COMMENT: Sugar exposé a concern for parents

HAVING watched the horrifying sugar exposé that was ‘Sugar Crash’ on RTE recently, most people are still twitching at the mention of the name – especially people with children. 

Supermarket aisles across the country are clogged with parents studying the labels on food packaging and then dividing by four. 

The one nugget of information that a lot of people took away from the show – aside from the fact that we are all sugar addicts – is that four grams of sugar is equal to one teaspoon of the bad stuff. Whilst this makes it easier for parents to quickly work out roughly how much is in each item, the harder part is trying to figure out how we can realistically reduce our family’s sugar consumption.

As most parents know, it’s a constant battle to get kids to eat what we consider good healthy food. Not only do we have to Google half the ingredients of supermarket purchases to find their true sugar content (who knew there are was at least 50 different names for sugar – Panocha anyone?), but we have to incorporate new “healthier alternatives” into our already routine loving kids’ lives – not to mention lunchboxes. 

As parents we know what our kids like, and wavering from this can be daunting. But, like most things in life, it’s better not to jump in head first as making small changes can lead to longer lasting results.

Working as a dental nurse in a primarily paediatric department, I see first hand the urgency from parents to right the wrongs, to make drastic changes in their children’s diets. 

Parents come to us, having been told that their children will need fillings and perhaps multiple extractions and they panic. 

Almost always, after the initial shock has worn off, they turn to their child and say firmly: ‘That’s it. No more sweets again – ever!’ 

This approach does not usually last very long. A high percentage of families that return to us at the end of their treatment, have already lapsed into their old ways. 

Those who fare best are usually the ones who make small changes, gradually. For instance: •Swapping sugary snacks between meals for low sugar options – crackers and cheese, bread and butter. 

•Adding chopped fruit to sweeten breakfast cereal, instead of sugar. 

•Cutting back on tomato ketchup, a big favourite amongst kids. 

•Eating a piece of fruit instead of a smoothie. Rarely would you consume three apples, one banana and a mango in one sitting! 

•Cutting out juices, fizzy drinks and diluted juices completely or keeping them to meal times. Don’t be fooled by the “No added sugar” on the bottles of kids’ favourite fruit drinks – there is already sugar in them, they are just “kindly” not adding anymore. 

Many parents think of fizzy drinks as the bad guy. If he is, diluted juice is his accomplice!

One piece of advice we give to reduce sugar in a child’s diet, is to remove temptation by not having sweet treats in the house – simply don’t buy them. I know that it’s easier said than done. As a mother myself, I have been guilty of raiding my secret stash of chocolate, when my kids aren’t looking. 

If sweet treats are in the house, kids will sniff them out, and ultimately after 27 times of asking: “Pleassseee can I have something nice”, parents are likely to give in, anything for a quiet life.

Cutting down on sugar is a goal for most families across Ireland, who watched ‘Sugar Crash’. 

By making small changes to begin with, we have a better chance of reaching and sustaining our goal.

•Janine Edgeworth is a dental nurse at Coolock Health Centre.