https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:33:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction/page/2#post-2817851 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 08:28:45 +0000 pachamama 2817851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: I made it up so here's the main idea:</p> <p>Prepare 2 cups quinoa (I add 1 big tbsp of butter and some salt)<br /> peel and core about 5-6 Mac apples<br /> Simmer the thinly cut apples to 2 tbsp coconut oil in a large frying pan with:<br /> 1/8 cup water or apple juice (might need to add more)<br /> 1/8 cup maple syrup<br /> add some lemon juice<br /> add some pumpkin pie spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, etc)<br /> let the apples get soft<br /> add to quinoa. Enjoy warm or cold. </p> <p>You could add raisins and nuts too! </p> <p>boom. My kid ate a full cup of this last night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction/page/2#post-2817699 Sat, 21 Apr 2018 16:10:05 +0000 Mrs Panda 2817699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: yes, I work at home but mornings are still a mad rush to get kids out the door and to school on time and so I can get back in time for meetings.<br /> Not sure how accurate this is, but I read that for things with sugar but also high fiber content, you can subtract the fiber from the sugar for a “net” sugar level. Sometimes that helps with things like cereals and granola. </p> <p>Can you pass on the recipe for the quinoa apple bake? That sounds good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction/page/2#post-2817685 Sat, 21 Apr 2018 13:28:19 +0000 pachamama 2817685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: DO you work? I bring all my unwanted candy nto school. But I teach high schoolers so all the junk is gone in seconds! But in teh work place people always want a sweet treat<br /> I agonize about sugar. I think, along with processed foods, it has tremedoun potential to damage our kids health. EVERYTHING has sugar- I have scoured cereals for something under 9g (which is too much for a 2 year old at breakfast) and there is literally one organic bran flake brand. So we don't do cereal. Here are some thing we do.<br /> - oatmeal for breakfast with a few dates and some half and half. Dates are super sweet but it's a natural sweetner so I feel ok about 1 a day<br /> - I make this quinoa/ apple bake thing and the apple packs such a tart punch he doesn't realize he's eating a ton of protein and amino acids, etc with the coconut oil and quinoa (which, let's be real) is gross<br /> - after school snack: hard boiled egg, Kind Pressed Bars, grapes, clementine, cheese and Triscuits<br /> - no dessert (he's too young to know to ask so for now we are getting by with no sweets after dinner)<br /> I want to buy yummy snacks like Nutrigrain bars and cereal and "granola" bars but it is atrocious what these companies put into food and fool people into thinking is healthy. You have to basically be a detective to decode all their marketing bullshit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction/page/2#post-2817513 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 11:56:10 +0000 irene 2817513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I have no idea you are going through this!! We know someone who is going through the exact thing. He is the same age as my son (6 yo) and we were at the same daycare back then. We still have playdates with them from time to time. I was told he only eats 3-5 foods. Goldfish, pasta with nothing in it, and I don't know what else. If he finds out his pasta has a hint of something else in it he won't eat it. They are still struggling with it. His younger brother is completely fine with all foods. </p> <p>Back then when we didn't know them well, we were not sure if they were just weird or didn't want to hang out with us or what's the deal. We would invite them to have lunch / dinner with us after a play date, his mom always have a lot of excuses and decline. It was easy to judge, and I feel bad now that we know it is a real issue. </p> <p>Now we see them more, and I do notice he won't eat at birthday parties, not even cheese pizza. His mom told me if they were to go to a restaurant, they have to feed this child first before going because he won't eat anything. He is growing fine though (he's much taller than DS) and he is a funny and happy boy. Last time I heard they are going to a specialist. He would try new foods for the specialist, but not at home. I am still looking forward to the day we can all go eat at a restaurant together, haha.</p> <p>Hugs and Good luck to you! :heart: :goodluck: Everyone of us have our own little kinks/struggles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction/page/2#post-2817201 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:55:19 +0000 Mrs Panda 2817201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: that sounds tough. Not quite the same, but my older daughter went through a 2-year phase of absolutely refusing all fruits and vegetables, abruptly. She’d gag and scream and clamp her mouth shut at any attempt for us to give it to her. It was hard work, “sneaking” fruit and veggie purees into other things, taking a lot of crap for having a kid that doesn’t eat veggies, etc. Anyway, it’s not that we replaced fruit with candy, but she still really has to be convinced to eat fruit so giving fruit as a replacement for sweets is a tough one for us. My younger ones is a fruit fiend, though, so it totally works for her. </p> <p>@Anagram: yes to everything you said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817198 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:42:52 +0000 looch 2817198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram and @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I have a child that is a problem eater...not picky, but medically diagnosed as problem because of a mechanical problem that has manifested into a psychological problem. For a while, he ate only 5 foods, no deviations and it was very strict in terms of the brands.