I quit sugar… for kids

How would you recommend people go about reducing the sugar in their kids’ diet?

Number one: Lead by example and don’t stigmatise sugar. In fact, if you can go about shifting your family’s eating habits without ever mentioning the words ‘sugar’, it’s a good idea. That’s what humans are like – you tell kids they can’t touch wet paint, they’re going to go and touch the wet paint.

Number two: allow sugary foods to be treats or sometimes foods, 100% of the time. So that means that if they go to a party, that’s an appropriate time to have some sugar. And what will happen, of course, is that if they’re not eating much sugar at home, they’ll naturally veer away from the super sugary stuff like soft drinks. When I was a kid, that’s what I was like. I didn’t grow up with sugar, so when I first went to parties I would go mental with it at first, but over time I developed an absolute disdain for ice-cream, and sugary drinks. I didn’t like fruit juice. It was just because my mum didn’t make a fuss of healthy eating, it was just what we did, and my taste buds determined things.

Number three: Don’t create a rod for your back where you’re basically rewarding your children with food. One of the biggest parts with sugar addiction is the emotional addiction: the association with affection and reward. So one of the biggest things you can do as a parent is reward with things that aren’t food, to cut that emotional association.