Family Life

is sugar killing our kids?

is sugar killing our kids

Quite a bold statement and perhaps a little over the top but it has really got me thinking recently – just how bad is sugar in our kids diets??

Sugar seems to be a real buzz word at the moment and in particular sugar-free, with sugar-free diets and recipes popping up all over the place.   I actually followed the ‘Sugar Free September’ diet recently just to see what it was all about.  I have to admit it didn’t start off too well, and just as I had been warned, my craving turned me into a bear with a sore head!!  I was so cranky and everything I looked at turned into a chocolate sculpture…seriously it was calling me in my sleep!!  I almost ate a kid it got that bad.

The good news is that I only morphed into a desperate, chocolate deprived madwoman for a few days to maybe a week, and after that things did get a lot easier and the craving did ease off.  I will also admit (if a little reluctantly) that by the end of the month I did feel fantastic.

I totally get (without going into the science bit) that sugar is an empty calorie that pretty much has no nutritional values in it what so ever!  It also goes hand in hand with a whole heap of unwanted symptoms like headaches, weight gain, candida, cranky pants highs and lows etc.  But what I want to know is “Is it really that bad in moderation????”

I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a terrible mother but I’m just not sure I could put my kids through a TOTAL sugar ban like the one I went through.  It just seems plain mean to watch them suffer the craving that I know full well will hit them like an undetected left hook to the jaw.  Yes, it will be better for their little bodies in the long term I know, but what about if they just ‘like’ to have a bit of a treat now and again.  I mean I could have continued with the sugar free diet I started in September but to be honest I just didn’t want to part with chocolate!!

I like chocolate! And my kids like lollies!

So my conclusion, I think, is ‘everything’ in moderation.  If I learnt anything from my Sugar-Free September experiment it was that I could cut out a lot of the unnecessary bad or refined sugars from my family’s diet.  There are plenty of healthy and natural sugar alternatives out there, which I am now using in my cooking and baking as much as possible.  BUT we still do have the occasional chocolate or lolly!  It makes them happy and that makes me happy.  I’m pretty confident that the occasional Freddo Frog is not going to kill them.

How does sugar fit in your family??  Do you cut it out altogether or welcome it in with open arms??

Linking up with Essentially Jess

{photo credit: Paradoxiko*Beck* via photopin cc}

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Robyn is a thirty-something mum of three living in Sydney. She is a full time mum, loves her thermomix and is forever trying to replace coffee with green smoothies. She can’t go a day without seeing the ocean. She blogs atMrs D Plus3

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  • http://www.averyblendedfamily.com/ Eleise Hale

    I love this. Good on you for trying sugar free, I am just not that into sugar being evil! I think it is great though that there are so many alternative now that means you can bake healthy treats, but I know my family favourite raspberry and white chocolate muffins just would be the same without the chocolate. I think we should definitely eat less processed foods but my kids are also going to enjoy dessert wehn we are in a restaurant without fear.

  • Kate

    I think I’m in a bit of a similar headspace to you at the moment. My kids are still under 2 and haven’t really had much sugar yet so they’re not missing it. I’m not planning on introducing them to lollies or chocolate but I’m sure they’ll still seek them out and enjoy them on occasion.

  • Lauren @ createbakemake

    I love your attitude! I have also turned to sugar substitutes for my cooking and baking and no one seems to have noticed! My eldest is almost 2, and whilst sugary treats/drinks are not the norm in our household, if we are out/at a party etc, I’m not going to stop him from having a treat. i think it’s important to give our kids a balanced diet, and teach them it is ok to have a treat on special occasions.

    • http://www.theparentingfiles.com.au the parenting files – tahlia

      So true lauren. All about balance. Although I still try to limit those sugar indulgence at parties

  • http://www.redlandcityliving.com/ Janet from Redland City Living

    I have been taking Miss 17 to the acupuncturist for anemia issues and one of the first things he said was try to cut back sugar. He explained that the body is lazy, and will grab sugar (coz it’s easy) before absorbing other nutrients … so that if there is too much sugar, the other nutrients just don’t get absorbed. Not very scientific but it really helped my understanding!

    Visiting today from #TeamIBOT xxx

  • http://www.havealaughonme.com/ Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me

    I take the approach that I do to everything, in moderation. I monitor what they’ve had that day, that week and then base my decisions on that. A good read!

  • http://essentiallyjess.com/ EssentiallyJess

    I’m a ‘everything in moderation’ type person myself. I don’t know that cutting out anything completely is particularly great for you. Part of life is being healthy, and another huge part is enjoying it. And chocolate is very enjoyable :)

    • http://www.theparentingfiles.com.au the parenting files – tahlia

      Chocolate hypo attack though at 5pm is never pleasant :) x

  • Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me

    I think everything in moderation is definitely a good idea. My kids don’t have sugar too often. They will have a few tiny teddies and jam on toast. It’s so hard though because sugar is in everything.

    • http://www.theparentingfiles.com.au the parenting files – tahlia

      Everything! It is so scary! My kids love jam and have it daily. But for some reason I don’t really put that into the ‘sugar’ box… even though it is full of sugar. Kinda weird I know

  • http://mylittlesunshinehouse.com/ Zanni Louise

    Yep I am with you…moderation. I grew up with a very moderate exposure to stuff like sugar and I have to say I have a very balanced relationship with it now. I enjoy sharing an ice cream with my girl occasionally and so does she. I’m good with that! x

  • Martine Oglethorpe

    I agree with jess..a little moderation and denying oursleves and our kids things completely usually leads to other problems. Its the old story of the kids who weren’t allowed any when they were young and would go crazy lolly binge fest when mum or dad weren’t around!

  • Maxabella

    No “bans” at all in this house. I still remember when fat was the enemy and so I’m very dubious about sugar. Poor old cane sugar. x