Kids just love sweets and who can blame them? We often bring them sweets home after our work just to enjoy them from time to time. But when there is too much sugar in their system, it can lead to various health problems from high blood sugar levels, to tooth decay, to weight gain. However, it is not easy to convince your children to give up their love for sweets, but the good news is that you are weaning them from this addiction by using these tips.
Limit sugary drinks
Kids love soft drinks, lemonade, sports drinks, fruit punch and the like with their meals or snacks, but these drinks contain high amounts of sugar which is not good for them. Even fruit juice is not good because all the fiber has been removed from the fruit. Instead of offering them lemonade, why not pair their meal with milk or water.
Skip the pills
It’s understandable that you want breakfast time to go smoothly, and although breakfast cereal brings out happy smiles from your kids, it can cause a blood sugar spike early in the day and a crash later on. A better breakfast is oatmeal which is not only cheaper compared to cereal, but also full of fiber that can fill you up while regulating your blood sugar.
cook over
Eating out may be your habit especially when you’re busy, or you even order takeout to avoid spending time in the kitchen, but you’re actually packing your family a load of sugar. A good way to avoid this is to start cooking at home. This way, you will have more control over the ingredients you use and even get a chance to serve them healthy food at the same time.
Serve yogurt
Another way to help reduce the amount of sugar your children eat while snacking is to give them full-fat yogurt, since they have a lower sugar content. Greek yogurt may be a good option, but it’s high in protein. If you can make your own yogurt, that’s all well and good, but if not, you can look for yogurt with less sugar.
Pack snacks ahead of time
If you hang out with your kids outside your house, chances are you get snacks from the candy aisle just to keep them going. But it doesn’t really help them with their sugar consumption which is why you need to plan their snacks in advance. The best snack option is to bring fruits, nuts, or veggies with dips or trail mix. These have a low sugar content which makes them safe to eat.
Teach them
It would be a good idea to discuss the effects of sugar on your children as much as possible so that they are aware of what it can do to them. You can even compare healthy foods to sugar-laden products so they can properly weigh their options.
Prepare more vegetables and fruits
Since you will be cooking more at home, it is your responsibility to add more vegetables and fruits to the table. And not only will your kids eat them, but you should, too. Keep in mind that your children will follow you, so setting them up for good eating habits at an early age will help them in the long run.