How would you feel if you knew your child was having nearly 5 teaspoons of sugar with breakfast?

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It’s officially recommended that kids under 2 years of age don’t consume any added sugars, while kids over 2 should have no more than 6 teaspoons a day – and for good reason. Studies show kids are at an elevated risk of facing developmental problems and long-term health consequences like obesity and diabetes when exposed to a high-sugar diet from early childhood. 

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 If you’re looking for more reasons to start weaning your toddler off sugar, it has been found that kids have a stronger taste for the sweet stuff than adults, making it easier for them to form addictions. This, combined with an underdeveloped brain, and therefore less self-control, puts toddlers at far more risk than their parents when it comes to getting hooked on sugar. Here are some of the adverse effects of excess sugar:

1. Increased aggression in kids
2. Higher risk for mood disorders
3. Higher risk for obesity
4. Weaker immune system
5. Brain fog and learning problems

Excess sugar consumption puts toddlers’ ongoing development at risk, with one study indicating the hippocampus was negatively affected by a high-sugar diet. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning functions.

So Parents, make sure your kids don’t drink their sugar!

One of the best ways to slowly reduce your child’s dependency on sugar is by taking sugar-laden drinks out of the equation. It’s one step in the direction of cutting added sugars out completely, without setting off a spate of withdrawal symptoms. Sugar in liquids tends to pack a bigger punch than solids, and that’s because drinks tend to have a bigger serving size and a higher concentration of sugar than their solid counterparts. Here’s what to do instead.

Ditch the juice: Juice has a far more concentrated amount of sugar than regular fruit, and to make matters worse, it lacks the nutrient which slows our absorption of sugar i.e. fiber. And FYI, a brand name doesn't really mean the fruit juice is "Real"

Limit soft drinks and flavored milk: Soft drinks are packed full of added sugars, with some dosing you with more than 25 grams per serve. Chocolate or strawberry-flavored milks may be labeled as health drinks or kid-friendly, but are loaded with added sugars. Watch out for claims by big brands, claiming their drinks will make your child taller, stronger and sharper!

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 Up Fiber intake: Eating sugar without fiber, for instance fruit juice without fiber or highly processed grains increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, liver disease and obesity. 

At Frugease, we make a milk mix made with dehydrated fruit and veggie powders. No preservatives & No added sugar.  When we say Strawberry, we mean real strawberries and not flavors!