If a parent expects their child's behavior to change after eating sweet foods, they may be more sensitive to specific kinds of behavior like restlessness. Hyperactivity may cause children to eat more sweets, rather than sweets causing hyperactivity. Eating too much sugar can cause tooth decay, a major health problem in this country. To prevent tooth decay, encourage your children to brush after eating. Sweet foods are often low in vitamins and minerals, and high in fat.
Sugar becomes a problem when candies, cookies, and other sweet foods replace more nutritious foods.
Children need a balanced diet for normal growth and development. If the amount of sugar your family eats concerns you, get in the habit of reading food labels. The use of artificial sweeteners has increased because of a growing interest in low-calorie foods. No evidence exists linking artificial sweeteners to problem behaviors in children. Studies on the long-term safety of these sweeteners continue.