Sugar helps give your child energy, but too much can cause serious health complications. Many foods that your child enjoys contain several grams of added sugar, including fruit snacks, breakfast cereal, fruit drinks and toaster pastries. KidsHealth notes that if your child consumes large amounts of sugar, she is at an increased risk for health problems such as diabetes and weight gain. Sugary foods often provide little nutrition either, so you should limit how much of these foods your child eats.
Tooth Decay
Foods high in sugar can stick to your child's teeth and cause dental issues. Healthy Children reports that the more sugar your child eats the more sugar that will stick to her teeth, which can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Your child likely enjoys the sweet taste of candy, soda and ice cream, but regularly allowing your child to eat sugary foods like these will increase her risk of suffering from cavities and tooth decay. Replace foods that have added sugar with foods that are naturally sweet, such as fruit, because they are less likely to stick to your child's teeth and cause problems. Naturally sweet foods will also satisfy your child's sweet tooth with more nutrients than foods that contain added sugar.
Weight Gain
A diet high in sugar will add calories to your child's diet and may lead to weight gain as time goes on. KidsHealth notes that children who consume high amounts of sugar are also at an increased risk of suffering from childhood obesity than children who have diets low in sugar. Sugary foods like cake, fruits snacks, candy and sugary breakfast cereals will fill your child up, but will offer no nutrition and will leave little room in his stomach for more nutritious foods. KidsHealth notes that one of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your child's diet is to eliminate soda from your child's diet. This simple diet change will drastically reduce the chances that your child will gain unhealthy weight from sugary foods.
Lack of Nutrition
Children who have a diet high in sugar are less likely to consume the vitamins and minerals for good health, KidsHealth notes. Most children choose foods with added sugar over any other option because they taste good. Giving into your child's desire for sugary foods reduces her desire for more nutritious options such as fruits and vegetables. Offer your child fruit in place of foods with sugar and over time she may opt for fruit because it tastes naturally sweet. An added bonus of fruit is that it supplies so many of the nutrients your child needs to be healthy and grow well. Add cinnamon to steamed carrots or squash as another way to satisfy your child's craving for sweets while also supplying the vitamins and minerals she needs.
Member Comments