Raising Sugar-free Kids

In today's world, we are surrounded by a variety of candy that, were it real food, could feed a nation. And the sugar fest doesn't stop there. Sodas, cookies and just about everything else on the supermarket shelf contains sugar. Sugar that you might not want your children ingest on the average of a pound a week.

More and more parents are choosing to ban sugar from their homes and their children's diets because of the negative effect it has. From hyperactivity to obesity, refined sugar can cause some serious problems in children, especially in high amounts. However it is also a major problem for children who are super sensitive to this modern day drug.

With all the temptations out there, it can be a tough job raising children without sugar. Some parents prefer to simply limit sugar, but for those kids who suffer from hypersensitivity, even the small amount contained in a tinned soup can cause problems. These children will need to have sugar completely withdrawn from their diet.

There are plenty of alternatives to sugar that can help alleviate the sweet tooth. While artificial sweeteners are available, they are not usually the best alternative. Many artificial sweeteners can cause health problems of their own. The best way to go is natural, with honey and molasses, for example. These two sweeteners will change the sugary taste, but work very well when substituted in recipes that call for sugar. You may need to add a little less liquid to the recipe if you use honey or molasses.

Other alternatives to sugary sweets are found in nature. Fruit has a high level of glucose and fresh fruit may be just the sweetness you are looking for. However, the glucose becomes concentrated when fruit is dried and so, dried apples, bananas and pineapple become great substitutes for store-bought candies. You can also use fruits such as dates or applesauce in cakes and cookies to add a healthy sweetness.

The hardest part about raising sugar-free kids is when they are out in the world. They will constantly be faced with temptations, other kids offering them candy, soda being served at school functions, cakes and sweets at birthday parties. It may help to explain your reasons for not wanting them to have sugar. Or you may have an exception to the rule for parties, etc. Some parents find that offering a substitute works well. For example, you may give your child dried fruit to take to school and when everyone is eating something sweet, he has something sweet, as well, just not high in refined sugar!

Raising sugar-free kids is hard, there's no doubt about it. But it is well worth the effort. They will be calmer, more focused and you will save a bundle on dentist fees! Even if you don't want to cut sugar out 100%, it is worth greatly reducing the amount you use in your daily life and seeing what the health benefits are for yourself.