Hi there, Kids ages 2 to 19 consume an average of 17 teaspoons of added sugar a day. That’s almost triple the six teaspoons limit recommended by the American Heart Association. Sugar-sweetened beverages are the leading source of that added sugar. According to nutritionist, author, and LMNT Partner Kelly LeVeque, if parents cut that one category from kids’ diets, they’ll remove up to half of their daily added sugar. That matters short and long term. Research following adults who had less sugar exposure in early childhood found 35% lower rates of type 2 diabetes and 20% lower rates of hypertension decades later. We sat down with LeVeque to take a deeper dive into kids and sugar. In the video interview, we discuss: Why liquid sugar hits differently than the sugar in whole foods How sugar’s spike-and-crash cycle can affect mood, attention, and the ability to learn How to swap out sugary drinks without a full pantry overhaul LeVeque's take on using sugar as a bribe or reward
As LeVeque puts it, "There is always a chance to rewrite the script and pull the sugar from your child's diet and have better boundaries with them." Start with one simple swap when you're ready — small changes, made one at a time, are the ones that tend to stick. Stay Salty,
Robb and the LMNT Team |
