Alternative Sweets for Your Child During the Holidays
Alternative Sweets
It seems that sweets and the holidays go hand-in-hand as an American tradition. Let’s face it, we are a society addicted to sugar in all of its forms. The brain releases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, that explains the connection of sugar to one’s emotions. When we consume an excessive amount of sugar, our body first stores it as glycogen. If we do not utilize this stored energy form in a timely fashion, then the sugar ends 
up getting stored as fat, in the form of triglycerides.
It is important that youth learn good eating habits early on in order to prevent cavities and lifelong chronic illnesses. Coming off of Halloween and entering into Thanksgiving and Christmas poses itself as a challenge to tame the “sweet child”.
Here are some “HEALTHY HOLIDAY IDEAS” that you can encourage for your child:
1. Go apple picking with your child. You can make an assortment of tasty treats such as a warm apple pie, apple sauce or apple juice.
2. Provided there are no food allergies or that the child is not a young toddler, experiment with peanut butter in different foods. It contains 7 grams of protein in a serving of 2 tablespoons.
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