Candy can lead to obesity and diabetes in the later stage on your children

Shweta Shah, Nutritionist!

Your job as the parent is to set the pace for healthy eating. You don't want super strict or unforgiving rules (this encourages a negative diet mentality), but you can agree to one treat a day or a few times a week, and let your children decide when to have it.

Knowing a treat is allowed at some point minimises meltdowns and letting them choose the timing gives your child some control. 

If you use candy to comfort sad kids or reward their good behaviour, they will learn to eat for reasons other than physical hunger and will relate food to praises, sadness or joy. As they grow every time they feel sad or have a great success, they will crave sugar.

This can turn into a pattern of unhealthy emotional eating. Instead, reward kids with hugs, extra cuddle time, kind words or a favourite books. 

Although eating sweets from time to time is unlikely to cause major problems in the short term, it's important to encourage healthy eating habits starting in early childhood.

High sugar intake raises the risk of obesity and chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease and cancer, especially as we get older. Establishing nutritious eating habits early on will guide your child toward a healthier lifestyle in the future. 

Focus on the benefits of nutritious foods, rather than the negative consequence of sugar, to help children develop a positive attitude about eating well. Deciding the right delicacies for children can be tricky.

The little ones will always be craving for their usual go - to snacks - chocolates, ice creams and shades. But when it comes to balancing the delicacies and snacks with the right kind of nutrition, we often get confused. 

Shweta Shah, Nutritionist suggested that we need to twist the snack and their ingredients in order to ensure that the children also get their dose of nutrition while enjoying their food. Here are a few alternative sweet delicacies suggested by the nutritionist : 

* Satvic Kheer ~ Common kheer is fundamental. Why not twist it with the goodness of quinoa and jaggery - that is even more healthy than common rice kheer. 

* Candy potato brownie ~ This snack could have all of the elements listed in baby's favourite meals e book - candy potato, jaggery, dates to cacao powder. 

* Chia pudding ~ As a substitute of setting for the common white sugar, go for chia seeds and ripe banana for pudding. 

* Kulfi ~ Summer season and kulfis are greatest pals. However, it's suggested to keep away from the milk and substitute with coconut milk and dates. 

* Coconut milk thandai ~ Loaded with the goodness of coconut, jaggery and the wholesome fatty acids, this thandai is a twist from the common sugar milk thandai.