I remember being pregnant and thinking about all the things that lay ahead. I planned adventures and places we would visit as well as how I wanted to do things. I have a history of obesity which I have only managed to grab a hold of in the last two years so from the very beginning my son’s diet was always really important to me.
I remember being pregnant and thinking about all the things that lay ahead. I planned adventures and places we would visit as well as how I wanted to do things. I have a history of obesity which I have only managed to grab a hold of in the last two years so from the very beginning my son’s diet was always really important to me. I remember promising myself that when he was old enough for treats he would have them just once a week. Yeah, that didn’t happen.
My son is still a really healthy eater but I am not ashamed to admit that he does get some kind of a treat every single day. Some days it is a biscuit or a small chocolate bar. Other days it might be a small packet of jellies or a Kinder Surprise Egg. My motto is that if his meals and snacks are healthy and balanced then what is the harm in him having a small treat every day? My logic comes from the idea of balance and the fact that myself and his father will always sit down in the evening with a small treat after a day of relatively healthy food.
I do find myself wondering how many treats I should be allowing my child to have though. Is there a recommended amount that won’t cause him a great risk for health issues? Is there a tipping point which leads to bad behaviour and tantrums? Should we be avoiding treats all together? I did my research and as it turns out we’re probably giving our children too much sugar even when we are really trying to limit it.
The main problems associated with too much sugar in any diet is the risk of dental issues, diabetes and obesity. As adults, we can make the choices ourselves as we are armed with the facts and responsible for our own health and well-being Our children do not have such a luxury. They rely on us parents and guardians to pave the way and ensure that they are fuelled in all the right ways.
Written by Tracey Quinn staff writer at FFHQ who also blogs at www.loveofliving.ie.
