Is Your Kid a Sugar Addict? Here are 3 Strategies that will Help

It was 8:45 AM and my boys, ages 6 and 3 and I were making our weekly trip to stock up on produce deals at our favorite health food store. It also happened to be Halloween. We frequent the store enough that we know many of the employees, and three of them that day were excited to share gummy worms, suckers and cookies with my kids. I always appreciate their warmness towards my children, but inwardly groaned–my kids get large quantities of sugar at church, soccer games and now even the health food store!

Refined sugar consumption is estimated to be 160 lbs per person annually, staggering compared to the 4 lbs consumed per person in 1776.¹ You don’t have to look far to find it–parents, coaches, and teachers everywhere appreciate the way sugar motivates kids to behave or even just show up. We all love to see a kid light up at the prospect of a treat, then work quickly to clean the basement or do their schoolwork. The kids are excited, the adults got the behavior they wanted and everyone is happy, right?

The pitfalls of refined sugar emerging in current research aren’t surprising: Brain scans show that “overconsumption of sugar may parallel that of drug addiction.”² Excess sugar intake is tied to rising rates of obesity and diabetes in children, contributes to fatty liver and other chronic diseases,³ weakens our immune systems and has a negative impact on memory and mood.⁴

But even with a long list of health risks sugar is no longer reserved for holidays and special occasions. It’s become culturally acceptable and even expected to generously and regularly give it to kids.

As parents, what can we do about it? Especially when kids are dying to get it and many adults love to give it to them?

Educate Through Your Example

Probably the most impactful thing I’ve done for my kids sugar consumption is “no sugar” challenges. For 2-6 months, friends or family joined me in a fast from processed sugar treats, but allowed homemade, naturally sweetened treats. I loved the way the challenge helped me break bad habits (digging out hidden indulgences during naptime) and distinguish between the truly worthwhile, homemade brownies and the Wal-mart cupcakes that might get eaten just because they were there.

Since it was a fun challenge and not a diet, it made for lots of great conversations with my kids about why I chose to do it and how sugar tastes good but provides zero nutrition. It really raised our awareness of how sugar is everywhere!

Still, I never expected my 4th grader would independently choose to start his own sugar fast. Not wanting to be left out, his second grade and preschool brothers also joined in. We joined their coaches and teachers in astonishment as my boys passed up birthday treats, candy and more for over a month. The power of example and a little positive peer pressure had a ripple effect and caused everyone to take a step back and reconsider sugar.

Control What You Can Control

As much as I’d like to be the helicopter mom who tells everyone my kids don’t need more sugar, I know I need to let them choose. They learn from their overindulgences, and are gradually making better choices.

Date Sweetened Mint Moosetracks Ice Cream

Treats are such an ingrained part of our society, we can’t imagine celebrating without them. Emotional connections to sweets run so strong that we often say we need a treat. Instead of skipping treats altogether, I make some really delicious ice cream (Mint Moosetracks and Chocolate are some of our favorites) and other desserts (chocolate cream pie) that are sweetened with dates. Dates have a long list of health benefits instead of health risks, and it’s simply amazing how they can hit the spot AND leave you feeling so much better.

We can be mindful when we bring food for an event. For Valentines Day, I brought strawberry, grape and marshmallow kabobs to school. Even though I couldn’t quite bring myself to make them 100% healthy, I couldn’t believe the comments of “Wow! Fancy!” Sure it took about 20 minutes to thread the fruit onto skewers, but the kids gobbled them down and many appreciated those over the sugary cupcakes and candy.

It may take a little more thought to provide healthier options, but a little creativity can go a long way, and many kids will surprise you.

Know That Better is Better

Perfectionism is a great way to derail progress. While all or none is appropriate in some situations, banning all sugar from my kids is not a battle worth fighting for me. Recognizing that better eating leads to better health gives us the space to gradually improve and enjoy the increasing benefits.

I rarely buy refined sugar–we get more than enough everywhere we go! When we do have treats I try to accompany them with a wholesome meal or snack.

Not only is it good to fill up tummies with real food first, but studies also show that including fruits and vegetables in a meal will diminish the negative impacts of sugar and other damaging foods.⁵

We eat less sugar AND save time and money by hiding treats when we have a surplus. During the holidays I’ll pack extras up and then pull them out at times when we would have otherwise bought or made treats.

It Can Be Done!

Even though giving up refined sugar may feel like cutting off our right arm, we can go back to making it a special treat rather than a daily occurrence. Making the effort to make our refined sugar consumption rival our colonial ancestors will leave our children healthier, happier and better equipped to deal with the pressures of the modern world.

And while I can’t necessarily overhaul our sugar-loving culture, I can raise kids who understand the danger of excess sugar and know how to live without it.