I was just reading a blog post over at the Mama Courage blog in which she talks about doing her best to introduce nutritious and healthy food to her child. Having a sweet tooth herself, she feels guilty tucking into cupcakes and chocolate in front of him. For the moment, he seems happy to accept a banana, or a yoghurt treat in lieu. She asks the question 'when is a good time to put down the banana puree and succumb to chocolate buttons?'
It is an unusual thing to say, but maybe she won't have to. Take my son, for example. He is now four. He loved bananas, yoghurts, rice cakes and diced fruit as treats when he was younger. He still loves them to this day. He wouldn't thank you for a bar of chocolate or an iced cupcake. He likes only plain biscuits and plain ice cream. He would have a bite or two of something chocolatey but that would be it. Even when his Grandfather forces chocolate buttons and the like upon him, he just says he doesn't like them. His Granddad thinks him very odd as he is the only one of his twenty something grandchildren who refuses to eat them. He even handed back his Easter Eggs last year!
From what I can see, usually, it's when the child starts being offered sweets and chocolate by other people outside the household. Grandparents and other relatives may be the first culprits here. Mixing with other children who are allowed chocolate and sweets as a matter of course can also do it. The blogger says that she declines the treat on his behalf and that some people are incredulous at this. She says that her son is just as happy with fruit or yoghurt. It seems that the delayed introduction of processed sweet stuff isn't impacting on his happiness or development so, she asks, why would they want to hurry it?
Why indeed? An acute sweet tooth can cause problems that will extend from childhood into adulthood. It can spark off a lifetime of weight and dental problems. I was from a generation where it was deemed acceptable to have sugar sandwiches in your lunchbox! It was a cheap alternative the child was guaranteed to eat and yoghurts and rice cakes weren't on the menu way back then. I feel that this is where my addiction to sweet things started. I am now in my forties but I still battle to stop at one or two biscuits when I open a packet. I still binge eat on sweet things and my weight goes up and down on a regular basis.Thankfully, my son doesn't take after me in this respect. People think it odd that he refuses chocolate but he just didn't get the sort of things that I did as a child. I also think I may have overdosed on chocolate when he was in my womb and that helped to put him off!
What do you think? Is a sweet tooth something that you are born with or is it something that is developed? Are yoghurts and bananas just as likely to cause sweet cravings as sugary processed treats?
I have to say, I think it depends on the person. I have three kids and we've fed them all the same. We offer them the same foods but one will go straight for the cookies while the other will go straight for the cucumbers. I think anyone can be swayed to some sweets from time to time but in the end, I think it boils down to personal preference.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment.
DeleteI always found my control evaporated the more they got out in the world. Other kids lunches on picnics. School. TV. As they are exposed to more, they develop a curiosity. Sometimes they venture. Sometimes they don't.
ReplyDeleteJoys of parenthood. Out of three, two eat very well now they are grown -- and cooking. Will try anything, but not much in the way of sweets. Another, could care less. He just gets hungry.
The joy of parenthood indeed!
DeleteIt's both. We are born liking sweet things. Sweetness is how we used to tell ripe things from poisonous things way back in the cave man days. But, of course back in the cave man days that sweetness came from fruit, not from snickers bars so we could keep that all in check. Really how many bananas can one person eat? When my kiddos were little I fed them very healthy knowing that as they get older they will have a bit more junk in their diet. So I considered this providing them with a good base line. Now my oldest is a teen and is good about food choices. Knowing that not every food is an everyday food.
ReplyDeleteI like that 'not every food is an everyday food.
DeleteFsmum just saw this thank you so much for the mention! It's a really interesting debate on nature/nuture, I think the generation difference you describe certainly influences the attitude towards sweet things, and the fact that we have a lot more to choose from today in terms of snacks. Fingers crossed my son react to food the same as yours has so far! In the meantime I'll be keeping the biscuits on the top shelf :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is an interesting debate. We probably are all born with with a bit of a sweet tooth but mine was definitely exacerbated in childhood!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by so i could find your lovely blog. Sweet tooth - I def think its something you either have got to you haven't. i can have loads of choccy in the house and not touch it, my husband devours the whole lot! I love stodgy nursery foods and steamed puddings though with custard.
