Call me crazy, and many of you may, but I try my very best not to let my kids eat sugar. I know, it’s odd and some of my friends have even called me abusive and cruel, not allowing my little one to suck on a candy or indulge in a little chocolate cake. Yet whenever I can, I divert, distract and refrain from saying yes to sweets. At four my son has had ice cream three times, he doesn’t eat birthday cake at parties, no candy this Halloween, and never will he sit down for a cookie, Popsicle or bowl of Fruit Loops. For treats he gets raisins, yogurt, cheese, cashews and a dozen other things we have convinced him are special and good for his body. We tell him he needs fuel and that healthy food gives him happy energy.

If you take the time to research, you will find there is no proven correlation that sugar causes hyper activity, aggression or sleepiness. Nor is it one hundred proven that it causes tooth decay or cavities. Many natural health experts on the other hand will say there is scads of evidence that sugar is like heroine to kids and compromises their health leading to dozen of childhood diseases. Camps for either side have their testimonies, and wading through it all can be consuming and confusing.

I do not support either opinion, nor did I do any research when I decided I would try to keep him from eating unnecessary amount of sugar. I just know that as much as I try to reduce the sugar in his diet, he gets it in a million different ways. Toothpaste has sugar, ketchup, cough medicine, even milk contain traces of sugar. So my decision is not a fanatical one, since I know he is getting sugar. I am only trying to limit the massive amount that come in highly processed, chemical-filled, sugar-laden concoctions.

The other day at Costco’s, one of the food vendors offered him a sample of brownies from the bakery. From a few feet away I heard him say, “No thank you, that’s not good for my body.” Happily the controlling mother in me soared with elation that he articulated that so beautifully. I was so proud of him then, and all the other times when I see him choose water over juice, bread over donuts and nothing at all over something sweet.

What has become a problem is that his grandparents find my decision bizarre and unfounded. Being from Europe they think nothing of giving sweets, treats and more treats. They enjoy spoiling him and use food as a way to show their love and devotion. Without a doubt, something sweet is always their first choice. Despite the many discussion, arguments and extreme practice of sending food when he goes to visit, they still sneak him a tantalizing, sugar-laced tidbit here and there.

At what point do you cross paths with your in-laws and demand your rules be their rules? At all costs most people say. But is alienating them, hurting their feelings or causing tension in the family worth a bit or sugar here and there? I use to think no, but when my son comes home from their house with the smell of dill pickle chips on his breath, I feel I’ve got to say something. And yet, what will it do? They’ll sneak it again, spoil him when I am not looking, and teach him not to tell me the truth, protecting
themselves from my wrath.

At the moment, my son still admits when he has eaten the fries at the fry place or the candy that isn’t candy because it makes your breath smell nice. Of course I know that I only have a short time before he see that all the other kids get Goldfish cookies and chocolate milk. Soon he will want some of that, and before I know it, he will realize I am a bit crazy, not like the cool moms that know sugar is not bad, it’s good!!!

For now, I can limit his sugar; the days will be fewer and fewer I know. Soon all the vices of childhood will become staples in his social development. What kid doesn’t get a slurpee over lunch or fish a free box of milk duds out of a vending machine? He is going to chew on miles of shoelace licorice and if like when I was a kid, lick a giant jaw-breaker till his lips turn blue and chap. Cotton candy will stick to his fingers and peanut butter to the top of his mouth. As I write this, memories of summer, camp, fair grounds and downtown parades fill my mind. There was lots of candy, freedom and fun in those days, remnants of my childhood that sugar has imprinted on my mind. Is he missing out not having these sweet and intoxicating reminders, or will rice cakes and sushi be happy anchors in his
mind?

I know that I can not keep him this way forever, and eventually no matter what I say he will find his own path. My decision is only to empower him to start out life in the best possible way; with his system strong, healthy and in optimal condition. As he develops his eating habits, refines his taste buds and makes his own personal judgments, I can only stand back like all mothers do and wait to see how he chooses.

Standing on my soapbox,

JB

Here are a few suggestions according to Dr. Inge from
Medical News Today:

“- Give your children small candy bars and other candies that can be consumed more quickly and easily.

- Avoid letting kids “graze” because it can increase the exposure of teeth to sugar.

- Monitor how much candy your children eat. Permitting them to eat a few small pieces in one sitting followed by drinking a glass of water or a thorough tooth brushing is an effective way to combat the effects of sugary candy.

- Offer your children alternatives such as sugar-free candy, nuts or cheese.”