</p> <p>I find it very difficult to explain to other parents what we're dealing with, especially when they are trying to feed their child healthy options. I get it, I really do, but I am not lazy, I am not stupid, I have a child with a unique problem that eats chicken nuggets, boxed mac and cheese (although he'll also accept a homemade version with a hidden egg stirred in) and that was pretty much it for a few years. We're just now getting to the point where he's eating new foods, but when he comes home and tells me that other kids criticize his lunch choices, I know where that comes from and I wish parents would instead talk about how people eat different things and not label things good or bad. It's very difficult at this age because kids are literal, as Anagram wrote. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817197 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:06:47 +0000 Anagram 2817197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: The only thing I resent about this habit in American society to feed all these low-nutrition foods to kids is that if I don't want to do it that way, it creates a lot of extra work for me. I have to deal with more tantrums, I have to spend more time preparing homemade healthier versions (like homemade pancakes, homemade muffins, homemade mac and cheese so I can use real ingredients and throw in broccoli or pureed squash). </p> <p>I do kind of resent that my kids are "exposed" daily to all the processed junk that many average americans give their kids, but that's the way the world works here right now, so I have to do my best in this environment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817195 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 08:03:03 +0000 Anagram 2817195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: yes, daycare, school, or vacations where parents allow more treats, or other caregivers like grandparents is where they find out about these foods. Like...I had never in my life made Mac n Cheese at home for kids because I think it's a completely nutrition less meal. especially the boxed powder kind, but I also hadn't ever made the home made version. But my oldest daughter has friends who eat mac n cheese in their lunch almost every day, or chicken nuggets....so she started requesting those things, too. I do talk about how those things are not "every day" food items for us, but that's a hard line to walk because she's 4.5 and is very literal and is likely to go right to her friend the next day and tell her that mac n cheese is not an every day meal. Same with my 2.5 year old--we'd never given her pancakes in her daycare breakfast, but several of the other kids have frozen waffles or pancakes daily, so she started begging for them. My daughter also learned about Pirate's booty from her friends at school, and about Trader Joe's kettle corn, and unfortunately for me, our babysitter is a littler more liberal with treats than I'd like--like they are always celebrating someone's birthday, or going to Ben and Jerry's "free cone day" or celebrating a holiday with all the other sitters in our building, and these celebrations always involve treats I wouldn't be giving my kids otherwise.</p> <p>When we recently visited my in-laws, my MIL was giving my kids ice cream daily, so when I got home, we had a few days where I had to deal with tantrums over the fact that we are not having ice cream every night at home.</p> <p>Having said all that, those are boundaries I'm comfortable setting. Good food habits are important to me, so I'm okay with comforting them during a tantrum and holding the boundary that we aren't having various forms of treats several times a day. But my husband often gives in really easily when I'm not around. ha! So I often feel like I "lose" as often as I "win". Like my 2.5 year old has been begging for frozen pancakes because her daycare classmates get them--guess who came home with TWO boxes of Trader Joe mini pancakes?--my husband. Sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817189 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 06:21:37 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2817189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Real talk here, how are these kids initially introduced to some of these foods? RIE talks about adults creating habits for children. I took that as a way to be mindful of what we do with LO and feed him. He was introduced to Cheez Its at daycare and one time he saw a box at home (DH is snacking more) and exclaimed “crackers!” :shocked: He’s had graham crackers at daycare in fact they served it with cream cheese dip :bummed: , but I haven’t bought them for home.</p> <p>Even based on this thread I went back to look at the yogurt we have in the fridge for LO. Chobani (protein 12 g, sugar 15 g) Breakstones cottage cheese (protein 10 g, sugar 5 g) and Activia ( no details on the individual packages). Of course I need to figure out if those numbers are bad. I knew GoGurt the yogurt in unnatural colors marketed to kids is bad, but what about the ones I have been feeding him? :bummed: I have the buying power not LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817184 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 01:46:24 +0000 PurplePeony 2817184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is also a sugar fiend and breakfast is the hardest meal. She likes sugary cereal and I buy the lowest sugar versions I can find but I still think it’s too much. So lately I’ve been mixing it half-and half with plain cereal (for example, the Cascadian Farms version of Fruit Loops has 7g sugar per serving, and I mix it in equal partions with the unflavored Os that have 1g. She doesn’t notice and it cuts down on the overall sugar content). We also have her dip pancakes/waffles/French toast in a little dish of syrup instead of pouring it on top, so we can control the portion more easily. If she eats it too fast and doesn’t have enough for her whole pancake, tough. I’ve also been encouraging her to dip her pancakes in applesauce instead of syrup.