Is it fair to make my house a sugar-free zone?
 

I'm considering taking a radical approach at my house, and would love to hear some other people's points of view.

My husband and I have not set a good example for our kids. We both come from obese parents, raised on meat & taters. He and I are both obese, and so is our 16-year old son. Our 11-year old daughter is slightly overweight.

I've been on Atkins for a couple of months now, and I fully believe that a modified/low carb approach is healthy for everyone. I am considering doing some housecleaning, and tossing all white flour, sugar, and processed foods containing them. Since I don't want to force-feed this program to the rest of the family, I would provide them with carbos, but in the form of veggies, whole grains, potatoes (with skin), and brown rice. (Basically the way I hope to eat after reaching my weight goal.)

Is this too extreme? I'd like to say, "this is how we eat in this house", regardless of whether they pick up a burger while out with friends. On the other hand, I don't want them to feel "deprived", and react by overeating whenever they have the chance.

If you are a wife and mother, and, usually the one in control of what food comes into the house and goes to the table, is it your right to make the decisions for the rest of the family?

Tami

Nineteen months ago I took a radical change in our house. I stopped cooking rice, pasta, potatoes and I quit buying sugary stuff bread and junk food. I should mention we don't have any children.

I started stocking up on whole fresh meats out of the butcher shop and fresh veggies from the produce.

My husband started off at 207 and myself was at 197. Eighteen months later he is down to 165 and I am sitting right at 146. He didn't seem to mind the change so much. He still drinks Dr Pepper's and we aren't talking diet. He will bring home the bag of chocolate chip cookies or potato chips. I will occassionally make him rice or pasta with dinner but it's no longer a daily/weekly thing at our house. We found out you can actually live without bread, pasta and rice :D

It's quite a change in eating habits however I don't really think they will mind so much as long as it tastes good. Wholesome foods are much more satisfying than junk foods in the long run.

Hi There!

Here is my 2 cents on the matter. I know what is like to be an obese teen- I have been there and it is SO MUCH WORSE than being a heavy adult. So, I think that if you believe that Atkins will help- then do it. Gradually. Don't even tell them that you are reducing their carbs and don't do the whole "induction thing" or else they might start to feel deprived like you said. The trick is not to make them think they are on a diet. I think there are plenty of recipes that you can make that they will be happy with. Give it a shot and keep us posted.

good luck!

:wave:

Nora

You could also try the Sugar Busters For Kids or Carbohydrate Addict's For Kids approach. It's not as extreme as Atkins, but still eliminates sugar and high glycemic foods for the most part.
If you're going to do this though, especially with kids the age you have, I'd really suggest getting them to buy into it instead of dictating the change. If it's not their choice, chances are that they won't stick to it, especially when they're out of your sight, and that could wind up making things worse instead of better.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nkd2662
"it is SO MUCH WORSE than being a heavy adult"

Been there, experienced that! I remember to this day how awful it was to constantly hear my mother say, "Now, should you be eating that? (As I was making cinnamon toast or some other sweet, since desserts never lasted past day one in our house.) That's why sometimes I think it would be better to simply not have it in the house.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lisa N
"I'd really suggest getting them to buy into it instead of dictating the change."

Any suggestions on how to approach that?

Tami

My son gave me a great opening to broaching the subject of low-carbing, (and I have to give his High School a thumbs up!) He saw me on the Low Carber web site, and of course knows I'm not eating carbs, and said, "hey, we were just learning about cabohydrates in science....did you know that all cabohydrates in their most basic form are sugar and water?" Hallelluja! The message is being taught! Of course, then gave him my most condensed version of "why we should eat carbs in limited quantities in their most natural form".

Dear Tami,



This is what women have always done. The answer is yes. You are making also decisions for your family if you buy ice cream or white bread. There seems to be an idea out there that processed junk food is somehow 'normal' and not to buy it is somehow a deviation. I find this bizarre to say the least.

OK, I don't have kids but about 15 months ago the white sugar got replaced by sweeteners and powdered sweetener, the soft drinks got replaced by sugar free ones and the pancakes by pancakes make with soy flour. Also I stopped buying rice, pasta, potatoes and bread.

I've lost 44lbs and my flatmate, who is not fat and still buys buns and stuff when out has lost 10lbs and is rather pleased with his improved hrealth and extra muscle definition.

Go for it - you and they have nothing to loose and a lot of health to gain. This is not a religion. You do not have to 'convert' your family. It's just a matter of not spending hard earned money on rubbish foods.

