Is your toddler a sugar monster, always craving sweet treats? When looking after a little one, it's tricky to know how much is too much when it comes to sugar. You want your little one to enjoy the occasional cookie or juice box, but you also care about their health and want to build good habits.
We get it. It's a tightrope walk trying to find the right balance. But with some know-how, you can help your toddler develop a taste for healthier options while still allowing some sweet indulgences. Read on for tips, tricks, and empathy from all of us at doddl, walking the toddler sugar tightrope together!
Why We Worry About Toddler Sugar
Sugar can be like a frenemy when you’re looking after a toddler’s diet. We know sugary treats make kids happy in the moment, but too much can lead to cavities, weight gain and other health issues over time.
The CDC recommends that children under 24 months should avoid added sugars completely in their diets. It may surprise you to learn how easily toddlers can go overboard. And the sugar can really add up in common snacks like flavored yogurts, cookies and soda.
Our tip? Don't panic! With a few simple swaps and targeted toddler recipes, you can limit added sugar without turning snack time into a battle zone…
7 Sneaky Ways to Limit Sugar
Helping toddlers eat less sugar doesn't mean depriving them of all sweets. With a few tricks, you can create a balanced diet with room for occasional treats. Here are ideas that have worked for our households:
- Flavor milk or yogurt with pureed fruit instead of sugary syrups. Bananas, strawberries, mangoes - get creative with your toddler's favorite fruits!
- Upgrade crackers by topping with mashed avocado, hummus and a sprinkle of hemp seeds. The healthy fats and protein help them stay full and focused.
- Let them help prep fruit kebabs or homemade frozen fruit pops using their doddl toddler utensil set. Kids love to get their hands messy picking fruits and making their treats. It also makes them more likely to enjoy eating them!
- Mix juicy diced fruit into plain Greek yogurt for a sweet parfait. Berries and cherries add a nice pop of color and flavor.
- Bake up energy bites using dates, oats, almond butter, and dark chocolate chips. These sweet doughy treats make a great on-the-go snack too.
- For an occasional sweet drink, dilute 100% fruit juice with sparkling water. This cuts the sugar and makes it feel like a fun fizzy treat.
- Get veggie nutrition without the sugar by baking up a batch of Carrot Cake Porridge Fingers. This carrot-inspired recipe sneaks an extra serving of vegetables into tiny tummies.
- Develop a comforting pre-bedtime routine focused on snuggly stories rather than biscuits or hot chocolate. Quality bonding time can lead to better sleep all around.
These tips should mean you can make space for sweet treats here and there without going overboard on added sugars.
Detecting Hidden Sugars
Lurking within many toddler favorites are sneaky added sugars going by other names. Watch out for:
- Syrups - corn syrup, rice syrup, golden syrup, agave nectar. These sweeteners might sound healthy but break down just like plain sugar.
- Sugars - cane sugar, coconut palm sugar, fruit juice concentrate. Don't let the fancy names fool you, these all count as added sweeteners.
- -ose words - dextrose, maltose, sucrose, fructose. These scientific names on labels basically mean sugar too.
Reading nutrition labels helps uncover hidden sugars that can quickly add up.
Tip! If you can get in the habit of checking labels whenever you try a new packaged snack, over time you'll learn to spot sweet culprits..
How Much Sugar Is Too Much?
When it comes to toddlers and sugar, how much is too much? Most experts, including the CDC, recommend limiting added sugar for babies and toddlers. especially those under 24 months old.
Naturally occurring sugars in fiber-rich whole fruits and vegetables come bundled with lots of beneficial nutrition like antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and gut-friendly fiber. Doctors tend to recommend whole fruit over fruit juices to maximize nutrition and minimize free sugars.
It’s important to remember that finding balance with sugar is an ongoing journey full of ups and downs for every family. If you slip up and let your toddler overload on candy one day, don’t freak out. We all have those moments, especially when out and about - maybe the only snack options at the play place are cookies and flavored milk. Or your toddler throws a massive meltdown without their beloved muffin. Take a deep breath and aim to reset the balance at the next snack or mealtime.
Tip! The goal isn't perfection - just progress toward building balanced, sustainable healthy eating habits.
Creating Long-Term Healthy Habits
As we care for toddlers, we serve as role models in many ways for our mini-mes. So, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your own sugar intake too! Other habits that can benefit the whole family:
- Stock healthy (but easily prepared) snacks like chopped veg, hummus and cottage cheese within easy reach. Serve using the doddl toddler suction bowl to minimize stress and mess.
- Involve toddlers in meal planning, prep and even gardening. They'll be more likely to eat foods they helped pick and create.
- Focus on balancing occasional sweet treats with nutritious options at most meals/snacks.
- Be patient as your toddler's preferences evolve. One week they may refuse broccoli, and the next it becomes their favorite superpower food.
When to Call in the Experts
If your best efforts to limit toddler sugar aren't working, we always recommend talking to your pediatrician, who can check for potential medical issues if needed.
Usually, your little one will just be figuring it out, but here are some signs your toddler might benefit from expert guidance:
- Signs of nutrient deficiencies like dull hair or skin issues
- Consistent weight gain
- Regular tummy troubles or changes in bowel habits
- Cavities or tooth decay
- Long-term fussy eating or refusal of food.
Tip! If your toddler is refusing meals, try allowing them to self-feed from their own toddler plate. This helps build confidence and independence around food.
Finding Balance on the Sugar Tightrope
Figuring out the right balance between allowing some sweets and limiting excess sugar is tricky. Every tot has unique taste buds shaped by genetics and exposure, so the key is finding balance and moderation tailored to your toddler.
Be kind to yourself if things don't go perfectly. Looking after little ones is far from a cookie-cutter endeavor. Stay focused on progress, not perfection when building healthy lifelong habits around food and drink.
Shop our toddler feeding products designed to make preparing nutritious foods fun for little ones. From toddler utensils to non-slip suction bowls and plates, we have products to help you whip up sweet and savory treats to delight those tiny tastebuds.
Limiting sugar doesn’t mean limiting joy at mealtimes. With doddl by your side, you’ve got this!