</p> <p>We only keep plain (usually homemade) yogurt in our house so DD isn’t really used to the sweetened ones, but the half-and-half trick would work for yogurt too if you buy it in the big tubs rather than individual cups. Or add a bit of jam or honey to plain yogurt — it’s still better than the store bought sweetened ones.</p> <p>For a healthy snack, we have silicone freezer pop molds and blend up plain unsweetened yogurt with whatever fruit she wants to make pops. She feels like she’s getting away with something because she eats a lot of them, but I don’t restrict them (our pop molds are really small — like 2 or 3 tablespoons per pop).</p> <p>While I know DD eats less sugar on a daily basis than most kids, I’m always looking for ways to cut it more because we do sabotage it with bakery treats or gelato more often than we should... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817175 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 23:07:58 +0000 peaches1038 2817175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just don’t really buy any sweets. DS is 2.5 and he has eggs and toast or steel cut oatmeal with fruit for breakfast, lunch on the weekends is usually leftovers and the only snacks we buy are cheese sticks, granola bars, plain whole fat Greek yogurt and fruit. I do like to get one package of cookies a week and he will have one or two but that’s it (mostly because I have a major sweet tooth and want to eat them myself hahah) He thinks his fish oil gummies and vitamins are treats hahah<br /> I like this oatmeal. It cooks in 2 minutes knthe microwave and then we put it in the freezer for a few minutes to cool down. It’s super fast, which is necessary for 2 WOH parents. They have other flavors, but we just get the plain and I sprinkle some cinnamon in it with blueberries or cut up banana. <a href="https://www.postconsumerbrands.com/better-oats/steel-cut-original/" rel="nofollow">https://www.postconsumerbrands.com/better-oats/steel-cut-original/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817156 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 18:11:37 +0000 Mrs Panda 2817156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: 6 and 4. Yes, I think we do need to talk more about healthy choices, and also find a way not to keep things around! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817121 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 13:16:24 +0000 Mrsbells 2817121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: how old are they. I find that its helpful to have a ongoing discussion about healthy food choices and the benefits and consequences. My 6 year old is really started to understand things but its been years of talking about it.<br /> Regarding actually candy once halloween is she gets to pick 1 or 2 to eat and i take the rest to work and i did the same at all holidays. Honestly we are at the point where we have jars of canary on display and it goes past the expiration date because they have no expectation of getting anysand dont even ask for it anymore </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817110 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 12:32:55 +0000 Mommy Finger 2817110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are carb fiends and breakfast is a struggle. I don't have time to make eggs or much of anything in the morning so I rely on my freezer. I will regularly batch cook french toast so that they get the protein from the egg. I also started buying the kodiak pancake mix. It's more expensive but also packs a protein punch when made with egg and whole milk instead of water. The sugar count is low. My older one likes syrup but we try to limit that. Thankfully, my little doesn't eat syrup. We did get in the habit of offering treats after dinner but we're taking something super small like a few chocolate chips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2817107 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 12:19:04 +0000 brownepiano 2817107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids eat homemade granola and yogurt for breakfast most days (with bagels and cream cheese mixed in for variety). I make the granola with oats, oil, molasses, rice crsipies, and salt. We add raisins after it's done. The recipe is super easy and makes enough for the week. The yogurt is also plain homemade yogurt so no added sweeterners other than the molasses. The kids like it and don't complain (although they know store yogurt is different). I have had friend's kids complain the yogurt is sour though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816972 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 22:33:26 +0000 Mrs Panda 2816972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: thanks! It’s always one struggle or another! 