Curbing Your Child's Sweet Tooth
CandIes, cookies, chocolate—they all seem to find a way into the hands of children at this time of year (and Valentine’s Day, and Easter). But instead of banning treats from your home altogether, there are ways to let kids satisfy their sweet tooth without going overboard.
Strike a balance
We’re exposed to sugar from many food sources, both good (fruit and vegetables) and bad (candy bars), so aim to find a healthy compromise, says Lisa Weinberg, a Toronto-based registered dietician and mom of two who specializes in kids’ nutrition. It’s OK for kids to have some sugar as a portion of their diet, she says, “so long as you combine sugar with nutritious choices and don’t allow sweet treats to replace healthy choices.”This is what she does with her own children when they’ve finished dinner. “I’m fine with my kids having a scoop of frozen yogurt with berries and some chocolate sauce on top for dessert, because they’re getting some calcium, protein and vitamins,” says Weinberg. However, she warns against empty-calorie treats such as lollipops, “which are not filling, bad for teeth and offer no nutritional value.”
Sugar, sugar
In addition to displacing healthier foods, the main risk with too much sugar at this age is tooth decay. Grazing on sweets all day is particularly bad for teeth. “Your teeth will be exposed to sugars following each meal anyway—additional sweet snacks will increase the exposure time greatly,” says Darryl Smith, president of the Canadian Dental Association, and a practicing dentist in Valleyview, Alta. It’s also wise to save sweets for dessert for a different reason—there’s more saliva around from eating a meal to wash it away. Avoid bedtime snacking too, especially after they’ve already brushed their teeth, adds Smith, because there’s a lot less saliva flow in the mouth during sleep, which means that sugars linger much longer.
As for sugar being the reason your child is acting up, the Public Health Agency of Canada has said that sugar does not cause or worsen hyperactivity. In fact, consuming a lot of sugar may cause a relaxed state or even drowsiness. Sugar aside, watch for heart disease-promoting trans fats in baked goods—such as cookies and cake—and chocolate bars and ice cream, warns Weinberg.
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