Editorial: Nutrition rules need a sugar hit

Can a poor diet trigger poor behaviour in children?

On the surface, it seems a no-brainer.

Just about every parent would attest to witnessing their child enter a Wizz Fizz-induced meltdown after devouring the contents of a show bag in a single sitting.

And as adults, many of us know first-hand that our own level of irritability can directly correlate to the frequency of our visits to the Hungry Jack’s drive-thru.

But the proposition that food can be blamed for children’s bad behaviour is the subject of some debate by experts.

After all, the classic symptoms of disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder include insomnia, fidgeting, excessive talking, impulsiveness and recklessness — all things which are sometimes blamed on too much sugar.

And then there’s the fact that increased sugar consumption often occurs at large social events, which are also extremely taxing on little bodies and minds.

Tantrums we might attribute to that extra large slice of birthday cake might actually simply be caused by overtiredness after a day spent running around.

Sugary foods aren’t the only ones copping blame. Some think certain oils and dairy products may contribute to moodiness. But sugar is the main villain.

While anecdotally parents might believe sugar turns their little angels into gremlins on an excursion to Adventure World, there’s little scientific consensus to back this up.

Having said that, there’s a good chance both you and your child are eating too much of it.

On average, Australians eat close to half a kilogram of sugar a week, contributing to poor health and obesity.

In addition to the sugars we know about, in sweetened products such as soft drinks, lollies and desserts, food manufacturers sneak sugar into just about everything that comes to us already processed — pasta sauces, savoury snacks and breads to name a few.

And although we know we’re eating way too much of it, Australian dietary guidelines don’t provide a figure to which we should limit our sugar intake — for adults or for kids.

They do recommend “limiting intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars such as confectionery, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and cordials, fruit drinks, vitamin waters, energy and sport drinks”, but the vagueness can make it hard for parents trying to strike a balance between keeping their kids healthy and allowing them to enjoy and form a healthy relationship with food.

We know demonising particular foods doesn’t work.

Kids should be taught that all foods can be consumed as part of a healthy diet. Even Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster now acknowledges that his eponymous snack is a “sometimes food”, despite his voracious appetite for them.

There’s more information about nutrition available than ever before — some of it good, and some of it bonkers.

Sometimes even the good stuff is wildly conflicting, leading to confusion for parents.

Some clarification from our national health bodies would be welcome. Until then, parents will have to continue exercising their common sense and doing what they believe is best for their child.

If Cookie Monster can learn to curb his cravings and enjoy healthy foods along with his sweet treats, there’s hope for us all.