🙃 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816961 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 20:32:42 +0000 irene 2816961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennibenni: Hmm not particularly. Back then we went to the library every week (now at 6 we are so busy with baseball and extra reading from school to go to the library, sigh), and we borrow 10+ books each time to read at bedtime. I stumbled upon this section where they have a lot of nutrition books for children. We just read them all one after the other each week! </p> <p>There was one set that I am quite fond of - there were 5 or 6 books in the series: Protein, Grains, Diary, Vegetables, Fruits, and oil/sweets. Each book talks about why are they good for us and what do they have that our body needs (eg. protein builds muscles, carbohydrates provide energy...etc.), and then it shows where does the category live on the food pyramid, and how much do we need per day. They are very thin, simple, easy, picture-heavy books. In general I just love how all the books we read talks about the same thing but in different perspectives. This, together with our food journal, really helps involving DS in learning and remembering. Give it a try at your local library!</p> <p>@Mrs Panda: Yes they learn things at school, but it doesn't hurt to repeat it at home so it sticks. I do find reading books (a ton of them about the same thing) really helps convince DS. Kids don't listen to their parents, but they listen to "authorities", like their teachers, or authors. Don't do it as a mission, just say oh I saw these in the library and I want to learn about it with you guys together....etc. The food journal can be a fun competition between them (or the family!) to see who can get the right amount every day. </p> <p>RE : Why does mommy not eat yummy things -- my son LOVES donuts too, and who knows how often they get it at school (!) Sometimes if we get donuts (or anything sweet, such as DH's overly sweet Starbucks mocha), I'd take a bite/ sip, make a face and I'd go, gosh, this is way too sweet. How does anyone eat anything that sweet? I like sweets too, but only occasionally and definitely not a gigantic donut. Maybe a bite or two. This is way too much, yuck (and it is true). Then of course I'd start going off on how donuts are fried, and remember oil is also on the tip of the food pyramid, haha. I don't know if it sticks or if it ever works, but it doesn't hurt to sometimes casually rub it in their face that sweets are "frowned upon", ha.</p> <p>I do think that there should be a family meeting about limited sweets at home from now on. I agree with @misolee: no holiday candy at home is a good start. Make a plan, present it to them (when they are well rested, in the morning), and stick to it. Hopefully no one throws a fit..... such a delicate and sensitive matter...</p> <p>I know it is hard, sending good thoughts and I wish you a lot of luck!! :heart: :goodluck: :goodluck: :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816890 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:10:11 +0000 misolee 2816890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also agree with out of sight out of mind theory. If my two year old sees it, he’ll want it, demand for it, cry, etc. He never asks for it if he doesn’t see it. My five year old is odd bc she doesn’t like candy or cake. </p> <p>With holiday treats, we pick one or two. And then we throw it out. I used to keep it but I always ended up throwing it out the next holiday. Or for Halloween, we donated it to a dentist who sent it to the troops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816885 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:50:19 +0000 Mrs Panda 2816885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pancakes: thanks for the tip on the “hint of” yoghurts - I consider yoghurt a treat because of all the sugar, but those sound like they could be a better breakfast option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816884 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:45:42 +0000 Jennibenni 2816884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: Any specific book titles you can recommend? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816883 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:44:15 +0000 Mrs Panda 2816883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: frozen kind...with honey or sometimes maple syrup. 😬 Yes, i could definitely improve on that by making it myself, cutting out the syrup! @irene: DD1 has learned about the food pyramid in school, and she knows/understands it’s not good for her...but she just loves it soooo much. DH and I do eat healthy and we never make separate dinners for the kids. Breakfasts are hard because it’s such a rush, and DH and I don’t eat until we get to work. My kids know DH and I don’t eat sweets or candy and it baffles them. They often ask “Mommy, why don’t you like yummy things?” 😂@2PeasinaPod: frozen bananas is a great idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816878 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:33:58 +0000 Anagram 2816878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: the food pyramid or Myplate idea is a good one! I think my old enough would "get" a visual representation of healthy foods if we talked about what she ate all day. I may try that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816863 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 12:46:42 +0000 irene 2816863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing I believe will help is, go to the library and reserve / borrow books about the food pyramids. We had a phase where we were reading every single one of them, and we create our own pyramids. It is clear that sugary sweets are all the way up top, and it is listed 0-1 servings in all books. Try to brainwash them first (haha) . </p> <p>When we were reading these books in a weekly basis, DS and I had a small journal. We would look at what he had for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and use tally marks to mark down how many servings he has for each of these food groups. If we didn't have enough veggies at lunch, we'll make sure we eat more veggies at night. If we didn't have sweets the whole day, we'll have a dessert after dinner...etc. He loves doing it and he loves to fulfil the serving requirements for all the categories. We learn about serving sizes, healthy eating and the food pyramid, and it was fun.