Why is it we research all the safety information for childrens car seats, bike helmets etc, to make sure they are safe and looked after all the time!
Yet why do we not be so diligent about the children’s diet?
This is such an important matter and there needs to be a control put on this by manufacturers, retailers and even parents.
I watched a documentary that had a camera attached to a child’s head to show you the footage of what a child see’s when they are in a supermarket and department store in the UK. The products that are put at a child’s reach and eye level is disgusting – they were all fully processed foods, high in sugar, additives and preservatives.
I as a parent I understand this frustration because everywhere you go it’s a battle to prevent your children from asking due to their temptations.
In this documentary it was shown how manufacturers make the products with additives which are loaded with sugar to trigger off your dopamine (addictive hormone), making you come back for more. This is terrible how they are aware of what they are doing, but do not care about the lasting effects of what this can do to a child or an adult for that matter.
The retailers frustrate me just as much because it’s all about the profit, and I guarantee they will not be paying your medical bills, yet they want you to always have that “add on” product.
As always children’s diets do come down to the parents, and as much as the temptation is in their face all the time, it’s up to the parents to help educate the children as to why they can only have a “treat” sometimes, not everyday.
A typical breakfast is either boxed cereal or jam/honey/peanut butter toast with a milo and milk, or orange juice, sometimes it could be nothing for some children. I understand the battles I have two young boys myself, but a breakfast containing these items is full of sugar and no dense nutrients to help them get through the day at school. Our bodies are insulin resistant in the mornings and shouldn’t be having sugar at this time of the day – let alone in this amount.
As adults many of us eat a good protein and fat base breakfast to help us get through our day, to keep our brain alert and avoid the blood level spike due to excess sugar (causing hunger and brain fog).
Children having a breakfast full of sugar will be making them agitated before the first class is over and their brains would not hold or take in any information, due to them wanting more sugar or food.
A great breakfast for children can be egg and soldiers with pure butter on the toast, or scrambled eggs and bacon – if time is not on your side make egg and bacon pies the night before or on weekends so they have them ready in the morning.
You can make them yogurt with berries and homemade granola or nut muesli.
Another great option is smoothies – place full coconut milk, water, some protein powder, berries or banana (frozen are best), kale, chia seeds or flaxseed oil in a magic bullet or ninja and blend up. This is full of nutrients and most of all good fats that feed their brain, to help concentration at school.
I know the “lunch box” dilemma but I think this becomes a parent’s anguish more than the child’s. I make my own muffins or school “treat” without added sugars etc. If I don’t get time or they don’t like them, they don’t get them. It’s fruit and a sandwich or cheese and salami, it doesn’t worry them as half the time they are “too busy”. If you give your children enough good fats at breakfast, they won’t be hungry until they get home from school, and then you’ve got the ability to give them cheese, yogurt, guacamole dip etc that is giving them more good fats. So pack a simple lunch without all the sugary treats. (small packet of chicken chips you think is savoury actually contains 3 teaspoons sugar).
Children will eat when they are hungry, they do not go by the clock like adults do. This is a brilliant way to be, plus they do not count calories which is even better. Just be mindful of the foods you allow your children to have everyday as they can be loaded with hidden sugars which I will list below.
So many people say to me they don’t have sugar, but if you have any packet foods, sauces, breads, dry biscuits these all contain sugar.
Hidden in the ingredients such as
Agave nectar, barley malt, beet sugar, blackstrap molasses, brown rice syrup, cane sugar, caramel, carob syrup, coconut palm sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, crystalline fructose, date sugar, dehydrated cane juice, dextrin, dextrose, dried oat syrup, evaporated cane juice, cane juice crystals, glucose, golden syrup, gum syrup, honey, malt syrup, maltodextrin, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, palm sugar, sucrose, treacle, simple syrup, sucanat, turbinado and high fructose corn syrup.
These are all sugar additives and this is where you don’t realise you’re having sugar. The side effect on children can be very obvious once you know what is in the food. I guarantee once you take these out of their diets, their moods will change, so will their skin, energy levels, body odor and their alertness will be a lot better.
As I said – you take the time to make sure their car seats are safe, the car you drive is safe with airbags, their helmets are of a standard that will protect their brain if they fall – yet you are not looking after their brain by giving them copious amounts of sugar in their diets all day everyday?
Fact:
2 lolly snakes = 25gms
8 lolly snakes = 100gms
When the body consumes 100gms sugar it can shut down your immune system for up to 5 hours whilst it’s trying to process the sugar you’ve just pumped in.
Therefore in this case if you eat this many and then come into contact with people who have colds and coughs, you are even at a higher risk of getting sick.
Just be mindful as we come into this festive season with all the sweet treats around – the last thing you want over the christmas holidays is sick children or be sick yourself.
I know some days we pick our battles, but if you can help educate to your children why this is so important to their health – I guarantee one day they will appreciate what you do.
I explain to my children how all the sugar their uncle Wayne ate made him sick in his tummy and the doctors couldn’t help him and now he is in heaven.( Wayne’s diet was a lot of pepsi max, chips, chocolate and bread, icecream etc). This may sound full on to some of you – but it’s simply the truth – sugar feeds cancer! Kids need to understand this because the manufacturers and retailers sure don’t care.
Help educate your children – save their lives!
If you need any advice please contact me.
Yours in health
Kerrie
Professional health coach
Please note I do not diagnose and all the content above is based on research material I have read. If you have any major health concerns please see your medical practitioner or naturopath.
