Sugarcoated Lessons

Candy From Unexpected Places

By Lisa B. Samalonis

Every day is a holiday at my kids' school. No kidding – if it isn't Halloween, Valentine's Day or Easter, it is someone's birthday. Crinkled brown bags of treats come home almost as often as schoolbooks.

As my 7-year-old son pushes away his plate of roasted chicken, brown rice and green beans, he casually mentions that it was Mike's and Maddy's birthday today, so he had not one, but two chocolate-frosted cupcakes.

Another day he carries home a Kit Kat "because my desk was clean." Later in the week, he brings home a Butterfinger "because I was nice to Bianca." At soccer, they hand out half-time and end-of-game snacks. These are usually juice boxes and chips. His religious education teacher sends home sour green lollipops when class dismisses at 5:30 p.m. Before I say "stop," my son rips off the paper and starts sucking away. Then my 4-year-old son flips out in his car seat because he doesn't have one.

Don't get me wrong; I think the teachers at my son's school are first rate, covering wide-spanning topics in depth while making it interesting. And the after-school educators and coaches are top notch, too, and kind and sensitive to boot.

But I must ask: Has anyone heard of the pediatric obesity epidemic? My children are not overweight, and I am not an "all or nothing mom." Believe me – they have treats, but they have them in moderation. Yet, I still struggle because some things are beyond my control, mainly their time in school.

We have rules in our house, and for the most part my children respect them. My 7-year-old knows he now must wait to lick the lollipop until after dinner or save it for another day. Will still hands over his bag full of party treats when I pick him up from preschool. They know Mommy will only let them have one a day. Many times as days pass, they forget about the treats' existence and I toss the bag in the trash.

But what about the busy parents who don't notice the treats coming home and still the other children who may hide them and then sneak to eat them all when they are alone? Besides a tummy ache, this candy overload is contributing to other problems such as overweight children who seek food as a reward.

I am sure that to educators and others, one piece of candy seems harmless. But to combine it day after day, week in and week out, with desserts from home and school lunches and special occasion snacks and grandparents' goodies, the child winds up with too much of a good thing.

I love the wide-eyed happy looks of a child toting home his booty, too, but I try to teach them about self-guided moderation. A gentle reminder to stop before you are full, wait a few minutes for another piece or a quip about not wanting to end up on the potty with you-know-what usually does the trick for my oldest. Yet, my younger son is the original candy kid, so removing the offending bag once he digs into it often means withstanding a whiny tantrum.

Yet, I withstand because it is necessary. Good habits are forming now in their young age, and I won't always be around to police their bags. Teaching them to know their limits is my job. It's not always a sweet one, but someone's got to do it.

Want to see more?

• Family Energy Magazine
• Individually Wrapped – With Love
• 7 (Sometimes Surprising) Secrets for Stopping Childhood Obesity
• Talk about it!