The Sugar Struggle Is Real
Why the sugar struggle is hard - and what we can teach our kids instead of just saying “no.”
Confession: I found a half-eaten full size Hershey’s bar in my daughter’s nightstand last week. And another one in her overnight bag I unpacked yesterday… A sign that it’s been s’mores season.
I laughed first (because, of course). Then I sighed. Then I used it as a moment to talk - not to lecture.
She’s my sweets lover. She would eat sugar from sunup to sundown if left unsupervised. And honestly, some days she does. I can’t control everything, but I can teach through it.
So I sat on her bed, unwrapped the rest of the candy, and said, “You know, I would feel miserable if I ate this whole thing.” She nodded and said, “Yeah, I just really wanted it.”
That honesty is worth everything.
Sugar Isn’t Just a “Kid Problem”: Here’s the thing - sugar lights up our brains in the same way certain addictive substances do. That dopamine hit? It’s real. And it’s powerful.
As adults, we feel it too. A refilled candy bowl on the counter… The quick fix. The rush. The crash. It’s why you can have the best intentions in the morning and still find yourself reaching for that darn bag of peanut butter chocolate chip cookie granola your husband bought for himself at 9:30 p.m. on the couch. That is when I’m weakest…
So when our kids crave sugar, it’s not a character flaw. It’s chemistry.
What we can do is help them connect how they feel after. Are they wired? Tired? Headachy? Do they crash? That’s where the learning lives.
Creating Awareness Instead of Shame:
In our house, I try to avoid the all-or-nothing approach. Sugar isn’t “bad.” It’s just something to pay attention to.
I tell my kids: If you want dessert, have dessert. But notice when you are full or if it makes you feel bad. Remember to balance it out by finishing the protein and veggies on your plate first.
If you feel joy, great. If you feel jittery or you are uncomfortable when using the bathroom later, that’s your body saying something different. That conversation is the real nutritional education. And hopefully the one that sticks.
A Little Grace for Ourselves
I’m not immune either. I have days when I stress-eat (cue the bag of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies crushed up and disguised as “granola”). Or when I’m so tired after work that I crave Taco Bell at 8 p.m. (and yes, sometimes I go). The point is not to be perfect - it’s to stay conscious.
Our bodies are constantly trying to communicate. Most of the time, we just need to slow down long enough to listen.
Takeaway: The goal isn’t to remove joy - it’s to stay in tune with what brings you energy versus what drains it. That’s real health.