</p> <p>Then of course, you can thrown in extra incentive: If they fulfil all categories (including not going over 0-1 servings of sweets), you can put a sticker / draw a star on that day...etc. </p> <p>Another thing is, do you and your DH models healthy eating/snacking for your kids? I used to drink a lot of soda and eat cookies and junk like no one's business, but since birth and my lowered metabolism (due to aging haha), I eat a lot of vegetables, salads, fruits...etc. and I don't snack on processed carbs and sugar. DS knows that mommy eats salad and it becomes a norm that eating salad is just what people do. We drink water as a family when we go to a restaurant, never soda or juices (with coffee for the grown ups occasionally and milk for DS). For Halloween / Easter and such, he knows that he can pick a few candies, and that's it. DH takes all the candies to work and leave it in the break room.</p> <p>ETA: DS doesn't get hungry and doesn't eat a lot of snacks (not sure it is a good thing because he is built pretty small I wish he would eat more), but when it comes time, I always offer fruits or cheese. I'd say, for snacks, do you want grapes or apples or blueberries or strawberries or carrot sticks? so he has a choice between those lol. Or when it is weekend, I'll have a big bowl of grapes and we both munch on it. For school, sometimes I'd make a mini sandwich with sun-butter + banana slices for him as snacks, plus a bit of fruit.</p> <p>ETA2: For breakfast for us, I batch make pancakes and muffins which i'd kept frozen and re-heat every morning. I use recipes that uses bananas and honey as sweeteners instead of actual sugar, and I put in dark chocolate chips. For store bought items (cereal and such), I'd have to go through the nutritional values of the boxes to figure out what has the least sugars. DS is a creature of habit. Each morning he eats 2 pancakes/mini-muffins, a fried egg and half a sliced banana. </p> <p>I hope you can turn the ship around smoothly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816853 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 12:21:29 +0000 Anagram 2816853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: When you do pancakes and waffles, are the homemade or the frozen kind?</p> <p>My girls suddenly this year developed a thing for muffins---I think because kids at their school eat them. But most muffins are basically cake and I don't love giving that to them in the morning. So I started making homemade ones, where I control the ingredients a little more. My husband (who never cooks or bakes!) just helped the kids make pumpkin muffins on Sunday to have a quick-to-grab breakfast. We usually cut the sugar quite a bit, but add in tiny mini chocolate chips so it still seems like a "treat", but is less sugary overall. If you want a healthier mix, try the Kodiac Cakes muffin mixes. </p> <p>For pancakes and waffles, will they accept healthier homemade version? My kids will eat almost anything if it's in mini form. Neither of them will eat a full size pancake or waffle, but will eat even a healthy version (like almond flour, or with butternut squash puree added) if I make them mini.</p> <p>Otherwise, I think you have to slowly phase it out. We were just on vacation, where the kids got to eat all kinds of junk, and my youngest especially had some major tantrums once we got home, demanding ice cream and cookies and candy. I had to hide all the ice cream and treats so I can open the freezer and say, "We don't have any". A few days of "not having any" reset her expectations.</p> <p>Since my kids are going to be 3 and 5 soon, I've loosened up on the sugar stuff a little, but like you, I also don't want it to be a several-times-a-day habit. And when you think of a muffin for breakfast, animal crackers for a snack, something like mac n cheese or pizza for lunch, and then chicken nuggets for dinner, you suddenly have a whole day that really lacks nutrition. While I let my kids eat everything I just listed, to try to split it into days where the rest of the offering are more healthy. So if I allow mac n cheese for dinner, then it's going to be on a day where they had eggs and fruit for breakfast, and chicken/rice/broccoli for lunch with some carrot sticks and guac for a snack. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816847 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:55:58 +0000 Pancakes 2816847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids like rice Chex, Rice Krispies, and Kix, and Puffins cereal, all of which are pretty low sugar. Multigrain waffles with cream cheese and a touch of jam are another decent low sugar option. My kids like yogurt but that can have a shocking amount of sugar (I know some is naturally found in milk, but beyond that). I will buy tubs of plain and vanilla and mix those to cut the sugar. Chobani has come out with yogurt cups that are “a hint of” (strawberry, cherry, blueberry, etc) and are 8-10 grams of sugar less than regular cups. My kids still get tons of sugar and it’s something we are constantly working on. I’m okay with making better choices where I can. Also, my kids also want to eat something in the car rightthisminute when I pick them up, so if I bring something then I can control how sugary it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816842 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:46:38 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2816842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: Well poo! French toast might be another good way to "trick" them into getting some additional protein in there with the egg! </p> <p>Ooh...and what about freezing a banana and giving that to them for an afternoon snack? Or mashing a frozen banana and having banana "ice cream"? