How to introduce a sugar-free lifestyle to your children. Hidden sugars are everywhere. Today parents and children are so busy that we look for easy options. We tell our children to eat their food and not to snack, but that yogurt, cereal, and instant oatmeal that we give them are loaded with sugar, marketed under other names.
Eating hidden sugars add to our caloric intake and if our intake exceeds our energy needs it turns to fat. Obesity, headaches, moodiness, energy levels crashing can almost always be traced to excess in sugar.
Children need a balance in the fuel they consume to keep them focused and feeling well. If their lunch is packed with sugar, their teacher will have to deal with them being hyperactive. By the time they get home from school, they are crashing and we have to try to get through homework and dinner with an exhausted child.
This is why more parents are on a mission to reduce or remove sugar from their children’s lives. But how do you begin?
Note: The earlier you introduce this lifestyle to them the better. If they are used to eating sugar, you want to slowly remove it from their diets. This is not a punishment, it’s a lifestyle choice.
Setting the rules
While some parents go to the strict, no sugar at any time or any place rule, others take a softer approach. Some parents do not allow sugar in their homes, but they accept that the kid will have candy or cake at a birthday party or at grandma’s house. You have to set rules that you and your children can live with, that fits into a less stressful lifestyle.
Here are some ideas:
- Speak with other parents.
Determine who has the same feelings on the issue that you do. While you would not stop being friends with that family, if you find they are not in the same mindset, you can make better choices regarding the amount of time your child spends in their home. You can suggest the kids play at your house or take them to a park for activities.
- No sugar in your home
If you do not bring sugar in your house, desires for something sweet will turn to fruits or veggies. If you are in a position where you are hosting a party, serve your healthy treats. But, let your child feel like it is a special day with some candy bags to hand out. Of course, he does not need to know they are sugar-free candy. Many people buy sugar-free candy in bulk by Sweet Services and have it on hand for special treats. There is a wide variety of flavors. You might like some for yourself.
Set an example
Kids do what you do, not what you say to do. If you fuss at grandma about giving the kids a cookie, yet you chow down on cake with your coffee, your child feels cheated. It is up to you how strict you are with the rules, and if you want to bend them on occasion, that is your business. But be fair and set a good example.
Don’t miss teachable moments
When your child indulge in something with a lot of sugar and they begin to feel strange, explain what is happening to them. Do not scold or lecture, but point out that the sugar made them feel jumpy and could be why they don’t feel good now. If they have trouble sleeping that night, explain the effects of sugar on their body. Again, do it with love.
You can do this. Make it a group effort and build a little army to fight the sugar giant. Your kids will be better off for it and so will you.
