Parents absolutely hate sweets. Sweets are a big culprit for hyperactivity, as well as negative and rambunctious behavior in children. Not to mention, after kids eat sweets, many times they do not fall asleep until close to midnight. When that happens, kids are sluggish and groggy the next day when they need to be sharp. Especially if it happens to be a school night. Kids with special needs such as autism and ADHD are even more impacted by candy. That being said, sweets and kids don’t mix!
However, as tempting as it sounds to ban sweets entirely from our kids’ diet- banning candy from kids is not recommended. If you completely deny your kids sugary treats, they will resent you and find a way to get their hands on a large quantity of it while you are not looking. In fact, if you do not let your kids have sweets that may lead to poor eating habits later in their lives.
The best thing to do is to limit the amount of sweets your kids can have. There is nothing wrong with buying them a chocolate bar once in a while, or baking brownies with them. Besides, a little bit of sugar is not going to have too much of a negative impact on them- even in many cases kids who have special needs. Think of it as you adopting a healthier lifestyle but having that need to satisfy a sweet tooth once in a while. If you deny yourself a sweet, then there is a good chance you may binge. The same thing goes with your kids. If you keep sugar away from them, they will find a way to get it eventually- and probably will not eat it in moderation.
Teaching your kids healthy eating habits will get them onto a good path in life. However, you also need to incorporate an occasional sweet in there as well. Kids will discover sweets on their own, they will become curious about it- and will definitely want it and find a way to get it. The best thing to do is to let them have it once in a blue Moon, and there will be less of a chance of them eating more sweets than recommended in life.
I agree that we should hide sweets from kids… but sweet should come in a “healthier” form such as ice cream, chocolate, brownies, muffins, rather than just candies. I admit that I hide and eat my candies…. haahaaahaaa. The things mom do!!
Good point Irene, we can give them healthier versions of candies, and they may not even know the difference. Hiding and eating candies is a major mom confession for sure, thanks for the comment.
I agree, the key is to teach them moderation. Moderation is healthy, deprivation is not. You should also explain to them why we moderate some things, “Candy is good, but too much candy gives us cavities and can make us sick, so its good to just have a little bit once in a while.”
Thanks V.J. and absolutely true.
I am a firm believer that a child cannot miss what they don’t have — meaning, if they never tasted a piece of candy, how can they miss having it?
I don’t think it’s necessary to give our children sugar; especially since sugar is not meant for the body. Cavemen did with out it. I think we can do without the processed foods — especially sugar!
Good point Bonnie, but the reality is their friends will have it, they will see it around, and become curious. If that happens then they will need to fulfill that curiosity just a little.
Both my daughter and I have an incredibly sweet tooth – buy chocolate and sweets and it’s gone in a day…
The easiest thing when she was growing up was not to have any in the house. Sweets were a treat – not banned but not an every day occurrance!
That said, she had a queue for her packed lunch at school! I think I was the only mum who packed a range of dried fruits as a snack instead of a biscuit or chocolate bar and crisps – and the kids loved them. It’s still sugar, but a natural alternative to processed.
Awesome Jan, you didn’t deny her the sweets but let her have it in moderation and it sounded like it worked. And yes dried fruits are a hit!