What better way to describe sugar than to consider it as a bittersweet compound, sweet in the mouth but ladened with severe consequences when taken in excess. Sugar is good, especially in its natural form and in controlled qualities. But, consuming too much sugar can lead to health problems, ranging from diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, etc.
Considering the disadvantages of excessive sugar, you should take the necessary measures to reduce your sugar intake. And as mothers who are charged with catering to your family’s needs, it makes sense to ensure that your kids aren’t taking much sugar. Excessive sugar intake in kids can lead to unhealthy cravings, obesity, among other severe health issues.
Here we have highlighted a few ways to cut down your kid’s sugar intake.
1. Reduce intake of sugary drinks
Did you know that when your kids gulp one soft drink, they indirectly consume 33 teaspoons of sugar? In other words, when your kids consume a soft drink, they are slowly edging towards the precipice of diabetes and other sugar-related issues.
In light of this stunning revelation, what do you do as a mother? Easy-peasy! Ensure that your kids don’t take sugary drinks like fizzy drinks, sports drinks, etc., more than once a week.
Sugary drinks can contain more than the recommended daily intake of 25 grams or 6 teaspoons of added sugar for your kids. Keeping the intake of sugary drinks to the minimum will do your kids plenty good, health-wise especially.
2. Reduce sugary desserts or offer an alternative
Dessert is designed to make your child feel satisfied after a meal and not pump his sugar levels. Typical desserts like cakes, cookies, sweets, chocolates, etc., contain a high amount of sugar and, when consumed excessively, could result in health issues for your child. To avoid this, ensure you reduce sugary desserts.
Cut down the cakes, cookies, biscuits you stick in your child’s lunch boxes. Alternatively, you can consider stuffing your kid’s lunch boxes with desserts made with zero calorie sweetener, anything that contains less sugar and more protein, calcium, and iron, or fresh fruit.
3. Reduce breakfast cereals
Of course, as a mother saddled with several home and work chores, cereals offer us the ideal solution when trying to meet up our numerous obligations. While breakfast cereals boast of some nutritional benefits, there is no denying that they pose a health risk for your child when consumed regularly.
Rather than go for heavily processed cereals high in sugar and low in fiber, go for a better alternative like whole grains cereals that are not coated in sugar or honey and include some fresh fruit to spice it up. Whole grain boasts of some nutritional benefits. They contain fiber, protein, B vitamins, including vitamin E.
4. Lecture them about food labels
The fact that you won’t be around all the time to watch what your kids eat is why you should lecture them about food labels and ingredient lists so that they show interest in what they eat.
When you visit the grocery store, let them read the labels and select the option with lower sugar. Foods consisting of over 22.5g (5 teaspoons) of overall sugars per 100g are deemed high in sugar. While foods below 5g (1 teaspoon) are deemed the opposite.
Conclusion
Sugar has some benefits and lots of disadvantages. Whether your kids experience its disadvantages or advantages depends on their sugar intake. Monitoring and teaching your kids the disadvantages of excessive sugar in the body is key to ensuring that they cut down their sugar intake and stay healthy.
