Take note mommies!
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Posted @withregram • @newwaysnutrition Did you know that the recommendation is to give kids under 2 no added sugars? No white sugar, no maple syrup, no honey. Nothing! And did you also know that 85% of infants and toddlers in the US consume added sugar on a given day? And toddlers 12-18 months average 5.5 TEASPOONS of added sugar a day! That rises to over 7 teaspoons for babies 19-23 months! 😱
Now I know giving no added sugar can seem unreasonable and at times impossible, but there is a good reason for this recommendation. Kids under 2 have a very high demand for nutrients in their body, and sugar interferes with their ability to get all those nutrients that they really need. Their little bellies are only so big, after all! There are several other reasons to avoid it- some of which I’ve mentioned above.
But for those of you who are thinking it’s impossible to do no added sugar, here’s a way to approach it:
✅Under 1 be pretty strict with no added sugar. Read labels, avoid anything with added sugar. We really don’t want them developing a strong preference for sweets and not wanting any food that isn’t sweet.
✅Between 1-2, avoid sugar when possible. If they don’t have older siblings, this is even easier. Especially at the beginning of this age, they don’t know what sugar or treats really are most of the time. Prolong that as long as you can!
✅Between 1-2, at some point they will start to notice what other people are eating. If they show an interest in a sweet item that someone has next to them, allow them to have some and move on. Don’t make a big deal out of it or they will latch on and want more of it!
✅Avoid sweetened beverages and sweetened yogurt. And flavor to yogurt yourself. Yogurt is actually one of the top sources of added sugar in this age group!
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