Avoiding Christmas Sugary Treats

Dear Parent,

A mother told me how her friend reacted to her strict food guidance. “Let your child eat some pasta and chips,” the friend advised and added, “Everything in moderation.” “But I don’t want to poison my daughter in moderation,” this mother said to me.

One of my sons has recently said to a friend, “If you eat junk food in moderation, you will be healthy in moderation.” My sons oppose the trivializing idea of “moderation.” They, like you, strive for the best and for excellence in every area of life; they know to live in society without drowning in it’s commercial seductions, because they experienced such commitment as children.

Some parents believe that restricting sweets has the effect of the “forbidden fruit,” and the child will want it more and find it in hiding. This is not my experience. However, I did not restrict the food in a world full of candy; I protected my children’s environment so they actually hardly encountered it in the early years. Although it is everywhere at this time of the year, your child does not have to be taken “everywhere.”

Give her healthy sweet foods sweetened with dates, raw unheated honey, or stevia. I made peanut butter or almond butter balls, real jello with organic fruit juice and real gelatin, coconut cream based concoctions, raw cream based smoothies, frozen grapes with sticks, raw eggs based chocolate mouse etc. There are sweet foods that can be eaten with no limit on quantity. A child whose need for sweets is satisfied with fruits and home made wholesome creations, won’t  be so affected by seeing junk sweets out there. And still, I would suggest not taking your child to places that present nothing but unhealthy candy.

I recall my children going over to play with a new neighbor. When they returned home they said, “She gave us jello. We thought it would be like the one you make. Mom, it was horrible. Can we have some of our jello to cover up the memory of that taste?” The next time they were in a food store, they went and checked the commercial jello’s ingredients, (gelatin, sugar, color...). They wanted nothing to do with it.

Of their own, my children have refused sugary foods in public places, even when I was not present. They have tried some here and there, but never became enthused about any of it. They care for their well being more. I believe their desire to care for oneself well is the result of seeing my commitment to take care of them. They learned, “What I eat is important.” Instead of having a trivial attitude about it, they grew up to want the best and healthiest food for themselves.

Young children cannot resist temptation as easily and need protection by limiting their exposure. We don’t show them street drugs; we don’t take them to bars or to a gun store. Why test their ability to resist sugar? Eating sugar at a young age causes their

desire for it. Protect your child’s taste buds from addictions and she will stay free, and able to choose with a commitment to well being. Read my response to a similar question: http://mothering.com/food-and-unschooling

If all parents refused to give children junk food and candy, the industry will change.

Warmly, Naomi Aldort, http://authenticparent.com/index.html