Best wishes from a snowy Belarus.

Robert

:wave:

I think its a great idea tossing some of the high sugar high carbed stuff out the door... I also have changed everyones eating along with mine... Though I am not as strict with their eating as I am with mine.. My hubby on the other hand does eat high carb foods due to he can handle them.. He walks all day long with his job of delivering yesss BREAD... My kids can go threw a whole loaf a day if i let them.. We in our house have restricted their bread use to only 4 slices a day and I do serve them potatoes and corn and the occasional candly.. But have also increased their use of green vegies and salads.. I know in my life weight was never a problem as a youth but come on as a early adult.. I want to teach them better eating habbits now while they are younger so when they reach the adulthood years it will carry over with them.. I tell them yes candy is fine in moderation and along with the other food I cant eat as long as they dont over do it... as for me ugggg The site of a potatoe and chips and candy are like posion now.. I am extremely addicted to it all... and if eaten even now I go out of control and go over board.. I think its a great idea to make our kids aware of the effects carbs can do to their lives if I let them go overboard all the time... I am also in the process of teaching them (homeschool) and in health we are goinging over the basic foodgroups and the pyramid... haha.... fun let me tell ya... To see that food pyramid and With me eatign so much different..

Tammy

I think its a bad idea to do it and not let them know. If your kids are teenagers then when they go out with friends, etc. and in school it is to easy to get carby snacks. You might think there eating healthy at home but away from home there not. So they will probably gain even more weight.

If you want to do it then let them know so they won't go eat carby stuff.

These days its really hard for a teenager who is overwieght. I bet you they would love to loose wieght, so just ask.

True when they get off they may eat higher carb foods.. but at home you are in control of what they do eat... and I think good eating habits starts at home.. If you eat healthy at home at least your are getting 2 good meals a day.. even if at school or a friends house they may be getting more carbs.. But then again if the child is use to eating healthier at home that child may take those habbits to school or even a friends house with them.. I allow my kids to be kids.. Birthdays and partys are comeing around I say enjoy... Mine dont even know that I have changed their eating habbits... They just eat what is prepared for them at breakfast lunch and dinner.. When we go other places I dont worry about it.. My children arnt on the heavy side. But my oldest is heading into the early adolecent ages where he is putting on his outter fat of his body that most children will eventualy fill out and up... I dont fret over it I just prepare foods and he eats them without knowing they are healther for him.. i also still allow him to be a kid also. Why should i say hey son im feeding you healty foods so you will loose that fat roll you starting... NOT I just give them healty foods.. and go from there...

Tammy

I think you teach by example.

You make low carb meals and have good low carb snacks available and let them learn how to be healthy by your example not instruction. Forcing never really works - how many of us were put on diets by others before we were ready to make our own decisions about this.

My history was that my youngest sister was hyperactive and my whole family was forced to change our eating to have no artificial colors, flavors or refined sugar in the house (by the way this really works much better then ritalin for moms out there feeding your kids those juice boxes). But for me... I dreamt of the things I would eat outside the house and became a closet eater - also I am still quite obsessive about foods since that time.

I'm only 5'4" and weighed over 260 by the age of 23.

Just another perspective.

I'm still kind of torn between whether to tell them, or just do it. At the very least I'll need to get my husband's support, since he's the one bringing in the sugary things these days. We had been drinking only diet sodas with rare exceptions for quite some time (a couple of years?), and last weekend he brought home a case of sugared soda! AND three different types of cookies. As if there wasn't already enough sweet treats in the house with all the Halloween junk.

The kids know I'm going to get rid of the rest of the Halloween candy today (and they're cool with that). Beyond that, I may take a gradual approach--use up what's on hand, then replace with better alternatives. Instead of the "big talk", try to find appropriate moments to explain why I choose not to have carbs, how much better I feel, etc. I may even share the Taubes article with my 16-year old. He's very bright, and may appreciate receiving the info from an "informed source", rather than just from Mom.

Eventually, though, I'll have to make it clear that although I can provide them with healthy, tasty foods at home, they have to make good choices on their own when they are away from home. Unfortunately that's easier said than done. My son actually tried a high-pro diet last year briefly, but could not get an adequate meal in the lunch room. He tried packing his lunch, but had no way to warm anything up, and cold meat just doesn't cut it every day.

What I'm trying to keep in mind with the kids, at least, is that the biggest downfall is simply fast food and processed, pre-prepared, convenience foods.

