me off for giving them Smash because it has too much salt in, but it's difficult to know what to feed them sometimes.'

The full feature appears in this week's Closer magazine, on sale now

She is not alone - earlier this month a survey by the Infant and Toddler Forum found 29 per cent of children under the age of three ate a takeaway at least once a week, while 23 per cent eat crisps and 16 per cent drink fizzy drinks almost every day.



While the triplets' weight is currently normal for their age, they were born five weeks premature so have had a lot of catching up to do, and doctors say their diet is totally unsuitable.

'Although babies should be weaned from six months onwards, they should be given a balanced diet,' said Dr Pyusha Kapila of St John and St Elizabeth Hospital, London.

'Foods high in salt and fat can lead to diarrhoea, hyperactivity, diabetes and, in extreme cases, fitting and fatal heart attacks.

'These children are at extreme risk of becoming overweight in the near future if their diet continues in this way.'

The house is full of unwashed laundry and piles of toys, and Miss Salt says she and her babies only get dressed and go out once a week to collect her benefits.



But they are seen regularly by a health visitor and have weekly visits from a trained helper from the Government's Sure Start scheme.



Her own mother says she buys in salads, but as she has to go out for work as a carer and is the only one in the house who cooks, they never get eaten.



However Miss Salt - who herself consumes 50 per cent more calories than a woman's recommended daily diet, snacking on cakes, crisps and chocolate - is convinced, bizarrely, that watching what you eat could lead to anorexia.

'I do worry my kids could get picked on if they get fat, but I'd tell them that big is beautiful.'

And she now wants her own council house: 'I know how to microwave a meal and make up instant mash, so I think we'd all manage.'