Doug’s out of the Classroom “Sweet Tooth” Rules to Follow This Summer

Sweet Tooth Rules
Vacation wouldn’t be complete without those summer treats for the kids. It is important to let kids eat sweets. Research shows that restricting different foods compels a child to desire that food over others. Allowing children to have a small amount of sweets each day helps them develop a healthy relationship with food and a sense of balance.
SWEET TOOTH RULE #1 – Stock the home with a variety of healthy, sweet choices for the children.
This will allow them to experience the sweet taste in a variety of different foods and reap the health benefits. The key thing to look out for in foods that contain sugar is that all sugars are not created equally. Some foods contain high levels of sugar that can spike your blood glucose levels rapidly such as sugars found in candies, cookies, and chocolate bars. This can lead to an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Related: Focus on Color
SWEET TOOTH RULE #2 – Get the kids active and burning calories
Getting your kids active not only helps them become physically fit, but also helps to build confidence and a stronger positive feeling about themselves and the world around them. Many foods are naturally sweet, without the potentially harmful consequences associated with high sugar content that contribute to weight gain and tooth decay. However, if you are at an amusement park and your child wants a funnel cake, cotton candy, or a snow cone as a treat, go for it and then pump up the activity that day to burn those calories!
Related: How Do You Get Your Kids Active?
(Continued on page 2)