Hmmmmm....my first response to this was "no way!".....but then I was browsing thru the quit nicotine threads and thought differently.

I have 2 kids....sone just turned 18 and daughter is 21. My daughter is very thin and has to eat a ton of food just to maintain her weight. My son is more "normal" and follows a fairly health diet....at least at home. He also will at least try anything I put in front of him.

I do not buy any sweets...although I do allow them (well him actually, she's at school) to buy sweets and keep them in the house, as long as they dont' leave things where I have to see them!

I've also been trying to teach them some things about carbs....like whcih fruits are better to eat, why he's better off having 1 really thick sandwich instead of 2 thin ones.

HOWEVER...I am quitting smoking come monday and I intend to tell them both that there will be NO smoking in the house! They both smoke, and part of me is hoping this will cause them to cut back some....but it's mainly because I know how hard it is to quit smoking when you're around smokers!

So....if it's ok to ban smoking isn't it also ok to ban sugar? Granted, it is two different things....the smoke permeates the house, while sugar doesn't....but the smell of some sweets (like chocolate) can be just as tempting as seeing the food!

It's my house, I pay the bills, I make the rules....and if I decide to ban smoking, sweets, whatever it should be my right!

(Now, those of you that have a spouse should get their buy in....but you're the adults, you're the parents, you're the one that makes the rules!)

NO. NO. and NO.

Your kids are in the rebellion years...you will be doing exactly what you don't want to do: driving them to eat FORBIDDEN sugar.

I think it is entirely reasonable, if you do all the cooking, to explain that you are only cooking balanced meals. If anyone wants sugar stuff, they have to buy it (and make it) themselves. If they want ice cream in the freezer, let em.

Kids ALWAYS learn BEST from example, not from dictate. They may not give in till years later, but they will...if you don't force it.

I think doing this without prior explanation/discussion is setting you up for major and unecessary disaster.

that's my 5¢.

Looking back on the years when I was an obese teen- I know that I would have been very embarrassed if my mom came up to me and had a "diet" talk. At the age of 16 I know that I probably would have done the exact opposite of anything she recommended. Your child may be different but in general it is impossible to rationalize with teenagers... they lack the ability to think about consequenses like most adults can.

Anyhow, when I was 17 I weighed 198 pounds. By the age of 21- I got down to 140 and I was looking great. At that age I blamed my mom for "letting" me be fat. Even though I was the one eating the junk- I thought that she could have made better food choices when grocery shopping.

With Atkins I think it does not really seem like dieting- not in the sense that we have been taught all of these years... that is why I think you could do low carb in the house and get away with not telling them.

hth

Nora


:wave:

LOL...they have the ability to think about the consequences, they just think that they don't apply to them . It's experience that teaches us that no, we are not exempt from the same consequences as everyone else who does what we do.

My only concern for just changing everything at home without getting them involved in the decision (and their agreement to participate willingly) is that they may eat low carb/high fat at home, but high carb everywhere else which would be setting them up for some health problems down the road. Even kids are not exempt from the problems that high fat/high carb causes.
Just my nickel's worth...

Hi,

My vote is that you tell your kids what you told us in your first post - it's simple and honest. :) Just say that you're learning a lot about nutrition now, and that you and their dad want them to be healthy now and into their future. So from now on, things in the house are going to be a bit different. Have a little 'family meeting.' :)

I have to agree with CindySue that it's *your* house, your rules. ;) If you want to change them, that's your right. It certainly doesn't mean the kids will be deprived, just that if they're going to eat junk, it's probably not going to be from your fridge anymore.

Best of luck. :) I wish my parents wouldn't have always kept junk in the house - maybe I wouldn't be on this forum now. :(

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions, folks. Unfortunately, there's no "right" way to handle it. I wish this was a decision that I made when the children were little.

Right now, we're still just taking the gradual approach. I'm serving a couple of different veggies along with a protein for dinner, skipping the regular rice/potatoe/pasta side dish.

They're still eating snacks, etc., that are primarily carbs, but we'll take it a step at a time.

Tami

you're a woman...
 

I think being a woman, you need to trust your instincts. Women have great instincts. You know your family and how they will react if you come out of the closet with your plans.

Being a mom too, I know that I feel obligated to buy what's the most healthful for my family. (I'm feeling quite lucky now seeing your dilemma- my son's only 2 still!). But I think that we would carry soooo much guilt on our shoulders if our kids grew up to be unhealthy adults because we didn't teach them how to be healthy when we had the chance. When they are at home is when you still have the most influence over them, even if it's unspoken.

