A little junk once in a while is not gonna make anyone sick.  Today is Purim, a day of joyous celebration, eating, drinking and being merry (at least that’s how I grew up celebrating…with endless mishloach manot baskets and treats coming through our door).

I believe that everything in life should be done with balance; not too extreme. It goes without saying that we function better with cleaner foods; but a “little” sugar sometimes,  per many nutritionists and dietitians, can even help brain growth in children. No, they don’t need to have it all the time, but if they ask for it,  give them times when they can have it.

When I look for treats for children, the main things I avoid is

corn syrup because that makes it addictive and they won’t be satisfied with a just a little; and I also avoid coloring.

Depriving children will actually make them want it more, and even eat it in hiding or with shame. A great line I heard this week from Erin Naimi, Nutrition Therapist, is “Physical well-being should not take precedence over mental well-being”. 

Tip for the week: Try to keep a good balance of 85% clean food and give yourself a little room to indulge in something you or your child loves sometimes. It’s good for the soul.