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816834 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:24:26 +0000 Mrs Panda 2816834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: no allergies but neither of them<br /> Likes peanut butter. The only candies they’re happy with me taking away are the reese’s! I haven’t tried other butters, though - it’s a good idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816832 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:23:04 +0000 Mrs Panda 2816832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: oh, the out of sight out of mind tip is wonderful. And vitamins as treats - great idea!<br /> @Mrs D: I wish there was a way just to never let them know about these things! We’ve managed to keep sugary drinks out of their lives, and I am dreading when they learn about those!<br /> @Mrs D: the berries in a cone with homemade whipped cream - I would eat that with them!<br /> @Madison43: I wish my kids would eat avocado and raw bell pepper! But cucumbers and olives they do like!<br /> @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I feel bad about wasting too, DH says just because it’s eaten doesn’t mean it’s not “wasted” - especially something with no nutritional value. </p> <p>So many good ideas - I’m motivated to tackle this! Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816830 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:19:21 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2816830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: Any allergies? DS2 is a peanut butter fiend...so we will do English Muffins with peanut butter on in the morning. If they are allergic to peanuts or you have to have a school friendly breakfast, Wow Butter is DS1's choice (he has a tree nut allergy, but is not allergic to peanuts). This way, you get protein in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sugar-addiction#post-2816823 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 11:06:57 +0000 gingerbebe 2816823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Panda: Great job! One thing that has also helped us is training their eyes to what they see in the kitchen. We have a walk in pantry that is always closed with a child lock on it so they can't get in there themselves and keep the more acceptable snacks like pretzels or peanut butter crackers and dried fruit on the shelves that would be eye level to them if they walked in with me. We keep treats up high and behind other boxes and bins so they are not visible. Cereal is also kept on a slightly higher shelf, although I don't have a problem with them eating it as a snack - its just the potential mess of grabbing a box.</p> <p>I don't really keep food out on our kitchen counters EXCEPT for our 2-tier fruit basket and a jar of peanut butter. One tier holds fruit and the other holds our bread. So they always see tangerines and apples and bananas out, its colorful, it draws their eye, and they ask for it. I would say 7 nights a week, someone is asking me for something out of the fruit basket. DS1 will also often ask for a PBJ because he sees the bread and PB out. I can quickly add a smear of all-fruit spread from the fridge and hand it to him. </p> <p>We have a garage fridge that we stow all the kid stuff like pouches, ice cream, frozen waffles, and juice in. They can't get in the garage themselves, so that stuff is out of sight as well. But if we didn't have that option, I would definitely hide everything in the crisper drawer or something. I also remove the frozen pancakes and waffles from the box (mostly as a space-saving method), but it disguises the contents pretty well. What they CAN see in the fridge is a jug of milk, a giant bag of baby carrots, cucumbers, berries/grapes, and string cheese, so that's what they will ask for. </p> <p>We do fruit snacks sometimes, but I would say about 50 percent of the time, I don't give them their own pouch. I will like in a public situation where I need to keep them quiet or something, but if its just at home as a treat, I open 1 bag and give them out one at a time. Literally, like "one for you....one for you.....one for you...." and we go back and forth as each person chews and swallows. And then when its gone, its gone! With ice cream, we usually give them an ice cream cone with enough ice cream just to fill the base of the cone - so like 3 tablespoons or something - and top it with some sprinkles. Or we do fro-yo and I control the portion. If its a cookie or cake, we try to do small portions (which is harder with like a giant birthday cake in front of you), but we usually opt for cake with whipped cream as frosting and fresh fruit inside (also less mess). If we're doing real cupcakes, I try to go for the mini ones. Same with cookies.</p> <p>Oh, another reason we don't feel bad dumping all their candy after they've had like 1-2 pieces is that they get vitamin gummies every night. They get like a multi, probiotic, omega, and an immune C gummy. Based on the dosage, they end up eating like 5-6 gummies every night before bath so THERE'S YOUR TREAT KIDS. Its definitely got sugar in it, but at least I can justify that its got vitamins. </p>