Parenting the Third Years Sugar and behavior Does eating sugar - TopicsExpress

Parenting the Third Years Sugar and behavior Does eating sugar make children hyperactive? Lots of people think so, but more than a dozen scientific studies show this is a myth. Why, then do children seem so “hyper” after Halloween or a big birthday party? It probably has nothing to do with the sugar, but a lot to do with the excitement of the day. So, should you let your child eat freely from the candy bag Of course not? Sugar contributes to tooth decay and provides empty calories that can easily take the place of more nutritious foods and lead to obesity. Besides, some sweet treats like chocolate and colas have caffeine in them, and caffeine is a stimulant. Nutrition: Snacks with appeal Your child was born liking sweet things. That’s why snacks like popsicles, cakes, cookies, and candy are so appealing. They all tend to be high in sugar and very sweet. But these snacks offer little in the way of good nutrition. They provide calories, but almost no vitamins or minerals. They can also lead to dental problems. Many nutritious foods are naturally tasty and will appeal to your child. Here are suggestions: • Fruit juice. Instead of fruit-flavored drinks, offer 100 percent fruit juice. Read the label carefully. Look for 100 percent juice. If it says fruit drink, cocktail, or punch, it’s not 100 percent juice. When you use frozen fruit juice concentrate, add an extra can of water. If you buy bottled or canned fruit juice, dilute it with water before your child drinks it. This will give it a milder flavor and stretch your food dollar. Too much juice isn’t great for children either. Try to limit juice intake to ½ cup each day. • Yogurt popsicles. If you have a blender, you can make yogurt popsicles. Drain liquid from a 16-ounce package of defrosted frozen fruit. Put the fruit in a saucepan. Add a tablespoon of unflavored gelatin. Heat slowly, stirring until the gelatin dissolves. Place this in a blender with 16 ounces of plain yogurt (2 cups). Blend together. Pour into paper cups. Insert plastic spoons as handles. Cover with foil to keep handles in place and freeze. • Snack-size pizza Split an English muffin, and spread about 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce on each half. Sprinkle with grated low-fat cheese and some chopped vegetables. Put your mini-pizza under the oven broiler or in a toaster oven until cheese melts. • Quesadillas. These are easy, popular snacks for children. Sprinkle low-fat cheese on half of a flour tortilla. Fold the other half over the cheese half. Heat in a frying pan or oven at low heat until the cheese melts. This also works well in a microwave. You can add shredded meat, chopped vegetables, or beans with the cheese. Dip in salsa or tomato sauce. • “Ants on a log”. Place peanut butter down the center of a celery stick. Put some raisin halves on top. It’s ready to eat! Note: This snack is better for toddlers who have all their teeth and can chew well. • Low-fat cheese or peanut butter on crackers. • Cut-up veggies and low-fat ranch dressing or dip. • Cut-up fruit dipped in yogurt.