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Can candies be part of a healthy diet?
Table of Contents
1. Why we like candy
Sweet taste is the first thing that a baby learns. The first food, mother's milk, thanks to its lactose content, has a slightly sweet taste. Sweetness is even the hydrochloric fluid that the baby drinks in his stomach. The taste is therefore associated with motherhood, safety and warmth. The body's reaction to food is to increase the sweet taste of endorphins and serotonin (carbohydrates increase the production of serotonin, which improves mood). Sweet taste has been associated with safe, nutritious and mature foods, and it also signals an extremely high level of energy in the form of food.2. A healthy relationship with candy
We don't have an innate taste for candy, but we do have an effect on our own behavior. It's important to show children that candy is one of many types of food. It shouldn't be a prohibited product. It should not be a forbidden product.3. Sweets in a child's diet tips
It's worth remembering that the goal of parents should not be to keep their comfort from eating sweets (which is probably impossible), but to build a good relationship with food, including sweets.4. Do not give sweets to children under 2 years of age
The first few years of a child's life are the time when the parents have the greatest influence on what lands on the plate. Sugar and sweets from the store should not be a permanent part of the baby's diet until the age of 2. Of course, there is no need to make a problem with giving the baby a one-off, e.g. a piece of birthday cake. However, every day it is advisable to avoid not only white sugar, but also brown sugar, xylitol, honey, syrup and other substitutes.5. Take a look at the product labels
It is worth considering how much sugar the whole family eats. Sugar can be found in yogurt, breakfast cereal, beverages, dried fruit, etc. Sweet drinks should be replaced with water (you can add fruit, such as citrus and must), and sweet breakfast cereals with oat, lamb or maize cereals (without sugar in the packaging).6. Give me a good example
Children learn by imitating. What kind of relationship a child will have with sweets is largely dependent on what their parents show them at home. If sweets are a tool, for example, to improve the mood in parents, it's easy to pass on this pattern to children.7. Don't divide food into allowed and forbidden
Sweets can be part of a healthy diet their quantity and quality are important. It is of course worth emphasizing that less healthy products (e.g. store candy) are better consumed less often. However, banning the consumption of sweets can have the opposite effect.8. Put in healthier alternatives
Preparing homemade sweets will be a very good idea when a child is hungry for something sweet. It is worth involving the little one in the preparation, e.g. cupcakes, cakes, oatmeal, waffles, cookies, fruit cocktail, and even ice cream. A good choice will also be to offer the child fresh or dried fruits (e.g., dactyls, plums, figs, morels, raisins).9. If a child gets candy as a gift, don't take it away
When a child enjoys a sweet present, it's worth considering it. If you take care of proper nutrition on a daily basis, occasional small deviations will not be a problem. You can decide with the child what portion of the candy he can eat right away and what he can leave for later. It's also worth talking to grandparents and other people without the child present and suggesting alternatives to the sweet gifts. You should also look at the menu at the place where the child attends. But if candy occurs in the funeral home or preschool, it is worth talking about it with the caregivers and finding an alternative together.
