When I came to Albania, my first shock regarding children was how they were treated here. They are little creatures beloved by their parents and grandparents. They are treated with overwhelming love, and this love is manifested in every possible way inside and outside homes. I sow grandparents carrying their grandchildren in their arms, kids being kissed, hugged and cuddled with love.
This part is nice and shows how much people love and respect their children.
Unfortunately, there is another way they express their love: grandparents manifest love for children through gifts. And there is a problem.
Grandma and grandfather love the grandchildren the most in the world and want to please them, understandably. But how do they manifest it? Giving sweets, junk food, sugary snacks, drinks, cakes, biscuits, bun; buying pastries, sweets, chocolate, bars, and ice creams…
This is what grandparents usually, do for their grandchildren for every possible occasion: when they pick them up from school, on the walk to the park, for a playdate in the afternoon…. I saw children with a pack of Molto brioches and chips in the morning hours. Is this supposed to be a healthy, nutritive breakfast for a productive, active day at school for a child?
Sugar in all forms are easily available, colorful and rustling – very attracting for the youngest children. If it’s easily available, everyone gives it, its yummy!
So, what’s the whole scandal about sugar?
Dear Grandma!!!
You are used to showing your love, but we all mean the love and the best development of children. That is why we show our feelings wisely!
Foods that are high in added sugar (soda, cookies, cake, candy, frozen desserts, and some fruit drinks) tend to be high in calories and low in nutrition. A high-sugar diet is often linked with obesity, and too many sugary foods can lead to tooth decay. And this is only the Iceberg of health problems caused by sugar.
That’s why this post is for you, Dear Grandparents!
I know that by feeding and giving sweets you show love. However, because of the ubiquitous availability of sugar- over the years they cause weight gain and contribute to many civilization diseases: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, tooth decay, and hyperactivity.
How to sweeten life without fattening?
Here are a few very strong MYTHS (“Myths: a widely held but false belief or idea”) about sweets that Grandparents UNIVERSALLY seems used:
- But everyone does that …
- A child has the right to childhood and happiness – without sweetness is excluded….
- All the children like sweets and they do not like vegetables…
- The sugar is comforting…
- We gave sweets to our children, we ate them and we are still alive
- It’s an exaggeration with this fashion on stress-free upbringing and quirking with food….
- Everything is for people…
- How can I come to my granddaughter empty-handed?
- The brain develops better with sugar…
Consider these facts:
- Each 12-ounce (355-ml) serving of a carbonated, sweetened soft drink has the equivalent of 10 teaspoons(49 ml) of sugar and 150 calories.
- Only 6 teaspoons are recommended for a child aged 2-16 per day!
We need to fight this together!
Awareness regarding healthy feeding may save children from the harmful effects of fast food in this area.
The goal is the health of OUR children. The food corporations add sugar virtually to all products, regardless of health costs, for them the sale counts. They don’t care about our children’s brain and body development – they just want to sell.
Consumption of diet reach in sugar, saturated fat, salt, and calories in children can lead to the early development of health hazards. There are various reasons for the consumption of such food by children. Most fast food users know well about the negative effects associated with fast food consumption. However, they take fast food without considering their health complications.
In the past, sweets were not as available as today, more 20-30 years ago we did not eat such a huge amount of food. Food became available, but it lost a lot of quality. We, adults, know it, children are innocent, we must protect them, it is much easier to do so together – parents and grandparents- then against each other.
Sweets and arrangements
I write the above text as a teacher, but also as a daughter and mother. I also had to sit down with my mother-in-law and my dad to set rules on sweets. Because my daughter is an ore when she eats too much sugar, she does not want to hear anything for a short time. In short, it is an ore – it rarely demands food, she’s is picky. However, I also understand my grandparents, so I collaborated on the idea that my daughter gets bitter chocolate, once a week home baking and juice when they are at their grandparents. At home, I do not suggest such delicacies daily. Everyone is happy.
Myths: But children do not like healthy things …
I guarantee you if you leave the products rich in sugar, it will become MAGIC!
Just 7 days and the toddler will find out for water, fruit and even vegetables. It can cease to be an omega, and with curiosity, it will taste new. The rule is one! WE DISPOSE of SUGAR!
My little children and their parents often are surprised, and skeptical first. After following the above suggestions, they notice that children have better concentration, are less agitated and nervous.
They sleep better, are more cooperative, and even begin to help with making meals.
If you’re interested in a list of foods and easy receipts that every child needs to get daily, read this article: My life – My health. We are what we eat, click here.
What kind of sweets to serve? Best of any sweets, especially bought, only once a week, or on special occasions. Every day we offer healthy alternatives:
- free lyophilized fruit and vegetable chips (but those dried, not fried).
- Seasonal fruits, (alone or as an addition to natural yogurt).
- dark chocolate.
- smoothie.
- home-made ice cream, sorbets, frozen yogurt.
From time to time, like a Sunday dinner, homemade pastries. The principle is very simple – in the past, even 20-30 years ago, sweets on the table appeared once a week, most often at Sunday lunch. Their creation required a lot of work – buying ingredients, mixing, making, baking cake, making cookies, making ice cream – so let’s get back to it!
The fact that all these things are available in the store does not mean that we have to buy them.
Also, for picky children, some ideas work! I put them all together in this text about making meals happy moments in the family, the celebration of food and how to put stress away with children at the table.
Please, find the whole article here.
5 languages ??of love
There is a great theory by Gary Chapman that each of us has 3 languages ??of love, two dominant and one auxiliary. You can read more about this in the article on the 5 languages ??of love, CLICK HERE.
On the other hand, young children need all of them (languages ??of love), which are words, time, help, gifts and touch. Not only SWEETS!
Alternatives to sweets
However, if you necessarily insist on presents, the same as the sweets on the market are:
- Stationery – stickers, notebooks, pencils, pens. Erasers, colored chalk, coloring books, masks.
- Products: play-dough, modeling, stamps, punches, paints.
- Soap bubbles, liquids, bath balls.
- Small toys: balls, balls. Small mascots, stuffed animals, dolls, cars.
Therefore, it is better to spend money on this type of little things, the child’s smile the same, and how much more health and creativity!
The grandparents are THE BEST! Also, nothing will win the love of grandchildren more than attention and time spent with them!
Words of love, appreciation, support, hugging. A walk together, bikes, cinema are sweeter than any chocolate, leave memories for years, and trust me with the word Grandparents do not have to get their feelings. We love you anyway just because you are! Dissolve at will, someone must, but do it wisely!
And what is your experience with grandparents and sugar? Did you decide about the struggle?
If you liked the article, show it to your parents and parents-in-law, maybe it will be a good way to discuss it together?
