Bourn Sisters
posted in Mum StoriesWhilst I am aware of the health risks of sugar, especially when eaten in excess, I believe it's equally dangerous to prevent your child from having something completely. (Unless they have an allergy!)
On my daughter's first birthday she sampled her first taste of birthday cake. I can understand why parents choose to keep sugar a secret from their children but I believe doing so can have a negative impact on your child’s physical and mental health.
I, like many, feel angry at the parents of children who are suffering from obesity as the result of being fed sugary foods regularly. However, I feel just as cross with those who are so strict about their children’s diets that they forbid any sugar at all.
You won't be able to prevent your child from eating sugar forever as other children around them will be eating sweets and chocolate at birthday parties and play dates. When your child is old enough to be able to buy sweet treats themselves they are likely to end up eating the foods you don’t allow in secret. I’m certainly not saying you should feed your children high sugar foods on a regular basis, but if they occasionally want to share a slice of cake with you I don’t see it as a problem.
Teaching your child about healthy food is important, but you don’t want to cause an unhealthy obsession with food. It's all about balance. It's terrifying how many young children have a negative body image and refuse to eat certain food groups because they are afraid to be fat. I want my daughter to have a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food.
As a parent, it's my responsibility to educate her about a healthy diet. I believe this means teaching her that having the occasional treat is fine, but eating sweets all day everyday is not okay. I want my daughter to try a wide variety of foods, just as I was encouraged to do as a child. My parents certainly never gave me a ‘child's menu’. I ate what they ate, which included the odd slice of cake and a chocolate biscuit or two!
Come summer, I will allow my daughter to have the odd ice cream when we go for a trip to the seaside. I will continue to share a slice of cake with her when we go to coffee shops. However, I will also be making sure she eats fruit and vegetables daily.
Children need to learn how to make healthy choices for themselves. With our help they will hopefully become responsible young adults who know the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods, but wont punish themselves for enjoying sweet things from time to time.
See some delicious baby and toddler dessert ideas from food blogger Jac Meldrum:
Mallory x
Find Mallory on Instagram, @mallorybourn, and follow her personal blog, bournsisters.com.
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What do you think about children eating sugary foods?