A Spoonful of Sugar or Two at the Most

A sweet treat like candy or chocolate should be just that—a treat, something special for a special moment and not a food substitute or a regular in an everyday diet. While we need to measure the quantity of these sweet treats, we also need to make wise choices about their quality, especially when it comes to what we give our children.

Meshuggah’s locally handmade artisanal confectionary is beautifully portioned and produced to help you serve it to your children in recommended amounts and with peace of mind, knowing that it contains only the finest ingredients.

Quantity: There’s More to Sugar

Kids love sugar, but too much of it in their diet can cause behavioural and health problems, such as hyperactivity, poor focus and concentration, tooth decay, and increased risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease in later years. As parents, it is our job to ensure our children have a balanced, healthy diet, and this starts with being informed: knowing the different types of sugars and the recommended daily intake.

Sugars can be natural or added. Natural sugars found in fruit, vegetables, and milk are good and necessary for children’s development; in fact, some studies show that children are biologically programmed to crave foods high in calories and sugar during growth spurts. These natural sugars are also easier on kids’ digestive systems, as many of these foods contain fibre, making them slower to digest and, therefore, slowing down the sugar rush.

It’s easy to identify treats like candy or chocolate as high in sugar, but it is not as easy to spot sugar in everyday foods and meals such as cereals, sauces, drinks, and processed meals. This is why reading the label is important. Labels show a product’s ‘total sugar’ and ‘added or ‘free sugar’ amounts. The latter is the one you need to focus on and look at the per-serving size. 

All Meshuggah’s products clearly state added sugar value, and many products are packaged to easily serve some and store some with individually wrapped lollipops, candy canes, chocolate bits, and fudge pieces.

The recommended maximum daily intake of free or added sugar varies according to source, with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations at the top end:

• 4 – 6 years of age: 19 – 24g
• 7 – 10 years of age: 24 – 30g
• 11 years and older: 32 – 50g

Quality: It’s About More than Sugar

Include healthy treats such as nuts*, dried fruit, or biltong in your treat menu, giving children non-sugary options too. Where possible, substitute candy and chocolate treats with sugar-free options. Meshuggah’s sugar-free range includes bonbons, suckers, and brittle.

Back to labels, when checking product ingredients, pay attention to the artificial additives in foods, as some of these could carry health risks. These may include artificial colouring, and flavouring, and preservatives most often used in mass-produced goods to extend shelf life. All Meshuggah’s products are locally handmade, crafted the old-fashioned way using only the finest ingredients.

So, to keep your child on the right side of sugar put a twist on Mary Poppin lyrics, and ‘Stick to a spoonful of sugar in the most delightful way!’*Be mindful of any nut allergies before serving products made in a factory using nuts