How to Handle Your Kids’ Sweet Tooth
You want to get nutritious foods into their growing bodies. You don’t want them to eat junk. In an ideal world, you wouldn’t let your kids have candy at all.
But we’re not living in an ideal world, and compromise is a big part of daily life. Kids love sweets and should have them – in moderation. One could even argue that anything that’s completely forbidden will eventually come back to haunt you – or your kids – later on. If they don’t learn to manage their sweets or soda consumption early on, they might get out of control once they’re on their own and can do as they please. If that happens, Freshman Fifteen may be unavoidable or even turn into Freshman Fifty.
My own kids have a small stash of sweets in a designated cupboard. Each night after dinner, they are allowed to choose one candy as their dessert. So far it’s been working well. We also try to be good role models: ordering a small scoop of ice cream; accompanying our coffee with a small piece of chocolate rather than a large piece of cake; and sharing desserts at restaurants.
Photo by SpacePotato
Did you enjoy this post? Subscribe by RSS or email and you’ll always know when I publish a new post.
Find out what I’m doing right now: follow me on Twitter.
Filed under Parenting —
Email This Post,
Subscribe To Comments, Trackback,
Tanya responds:
Posted: March 2nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm →
Excellent strategy! We have a similar one, and it’s also working. At some point, we encountered a problem with the concept of “just one”, espesially with our younger son. Then I had to modify the strategy by limiting our stash to little jelly-bellys, M&Ms, and Hershey’s kisses. Now I can allow him to take 4 or 5, and he seems to be quite satisfied. Lollypops, cake and ice cream are special treats which are served at birthday parites, or when we have guests. Kids can have as much as they like since they have it only ocasionally.
Vered responds:
Posted: March 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm →
Thanks for the idea - my kids do tend to negotiate quantities once in a while. It’s also true that it’s best to avoid having too many sweet temptations in the house and limit cake, ice cream etc. to special occasions - it works for grownups too.