Sugar is not bad for kids if eaten in small amounts. However, if your kid has a sweet tooth and loves indulging in some sweet treat every other day or after every meal, then you need to keep a check on their intake. But do not stop kids from satisfying their taste buds. You can easily replace the white sugar with the following healthy sugar substitute for kids to reduce the intake.
But First Understand The Side Effects of Having Too Much Sugar
Apart from putting your kids at an increased risk of weight gain, and other health issues like blood sugar imbalance, and inflammation, sugar is one of the main causes of tooth decay. Right from milk, fruits, juice, desserts, gummies, and chocolates, everything is loaded with sugar. So, it is very crucial to keep a tab on your kid’s daily intake of sugar.
Here Are Some Healthy Sugar Substitutes for Kids
1. Coconut Sugar
It is one of the best alternatives to white sugar. Made from coconut plants, they have a deeper and almost caramel-like taste to them. And the best part is that these sugar can be used in your daily cooking as well as baking without having to alter the recipe.
2. Dates Puree or Dates Powder
Dates are considered a superfood for kids due to its various health benefits. So, why not make it a part of your kid’s daily diet? Turn them into puree while giving them to small babies, add dried dates powder in your recipes, or give whole dates to kids whenever they crave something sweet, simply use dates to satisfy their cravings.
3. Raw Honey
Get your hands on raw honey, which is not filtered or heated. Raw honey contains nutrients, as well as anti-bacterial, anti-septic, and anti-fungal properties, which can do wonders for your kid’s immunity too. However, do not heat raw honey on a high flame or add it to hot food items, as it can alter its properties. Also, avoid giving honey to babies below one year of age as Clostridium, a type of bacteria that causes botulism in infants, is found in honey.
4. Palm Sugar
Palm sugar is yet another healthy sugar substitute for kids. The process to make the sugar starts with removing the sap present in the flower buds of a palm tree and then heating it to remove the moisture content. It is then turned into thick syrup, which is later crystallized to make palm sugar.
This sugar can be added to everyday recipes. And since it has a number of minerals like manganese, copper, potassium, and zinc, along with vitamins and phytonutrients, its beneficial for your kid’s health too.
5. Fruit Purees
Be it apple puree or banana puree, this natural sweetener can be given to babies after 6 months. Plus, these purees can also be added while baking cakes and cookies.
As stated before, consuming small amount of sugar is not harmful for kids. Moderation is key. But in case your child likes everything sweet, then it will be a wise decision to swap the white sugar in their recipes with these healthy sugar substitutes.
You can also read 5 Easy and Healthy Kid’s Lunch Box Ideas for Busy Parents
