Quantcast
Channel: Harvard Vanguard :: Blog » Halloween
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 2

Burlington SMArt Kids learn a healthy approach to Halloween treats and sugary drinks

0
0
Boulanger_Brittanny_web_KO_061008

Dr. Brittanny Boulanger

The post-Halloween weeks are upon us, but our SMArt Kids were neither scared by the tricks or, more importantly, will be scared by the treats.  After our recent SMArt Kids session, they are armed with some tips to resist the onslaught of sweet, syrupy and sugary treats. To limit your own trick-or-treater’s sugar intake after Halloween, try these tactics:

  • Donate the Halloween loot to a local dentist (many will collect candy in exchange for cash)
  • Enlist the ‘Candy Fairy:’ a bag of candy is replaced by a small gift in the morning
  • Count, sort and allocate those treats: moderate what, how much, and when your kids eat
  • Try tiny bites of each candy and only eat your favorite flavor

At the October 25th shared medical appointment, we reviewed the importance of limiting sugar in general, and specifically when it comes to sweetened beverages.  We investigated the quantity of sugar in common drinks. One sugar cube is equal to 2 grams of sugar or ½ teaspoon.  We learned that, basically, almost every bottle of soda, sports drink, juice, and iced tea has too much sugar – many of them have as much as 30 grams per serving!

SMArt Kids and parents both offered great suggestions for low sugar drink options:

  • Water and low fat white milk (skim and 1%) are the best choices
  • Try seltzer water
  • Try water with a splash of 100% fruit juice
  • Try sangria (seltzer or flat water with slices of fresh fruit)

Remember to read those drink labels closely. The ideal sugar content should be 0-5 grams per serving. Shoot for zero grams – the less sugar, the better. And don’t forget that the bottle sizes can be misleading, so always remember to check the serving size.

Here are some examples of those beverage labels and the sugar contained in bottled water, 100% juice, and soda:

To our SMArt Kids, keep up the good work!  We hope you enjoyed Halloween, but remember to keep your personal goals and all of your recent hard work in mind! Keep working hard – you’re doing great!

  • Limit screen time to less than 2 hours per day
  • Participate in at least 1 hour of active play
  • Limit sugary drinks to 0-4 ounces per day
  • Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
  • Limit fast food to less than once per week
  • Make breakfast a priority
  • Choose healthy snacks
  • Plan for family meals
  • Get enough restful sleep
  • Know where your food comes from

The SMArt Kids team is looking forward to seeing you in November.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 2

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images