{"id":16104,"date":"2017-08-14T13:20:29","date_gmt":"2017-08-14T17:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caloriecontrol.org\/managing-your-childs-sweet-tooth\/"},"modified":"2020-11-06T00:17:00","modified_gmt":"2020-11-06T05:17:00","slug":"managing-your-childs-sweet-tooth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caloriecontrol.org\/managing-your-childs-sweet-tooth\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Your Child\u2019s Sweet Tooth"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Ellen Stokes, MS, RD, LD —<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOlivia loves sugar so much that if she had her way, she would live off of gummy bears and popsicles,\u201d her frustrated mother said. \u201cYou\u2019re a dietitian \u2013 tell me \u2013 is that normal?\u201d<\/p>\n

Normal? Yes.  Challenging?  Absolutely!<\/p>\n

Concerned parents may believe their children are the only ones who seem to have been born <\/em>with a sweet tooth, but the truth is, we all were.<\/p>\n

A preference for sweetness, specifically the taste of lactose in breast milk, is crucial to an infant\u2019s survival.  At the same time, rejecting unfamiliar substances that taste bitter is protective against eating something that could be poisonous.  Unfortunately, some vegetables, especially the leafy green ones, can have a bitter edge to them which could explain why they may be a no-go for your child.<\/p>\n

Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center tested solutions of varying sweetness on children and adults.  They found children preferred solutions that were twice as sweet as the most sugary solutions that adults could tolerate.<\/p>\n

The good news is when most children reach adulthood, their tastes have changed. This preference shift has led researchers to speculate that while bones are still growing they send hormonal signals to the brain to eat more sugar.  Once bone growth stops, the appetite for extra helpings of sugar tends to slow down as well.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s important to understand that there are biological forces involved in your child\u2019s seemingly insatiable sweet tooth, it\u2019s equally important not to give into his or her desire for sugar overload.<\/p>\n

Here are three approaches to gently steer your child to a more balanced diet:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Patterning<\/u><\/strong>: Are your kids used to seeing you reach for a handful of cookies when you get home from work or eat a donut as you drive carpool in the morning? Several studies have found that if the parents have a poor diet pattern, the children tend to as well. So, if you want your children to eat more healthfully, you may need to change your own dietary habits first. But, keep in mind that successful patterning is about being a good role model, not about controlling children\u2019s eating habits through bribes, threats, or coercion.<\/li>\n
  2. Planning:<\/u><\/strong> Another good way to bring balanced, sound nutrition to your family is to plan ahead. That means putting together a weekly menu, creating a shopping list, and sticking to that list at the supermarket. Planning a menu may sound like extra work, but you will actually save time and energy \u2013 and probably money \u2014 by being prepared. Also, having a weekly menu in place gives children an opportunity to look forward to eating a good dinner, instead of filling up on sugary snacks.<\/li>\n
  3. Providing<\/u><\/strong>. When you\u2019re planning the menu, keep in mind your child\u2019s taste preferences by providing a touch of sweetness here and there. This will encourage your child\u2019s acceptance of a wider variety of nutritious foods.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Here are some suggestions to work into your menu:<\/strong><\/p>\n