ReplyDeleteI am like your husband! I would devour the lot! Thankfully, my little boy is not like me. So far!
Deleteoakley sunglasses wholesale, christian louboutin uk, uggs on sale, replica watches, christian louboutin, burberry pas cher, louis vuitton, nike roshe, louboutin pas cher, nike air max, air max, nike free run, longchamp outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, ugg boots, replica watches, ray ban sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, christian louboutin shoes, prada outlet, longchamp outlet, sac longchamp pas cher, louis vuitton, christian louboutin outlet, nike outlet, oakley sunglasses, jordan pas cher, polo outlet, louis vuitton outlet, tiffany and co, tiffany jewelry, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, kate spade outlet, polo ralph lauren, ugg boots, cheap oakley sunglasses, gucci handbags, prada handbags, michael kors pas cher, polo ralph lauren outlet online, ray ban sunglasses, tory burch outlet, longchamp outlet, nike air max, louis vuitton outlet, longchamp pas cher, chanel handbags
ReplyDeletehollister uk, oakley pas cher, true religion jeans, nike roshe run uk, hogan outlet, polo lacoste, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet online, nike air force, michael kors, michael kors outlet, nike tn, burberry outlet, mulberry uk, nike air max, converse pas cher, uggs outlet, kate spade, ray ban pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, true religion outlet, nike air max uk, new balance, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet online, guess pas cher, coach outlet, nike free uk, true religion outlet, north face uk, coach purses, sac hermes, nike air max uk, timberland pas cher, ray ban uk, replica handbags, nike blazer pas cher, uggs outlet, lululemon canada, abercrombie and fitch uk, michael kors outlet online, burberry handbags, coach outlet store online, true religion outlet, michael kors outlet, vans pas cher, north face, ralph lauren uk
ReplyDeletelouboutin, north face outlet, nike huaraches, nike roshe run, nike air max, wedding dresses, valentino shoes, nike trainers uk, babyliss, jimmy choo outlet, instyler, ralph lauren, vans, gucci, herve leger, hermes belt, longchamp uk, hollister, baseball bats, bottega veneta, ghd hair, ferragamo shoes, north face outlet, soccer shoes, new balance shoes, hollister, reebok outlet, insanity workout, nfl jerseys, mcm handbags, beats by dre, mac cosmetics, oakley, converse outlet, p90x workout, vans outlet, ray ban, timberland boots, soccer jerseys, celine handbags, lululemon, converse, chi flat iron, giuseppe zanotti outlet, abercrombie and fitch, mont blanc pens, iphone cases, hollister clothing, asics running shoes, nike air max
ReplyDeletemarc jacobs, moncler, pandora charms, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, moncler outlet, supra shoes, canada goose jackets, pandora jewelry, moncler, thomas sabo, doudoune moncler, louis vuitton, wedding dresses, links of london, canada goose outlet, barbour, replica watches, canada goose, juicy couture outlet, canada goose uk, ugg pas cher, ugg, swarovski crystal, coach outlet, swarovski, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, moncler, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, canada goose, montre pas cher, moncler outlet, ugg uk, pandora jewelry, barbour uk, toms shoes, juicy couture outlet, hollister, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, lancel, louis vuitton, canada goose, karen millen uk, moncler, pandora uk, moncler uk
ReplyDeletehttp://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-12.html
ReplyDeletehttp://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-11.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-10.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-9.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-8.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-7.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-6.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-5.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-4.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-3.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies-2.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/roofing-companies.html
michael kors outlet
ReplyDeleteecco shoes
ecco shoes
true religion jeans
new york knicks
ugg outlet
cheap uggs
coach outlet
coach handbags
omega watches for sale
20170422alice0589
cleveland cavaliers
ReplyDeletemichael kors outlet online
ralph lauren polo
versace shoes
new york jets jerseys
cheap jordans
christian louboutin shoes
nike outlet store
ray ban sunglasses outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ReplyDeleteVery nice post. I definitely appreciate this site. Stick with it!
http://www.kuwait.prokr.net/
http://www.emirates.prokr.net/
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us, I like it and we can communicate. Do you need buy app ratings and reviews. To boost app ranking and double app downloads now.
ReplyDelete