sweets for children

The sweet seduction

Chocolate bars, gummy bears, lollipops, cotton candy – what child can resist them? They are all true sugar bombs and anything but healthy.
But let’s be honest: Didn’t we love these treats in our own childhood? Could we do without all those tasty things? Probably not. And yet, we care deeply about our children’s health and must try to find the right balance when it comes to these treats. So how can we deal with sweets for children in everyday life?

Sweet temptations lure us everywhere these days. At the bakery, we give our offspring a lollipop, when we take our car out of the repair shop, we give one of the service employees a chocolate bar for our child, and even at the optician’s we can’t avoid it and our youngest tears open the bag of gummy bears, even though we only wanted to have our glasses repaired. Either you allow the child these treats or you risk a tantrum of the most extreme kind – and in the middle of public. The fact is, it’s really hard to find the right balance when it comes to sweets.

HOW MUCH CANDY IS GOOD FOR KIDS?

It’s like anything else: If you impose a general ban, the temptation is many times greater than if you allow your child something now and then. When considering what amount of candy is appropriate for a child, several factors come into play. If the offspring already has teeth that have been destroyed by caries or poor enamel, it is advisable to really keep sweets to a minimum. As tempting as chocolate and co. are – risking caries, especially on the permanent teeth, is a serious problem. The goal should be to get the child to cooperate and work with him or her to find alternatives to sweets. To find out how many sweets are acceptable, you should also look at the child’s entire diet. After all, sugar isn’t just hidden in candy, gummy bears and candy bars. The popular nut nougat cream, jam, fruit yogurt and various soft drinks also provide not insignificant amounts of this substance. In addition, sugar is found in many convenience foods and, of course, in sweet pastries. A balanced diet with a high proportion of fruit and vegetables forms the basis for good development and should therefore be a top priority. If this is true, there is also nothing to be said against a moderate consumption of sweets.

FINDING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SWEETS

But what does moderate mean? Nutritionists recommend eating as much candy per day as will fit in a child’s fist. A small chocolate bar or a few jelly bears are therefore perfectly adequate and can be regarded as a guideline for the amount. Exceptions are, of course, birthdays or other celebrations – then it may be a little more. If the offspring regularly get their chocolate ration from the grandparents, we as parents must of course keep an eye on it and limit the sweets at home within our own four walls. It is always important to see the issue in context and also watch out for sweets in kindergarten, at school or during afternoons with friends or grandparents. An exception should be made for the sugar cone and chocolate fondue. Who can resist that?

PREPARING SWEETS YOURSELF

If you, as a consumer, take a critical look at the ingredient lists of various sweets, you will notice that, in addition to a high sugar content, they also contain other unattractive things such as colorants, stabilizers and flavorings. A real alternative is to create delicious treats at home in your own kitchen. It’s not as hard as you might think! With the help of a special gummy bear mold, 100% fruit juice and a gelling agent can be used to make super tasty specimens that are guaranteed to make kids and adults happy! And all without any added sugar. Or how about a homemade chocolate spread? Mix equal parts pure nut butter (available at health food stores, for example) and very soft butter, and sweeten with a little honey.

OTHER SNACKING TIPS

Whether it’s store-bought candy or homemade treats, it’s best for youngsters to brush their teeth after enjoying these sweet delights. If this is not possible, it is recommended that the little sweet tooth at least rinse its mouth.

Conclusion: There is nothing to be said against consuming sweets in moderation. Conscious enjoyment should be the main focus. And as adults, we have a great role model function.