The Question of Sugar. Sugar is a concentrated form of fuel food. Children need much of fuel foods, but this can be given in the form of fats and starches as well as sugar. Sweet easily spoils the appetite for plain, more wholesome foods, and gives a sense of sufficiency before the needs of the body have been satisfied. Children whose taste has been spoiled by sweetened food are more likely to show a distaste for wholesome vegetables. Sugar taken between meals or in excess at meals is irritating to the sensitive lining of the stomach. Sugar excess causes fermentation in the stomach and intestines, overtaxes the liver, reduces the normal alkalinity of the blood, produces nausea, headache, biliousness, irritability, nervousness. It injures the teeth by causing mouth acidity, which produces tooth decay, and by causing distaste for simple lime-containing foods. The peevishness and irritability of children after an overdose of candy is very likely due to the indigestion and the hyperacidity of the blood, which irritates the nerves.
Cane sugar and candy lack the mineral matter found with sugar in the natural syrups, fruits, and vegetables. The necessary amount (and it is small) of sugar should therefore be given to young children in the form of fruits, at the close of the midday meal. It is advantageous to the child’s efficiency and contentment not to have candy or ice cream under four years of age, and he will thrive without them until ten years. When allowed, they should be given only in slight amount as a dessert at the close of dinner, and not between meals.
Wholesome Sweets at Suitable Ages.
Homemade peppermints, sweet chocolate, barley sugar, sponge cookies, molasses cake, honey, maple syrup, prunes, figs, dates, plums, apples, peaches.
Laxative Foods.
To be selected, appropriate to age.
Wholesome Sweets[23]
| Honey |
| Maple syrup |
| Sweet fruits: |
| Oranges, Apples |
| Peaches, Plums |
| Seedless grapes |
| Dates, Figs |
| Seedless raisins |
| Prunes |
| Simple, pure candy |
| Molasses candy |
| Peppermint wafers |
| Milk chocolate |
| Barley sugar |
| Simple homemade cake |
| Sponge cake |
| Gingerbread |
| Molasses or sugar cookies |