I think Sugarbusters is a great plan. That's just sticking to whole foods. Just cutting out processed "rubbish" as Robert so eloquently put it. Cutting out the "whites" and adding in the "browns" (bread, pasta, rice- that is).

I guess you can tell already, my house is sugar free. If my hubby and son want an ice cream then they go out for it to McD's. If I decide to have a weekend off, I may buy some for all of us. But it's a rarity.

Good luck, and trust yourself Mom.

I think taking it out of the house has merit
 

I am not buying anything with sugar in it. What's in the house, when it's gone, it's gone. My son has a little weight problem that I don't want to become a big weight problem.

I don't nag him about it but I do intend to try to help him in a round about way. Our meals have gotten healthier since I started low carbing, but he does still get rice or potatoes with his dinner, he and his father both do.

He does get treats still, but I either buy or make low carb treats for him. He doesn't really care whether the ice cream bar he gets is made with Splenda or sugar. They taste the same. I got him some Blue Bunny Ice Cream bars and told him they were for me, so of course, he wanted some. He thinks they're great. If I told him they were for him, he would never have eaten them.

I'm also getting him to exercise more by telling him that I need company when I go for a walk. I don't want to go by myself, so will he come with me.

I don't buy chips any more. He likes the crunchy cheese that can be nuked in the microwave.

When he comes home from school, he can't grab cookies or a bag of chips, but I keep cans of soup that he likes and he can have that. It's about an even mix of protein and carb instead of all carb.

So I'm working on it. Small steps.

This is an old thread that is always relevent for those of us with children. I have been too heavy all my adult life and when I had kids was about the time I found low carb dieting via Atkins. I decided to tach them about food choices from the beginning. Yes they ate cherios, but now they eat scrambled eggs and bacon, and scottish oats for breakfasts; even leftover roast beef sometimes.

I teach my kids nutrition. It is a slow progression toward less and less refined carb foods. My boys and DH are all thin and trim because I moderate what they have and tell them about the health problems they will have in 50 years IF they eat the crappy foods. Yes, I label the foods that. My youngest already has a strong desire for sweets and breads--it is clearly in the genes. Young people need to understand everything is a choice. If a friend smoke cigarettes, is it then ok to also smoke? Of course not. SO I expect my kids to also be able to choose good foods when faced with bad choices. THey bring a bag lunch because even school lunches are . . . . crappy.

I f you are trying to change the eating habits of teenagers--it is a process. Somethings as a parent you can change immediately. Any change is a good thing in the process.

I've got two short blurbs that might help you feel better about a decision to toss out the junk food. Anecdotes are fun!

First.

My mother has had weight issues since she was a little girl, and by the time she had kids and started a family, she had given up the battle and settled into an obese lifestyle, shopping with an obese mindset, and so growing up none of us kids had any structure or knowledge of what counted as a good meal or portion control. This did not bother me for 20 years, I had a lightning fast metabolism and ate just as much if not more than my little sister, who became obese as a young adolescent.

My metabolism stalled when I was about 20 years old, and now that the playing field has been levelled, neither my sister or I have a practical understanding of building healthy meals, and both of us are struggling with our weight. I am an adult now so I am responsible for my own choices, but each adult is at least in part molded by their parents and environment, because for 18 years kids do not get much of a say in terms of how food is prepared.

I wish my mother had cooked more food healthy and fresh and less out of cans and boxes, because I would probably not be in the situation I am in now considering what a great opportunity I had before my metabolism slowed. When I look at food on a plate, I naturally fill it up like I grew up to expect. When I shop, I pick up a lot of the same canned and boxed convenience foods, like Kraft Dinner, because I had seen my Mom do it a million times.

Whether you are aware of it or not, your children will pick up on these things as they grow up. Even when they are following you in the grocery store texting on their cell phones they are passively observing what foods you are picking up off the shelves, and they will more than likely pick up the same foods when they move out or head off to college. You can't make food choices for them, but you can certainly set a good example!


Second.

My Mom had dieted her whole life, and while there were occasional cupboard clean-outs they did not become permanent until she had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy last year. She had lost interest in food after that, and her shopping reflected that - it was not so much an active, conscious choice to shop smarter for her family, but she went from buying ice cream to greek yogurt, reading labels, and buying less things in bulk, etc.

