We are entering the TREAT SEASON from now through to Easter. Kids are bombarded with sugary treats during this time.
Why do we need to limit sugar intake?
- Sugar significantly impairs the immune system. 2tsp reduces immune function by 25% for 4-5 hours.
- Sugar can lead to heart disease by raising triglyceride levels in the blood
- Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and crankiness in children
- Sugar leads to mineral deficiencies, especially chromium, copper, calcium, and magnesium
- Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein
- Sugar is linked to tooth decay, arthritis, asthma and diabetes
- Sugar can increase cholesterol
- Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis by taking calcium from bones
- Sugar can lead to premature aging through free radical damage and loss of tissue elasticity and function
- Sugar can lead to obesity
- Sugar can cause food allergies
Not so long ago, candy and other sugary foods were occasional treats. Now, kids are bombarded with sugar in most of the processed foods we eat including breakfast cereals, some breads, juice, ketchup, deli meats, peanut butter, etc. Some of these foods have only a small amount of added sugar but when you tally it all up, do you then want to introduce more sugar in the form of candy and other treats? Kids are influenced by television ads to get their parents to buy these unhealthy foods, and some teachers regularly give candy to their students as rewards. Once in a while is fine, but the point I’m trying to get across is that most kids get added sugar in their regular daily diets so the treats should be occasional indulgences.
There is no recommended daily allowance for sugar but some experts suggest that kids have no more that 4-5 tsp of added sugar per day. The average child consumes far more than this (30 tsp or more!) just by eating processed foods throughout the day. Adding candy and other sweets foods pushes this number even higher.
Halloween Candy Alternatives
1. Juice boxes – make sure they’re 100% juice
2. Cheese sticks or Baby bell cheese
3. Gum – xylitol, or other natural sweetener
4. Fruit sticks – 100% fruit
5. Good quality chocolate – better for teeth and antioxidants
6. Home-made treats for neighbours who know and trust you
7. Non-food items such as Halloween trinkets, glow sticks, rubber stamps, bubbles
8. Combination – one candy and one trinket
Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating
Most kids love this tradition so it may be difficult to get rid of it altogether.
· An option would be to allow a limited amount of trick-or-treating (say 10 houses) and then a party afterwards, either with friends or just family. Let the kids eat their candy and get it over with. Watch a movie.
· If you have enough neighbours who share your desire to reduce the candy load, you could plan ahead and each of you make healthy treats that you will give to each other’s kids. Then you could get together for a party afterwards.
· Again, with like-minded neighbours, you could do a rotating party. The children could travel together and make extended stops at each neighbour’s home where they will take part in a Halloween craft or in making a healthier Halloween treat such as strawberry ghosts, decorating cookies, etc. The kids will feel like they are trick-or-treating but as they spend time with each neighbour, they are spending less time gathering candy.
- How to deal with Halloween candy overload
- How to get your child to eat less junk food
- Healthier homemade treats such as banana ice dream (tastes like real ice cream but it's much healthier!) including lots of recipes
- My picks for healthier store-bought treats
- What to look for when reading food labels - what to avoid
P.S. Please let me know if you see any strange formatting symbols in this blog - I've been having some issues! thanks
thanks for the information Paulette. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
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