Alternative Sweets for Your Child During the Holidays

Alternative Sweets

It seems that sweets and the holidays go hand-in-hand as an American tradition. Let’s face it, we are a society addicted to sugar in all of its forms. The brain releases mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, that explains the connection of sugar to one’s emotions. When we consume an excessive amount of sugar, our body first stores it as glycogen. If we do not utilize this stored energy form in a timely fashion, then the sugar ends up getting stored as fat, in the form of triglycerides.

It is important that youth learn good eating habits early on in order to prevent cavities and lifelong chronic illnesses. Coming off of Halloween and entering into Thanksgiving and Christmas poses itself as a challenge to tame the “sweet child”.

Here are some “HEALTHY HOLIDAY IDEAS” that you can encourage for your child:

1. Go apple picking with your child. You can make an assortment of tasty treats such as a warm apple pie, apple sauce or apple juice.

2. Provided there are no food allergies or that the child is not a young toddler, experiment with peanut butter in different foods. It contains 7 grams of protein in a serving of 2 tablespoons.

3. Encourage cooking and baking cookies with your child. This is a great opportunity to teach your child a lesson that “caring is sharing”. Children take pride in bringing a cookie to a teacher, neighbor, or as treats into a classroom for their peers.

4. Instead of giving your child something sweet as a gift during the holidays, give them something that is non-food related. Be aware that the gifts should be age appropriate. Various toys, especially small toys, jewelry and other small objects can be choking hazards for children under age 4.

Like “Save Your Kids Now” fan page on Facebook to receive daily updates. Be a part of this interactive community designed for both adults and children to discuss real issues pertaining to today’s youth along with practical solutions for any of today’s unique challenges. For more information on helping a child obtain overall SUPER HEALTH, please visit: www.doughaddad.com.

Douglas Haddad is a full-time public school teacher in Connecticut and the author of parenting/child guidance book Save Your Kids…Now! The Revolutionary Guide To Helping Youth Conquer Today’s Challenges and co-author of Top Ten Tips For Tip Top Shape: Super Health Programs For All Professional Fields.

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• Doug’s Weight Loss Plan Without the Sugar Cravings
• Doug’s out of the Classroom “Sweet Tooth” Rules to Follow This Summer
• Sugar Addiction
• How to Create A Healthy Easter Basket What Every Parent Should Know!
• The Scary Truth about Halloween Candy
• Fun Food Apps to Encourage Healthy Eating
• Focus on Color

This post originally appeared on our November/December 2012 Magazine