My Dad and teenaged brother were chubby because of the food they were eating for years, but after my mom's surgery and her altered shopping habits, both of them have slimmed down over the past year as well. Neither of the boys were willing to shop for themselves, so they made due with the food in the house, and are better for it. Neither of them were dieting, my Dad actually started cooking his own meals (Mom can only eat a half a cup of food at a time so she doesn't), but my Dad can only cook with what my Mom has brought home, so the meals became healthier.

My Dad whined a bit at first, but he and my brother have passively improved their diets as a result of my mother's very calculated, carefully measured shopping methods now.

TLDR: Your shopping habits can send very big messages! For better or worse, you lead by example when you are controlling food and meals.

Yes, it's fair, and No, it's not too extreme. I did something like that when my kids were teens. I was a single mom so I didn't have the husband/partner part. It turned out to be such a non-issue. Some thoughts in no particular order:

- The kids just liked having FOOD around that they liked so they weren't hungry and it tasted good. If I had cheese sticks, meat, nuts, and fruits, and veggies with dip, they honestly did not miss junky snacks. They were just HUNGRY especially after school because lunches were so rushed and lousy choices. In fact our house became a bit of after-school-snack central because I said they could eat after school and before dinner, but it had to be real food. And what happened was, my DD and her girl friends, made good sandwiches and snacks for my DS and his guy friends - practicing for superbowl parties I guess. It was expensive to provide real food but very interesting to watch sociologically!

- As I quit buying the bad old stuff I would ask them what they might like for next week. Both parties had to buy into the shopping list. Over time we came up with a new list of staples. Like I don't want to shock anyone with talk of potatoes - but Pik Nik brand shoestrings are like half saturated fat instead of "healthy" veg oil. Not bad as a transition thing.

- I was perfectly fine saying junk food was entertainment and it wasn't coming out of my grocery money. If they wanted it they could use their own allowances and keep it in their room. They each tried once or twice and never spent their money that way again - they much preferred buying Starbucks and movie tickets when out with friends. Junk food was not worth their money, why on earth mine?

- Surprisingly my DD told me she appreciated having non-junk good food always at home. It gave her the feeling of freedom when out and about - if she had junk outside, she knew she had a better baseline to come home to. or that if she had 75% good stuff at home, her indulgences in social life weren't so bad.

- Also surprisingly my DD told me she started to get horrified at how some families still eat. We had transitioned to dinners that were things like steak or salmon, veggies with ginger and garlic, and rosemary potatoes. Then she would go to a friend's house and they would have spaghetti and meatball casserole over mac and cheese. The contrast started to get startling.

I would do it again in a heartbeat with growing kids. Plus it can be a family identity team building thing - "we get a kick out of eating really well"

My BF wants his goodies and pop and chips, I have no choice, there, he is an adult. As for the table, I make that descidion but I don't want to be extream. I will say, none of my children are overweight. My daugter is known for binging on goodies, I'm a binge eater also. My boys aren't normaly binge eaters.

At meals, we have a meat, a carby side and a veggie. The carby side can be potatoes (couple times a week) fruit or on a very rare occasion mac and cheese (BF insists on occasion). I don't allow over eating either, if they want seconds, its going to be on a veggie, if they don't take it, we know they aren't hungry. I don't allow huge piles of food on their plates, they don't need to learn to eat that way. We eat with smaller salad plates (much to BFs distaste) and that seams to creat smaller portion sizes on their own. We havn't had to do it, but my Mother now keeps food on the counter, and you have to get up to get seconds. She said it really cuts down on the amount of food the guys eat. I to have noticed if BF is still full, he will sit there and pick at the extra food on the table. We clear the table quickly to keep that from happening.

I don't want my children thinking that dessert is mandatory, so, I make a dessert type thing once every few weeks. BF thinks he has to have dessert nightly, so he has a locked box stashed in our bedroom with candybars in it. He eats them but the kids have no idea, it doesn't bother me. We have chips for his lunch, but the kids know not to ask for them. They end up with chips for supper once every few weeks along with a meat and veggie of course! BF has pop in the frids also, my oldest will ask permission every now and then for one. The younger ones don't even think to ask about it, they don't see it drank in the house. They drink milk, water or iced tea, no juice, chocolate milk or anything of the sort.

I hate it when my younger kids come home and tell me that juice, raisen cookies, and pastas are heathy. I don't want to tell them that the school is lying to them. Instead I tell them that its ok in small amounts and meats and veggies are most important. When my daughter wants to binge on junk food, I remind her that eating more than a small amount is not healthy. I do tell her the truth about being fat. I tell her that she's better off eating just a little bit of the junk food than alot. Alot of junk food will make you and everyone fat, and its easier to stay slim and healthy than to try to loose the fat down the road. She doesn't complain when I make her and her brother split a large cookie, or if they get a pop, they split it also.

