Kids should consume no more than 25g of added sugar per day. This roughly equates to 6 teaspoons and includes sugar found in candy, soda, cookies, cakes and other processed foods (it doesn’t include sugar found in fruit and vegetables, which is processed in a different way – making it healthier).
Regularly consuming more than this can be bad for your child’s health. While you can check the ingredients of foods to work out how much sugar you’re giving your child, an easier way to tell just how much sugar your child is getting is to look out for the signs of overconsumption. Below are just some of the telltale signs to look out for.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay in children is almost always caused by eating too much sugar (and possibly not brushing teeth properly). Cavities may be noticeable or may be hidden at the back of the teeth. It’s worth seeing a family and cosmetic dentist twice per year to check your child’s dental health. Catch signs of decay and plaque early and you can take measures to preserve the health of your kids’ teeth.
Weight gain
Weight gain in children is often the result of a poor diet combined with lack of exercise. Heavy consumption of sugar can often lead to weight gain. Often the body doesn’t know how to process excess amounts of sugar and so converts it into fat. By cutting back on sugary foods, you can prevent your child from gaining any more weight.
Mood changes
There is much debate among scientists as to whether sugar makes kids hyperactive. It certainly makes them more energised and therefore less likely to want to sit still. The real noticeable mood change however is during the sugar comedown – kids may become moody, tired and irritable during this period. Most parents find that by reducing sugar from their kids’ diet, their kids have less mood changes and are more well-behaved.
Trouble getting to sleep
Kids can have trouble getting to sleep for various reasons, but one common reason is consuming too much sugar throughout the day – particularly in the evening. If your child can’t sleep, consider whether they’ve had any candy or sugary drinks within the last couple hours. If so, it could be worth cutting out any processed sugary foods beyond 6pm.
Rejecting healthy foods/sugar cravings
Does your child refuse to drink water or milk, instead only wanting to drink juice or soda? Do they turn down fruit, instead asking for chocolate or candy? This could be a sign that your child is consuming too much sugar and is now addicted. Weaning a child off sugar when they have cravings can be difficult, but could be necessary for protecting their health in the future. Consider creative ways of serving up fruit that kids may find more fun, or consider putting water or milk in cups with fun straws. This can help your kids to get more excited about these healthy foods and drinks.
