Quite recently, being the New Year holidays, my family and I took a much needed holiday. We escaped to the seaside for some recommended rejuvenation of body and soul. Holidaying with four children cannot sometimes be deemed a holiday but I was determined to make the best of the situation. Enveloped in the beauty of the sand, sea and sun, I banished my strict parenting rules and regulations and allowed the children to frolic to their hearts content.

This also trickled down to what they ate, so at the buffet table where my plate would be filled with a selection of delectable goodies, my son’s plate would only be filled with dessert, doughnuts petering high on a foundation of gooey chocolate cake. Being a mother though I couldn’t help but try and get him to eat a few spoonfuls of normal food, but rather than avoid a quarrel, I usually left him to his choices. Of course this was a very bad decision on my part for as the copious amount of sugar consumed hit his bloodstream his behavior shifted from a range of hyper silliness to uncontrollable tears at the slightest mention of the word ‘No”.

Have you ever thought how sugar adversely affects our children’s behaviour? According to the American Heart Association, children usually between the ages of 1 and 3 consume about 12 teaspoons of sugar each day. Typically they should be having only 1 to 3. I’m sure in our neck of the woods it must be even more considering all the snacks and sugary treats there are in the market. Sometimes we are under the impression that children can consume anything without it adversely affecting their bodies, unlike us adults. Eat a slice of cake and we can literally see the extra layer of fat nicely making an appearance. But the reality is that despite their abundance of youth, excessive sugar consumption still does affect children in the following ways:

1. Tooth Decay: In fact I have seen many children nowadays with plaque ridden teeth which has been worn away from excessive consumption of sugary fizzy drinks. They can also cause cavities which are painful to the child.

2. Behavioural Issues: According to the experts through sugar doesn’t cause bad behaviour in children. Though I can refute this theory with various cases studies in my house. The initial happy delight, silly behaviour, followed by the low, grumpy mood swings are the results of too much sugar.

3. Sugar Causes Obesity: This is also rampant problem in today’s Sri Lankan society. As children eat too much of sugary food, their calorie intake is excessive and this turns into fat. Also when children consume too many sugary snacks they also consume less healthy foods which are essential for their growth and development.

4. Sugar Can Lead To Diabetes: As children consume sugary foods, their bodies produce insulin to combat the sugar. When you consume too much sugar over a period of time this can lead to type 2 diabetes when the body is unable to produce the insulin needed. This can be a very crippling disease.

It is our responsibility to see that our children consume what is best for them. Beware of what they consume everyday. Sugar is hidden in many everyday foods that we don’t think twice about. Limit the number of packet juices or chilled milks that they consume, these are laden with sugar and that is why they taste so good. Avoid too many trips to the fast food joints, I am so guilt of grabbing them a burger when they have practices after school etc. These foods are filled with sugar and unnecessary calories for the growing children, which can do more harm than good.

Try and introduce healthy snacks instead of sugary. They can snack on some chopped fruit whilst they watch T.V and not some chocolate biscuits. Also control portions as much as you can, one occasional cookie is acceptable rather than a whole packet. After our sugar filled holiday I made it a conscious effort to limit the amount of sugar that they children eat. No occasional ice-cream treat on a hot afternoon followed by sugary sweet lemonade. With the reduction in sugar I noticed a definite change in their behaviour. Less mood swings, less tantrum and more reasonable behaviour, which is definitely a good thing. Cut down on your sugar intake, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your child.

By Mayuri Jayasinghe