I know, I know- what’s a birthday party without cake?! I get it, and I agree that sweets and treats are a part of life, but they don’t need to be a part of every day, or even every week, especially for young kids. Even if you think your kid doesn’t eat sweets like candy and cake, take a look at the ingredients in Cheerios, Goldfish, yogurt, granola bars, even bread. Most packaged food (especially food targeted for kids!!!) has sugar in it. And what’s the problem with a little sugar? It’s like a DRUG for young brains (and even adults, for that matter).
Sugar produces dopamine and endorphins that MIMIC COCAINE; just think about that when you wonder why your kid goes nuts when you say they can’t have another cookie… it’s actually much easier to just say “no” to cookie number one! Little kids, especially, just can’t regulate their emotions when they’re high on sugar (Hi, tantrums!). Also, in order to metabolize sugar, the body uses up vitamins and minerals that a growing child truly needs.
Instead, we make muffins sweetened with fruit and maple syrup or energy balls sweetened with dates. I try to keep ice cream and cookies for truly special occasions, and we avoided it as long as possible to begin with.
And if you’re thinking the better choice is foods labeled “sugar-free,” you’re wrong! “Sugar free” means it’s sweetened with Artificial Sweeteners which are actually much worse!
Research has linked artificial sweeteners to: Hyperactivity, mood swings, headaches, learning disorders and TANTRUMS in children. Do I need to go on? Sure thing. Artificial sweeteners are linked to weight gain and obesity, and with the childhood obesity epidemic, we do NOT need to be adding fuel to the fire. They mess with hunger cues, glucose metabolism, and even disrupt the oh-so-important microbiome (aka, a healthy gut, which is key to immune health, nutrient absorption, digestion, and mental health). Several studies on animals link artificial sweeteners to cancer growth, liver and kidney disorders, and the malfunction of neurotransmitters. I, for one, am not taking that chance with my kids!
Some common names for artificial sweeteners include: sucralose, aspartame, sweet n’ low, saccharine, xylitol and sugar alcohol. Foods that more often than not contain artificial sweeteners include the following:
- Any flavoured or sweetened yogurt, especially if it’s labeled “sugar-free” (if it tastes sweet, it’s got artificial sweeteners in it, I promise you)
- Sugar-free Candies, cakes and cookies (if it seems too good to be true, it is!)
- Chewing gum and diet pop (I’m looking at you, mamas)
- Salad dressings
- No-calorie flavoured waters
- Dried fruit like Craisins or dried cherries
- Canned fruit like peaches-especially if it says “no sugar added”
- Conventional toothpaste
- Anything labeled “sugar free”, “low sugar,” “reduced sugar” “low calorie”, “lower sugar” or “lite” (Don’t be fooled!!)
If I’m going to give my kids a special treat, I give them something that’s sweetened with maple syrup, honey, molasses, dates, bananas, apple sauce or other fruits. Some of my favourite recipes for little ones include my Whole Wheat Banana Oat Muffins, Superfood Bites, Naturally Sweetened Banana Carrot Muffins, Cherry Lime Popsicles and No-Bake Brownies.
Do you avoid sugar with your little ones? Do you notice it having an effect on their behaviour? Sleep? Mood?! Let me know in the comments below!
