Healthy Candy

[Mummy1235]

How many of you mums feel bad giving making your children happy by giving them sweeties? I know in the long run it's bad for them but i struggle to say no :(

What makes a good healthy sweet alternative? I've read about a probiotic ones, does anyone have any advice?

[CogitOldLangSyne]

I never feel bad for giving a child something sugary as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Why would I? Very little real food, including sugar, is 'bad for them' in moderation and my advice would be to remember that. A lot of artificial products marketed to gullible people as 'healthy sweet alternatives' on the other hand, probably are toxic.

[FredFredGeorge]

Sweets are just sugar, if you are a healthy weight, have a healthy metabolic system (mostly got from exercise as it improves the bodies handling of calories) then just about all calories beyond the essential are equivalent, it doesn't matter how you get them.

Sweets are only bad if they are extra calories that aren't needed, or prevent the consumption of the essential foods (protein, some fats, some fibre and a few vitamins and minerals). Which is again why exercise helps as it means the overall calorie needs are higher so the sweets are less of th overall diet.

The only real difference between most fruit and a sweet is a few vitamins that won't be deficient in a normal healthy diet and some fibre, which again will likely have plenty off.

[ohfunnyFRANKENface]

Frozen fruit is a lovely sweet, as are nuts and raisin mixes.

Everything in moderation.

[bruffin]

Its all relative isnt it.
My ds is allergic to tree nuts and seeds, so cant eat what a lot of people would consider a healthy snack.
Hasnt stopped him growing into a healthy fit 6ft 17 year old.