I think we do set good examples, but we can't take it all away, they may binge when they get the chance.


I am the mother/woman of the house, I control the house, especially with my children. If we let them make their own choices, most likely they will make bad choices, they just don't care, yet. Small changes that taste good, then they wont miss the extra crap.

By all means, have the discussion! My daughter has overweight/obese friends that have NO CLUE how to lose weight. They will sit there eating candy (fat free!) And ask me how she can eat so much and stay so thin. (She is 5'8" 110lbs, a lean mean dancing machine that just got the first perfect physical fitness scores on her drill team's summer athletic tests) And she is truly always eating. I point out that she rarely drinks soda, snacks on meat, cheese and berries all day and stays away from carbs naturally. These girls are miserable about their appearances. It breaks my heart that their mothers take them to Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. And they never learn. Your kids have the advantage of a mother who knows better! Let them benefit from that!

Holy thread necromancy, Batman! This thread is 10 years old, so I suspect the OP has figured it out by now since her kids will have grown up. ;)

This is certainly a relevant subject, but starting a new thread would be a better choice than reviving such an old thread.

Perhaps, but I thought it was worth reading up on. I'm sure others could use this info!

I did little changes as my little ones grew up. I talked about why eating a certain food was a better choice than another. Even today, years later, choices to make. I can't control what they choose outside the house; I can help them inside my home. I don't buy junk food-- I would eat it. I have recently asked that we refrain from baking cakes, cookies and breads to help mommy loose weight and I can play more soccer with them. My 10 year old is more inclided to make good choices ( not many bad ones in my house really) and my younger child is already feeling the NEED for carbs, yet he is thin and trim still. I try to counsel them on keeping to two servings of bread a day and two fruits a day. ( I don't buy juice) THey can eat all the salad they want, and meats and water. ( No soda in the house.)

It is a process. Quick changes can create rebellion unless the teen is completely on board and wants the quick change.

I sometimes have my kids help with the food shopping, to pick out a new veg or new fruit or nut. Some rules apply--no cold cereals, no crackers or traditional snack foods. My kids have learned this over the years so shopping has become easier to stay on target.

Perhaps include them with a night or two when they create a menu, with you supervising initally and guiding to better foods slowly. TO get kids cooking in the kitchen may start with mac and cheese but with time become steak and green beans.

GOod luck-- you are heading in the right direction!!! You know your kids and how to approach change. :agree:

It's not a radical change. It makes sense. Not only is that food toxic for anyone's health, but your family on both sides don't have the genetics to handle sugar and starch. That's the same with my family.

I feel that there will be many benefits to cutting out the sugar. For the first 2 weeks, your kids will probably complain and be very moody because there's none of the "good stuff" in the house and they'll go through the same sugar withdrawals we all had to. That's not a bad thing though because it's the same thing as detoxing from heroin or amphetamine. It just has to be done.

While this is going on, you can sneak in a bunch of paleo and/or low-carb comfort food. Ginger pork or Pot roast recipes from MarksDailyApple's website. You can do heavy cream with splenda and frozen strawberries for dessert (if you're not dairy-free). Remember, no one in the house is on a diet. Everyone's eating real food all the time and they'll feel better for it in the end.

Also, and this is very important since your kids are still young, I am going to tell you that since I cut my carbs way back a year and a half ago, I do not have ANY tartar on the back of my upper and lower front teeth. This never happens, they are normally dark brown on the other side and the hygienist has to scrape tons of it off whenever I go in for a checkup. My last checkup, she had nothing to scrape. She just kind of felt around for a second and went onto the next step in my cleaning. Also, I had no cavities. This has not happened since I was in 4th grade. Every time I went to the dentist, I had at least 2 or 3 cavities. Now, none.

I'll also add that I drink coffee. But my teeth are sparkling white nonetheless. My theory is that since there's no tartar buildup from the bread, sugar, pasta, chips, potatoes, you name it... that there's nothing for the coffee "pigments" to stick to. I dunno how true that is, but I know one thing for sure. My teeth are whiter than they were 2 years ago.

Anyway, I'm sure you can add many more reasons for why cutting out sugar will actually make your family happier, more energetic, and have a better experience in medical/dental checkups.