Sugar in our babies' diets!

Scientists partly attribute children's preference for sweets to... nostalgia for the womb. Indeed, after a good meal, a mother's blood sugar level rises and could contribute to making the amniotic fluid sweeter, thus associating a sweet taste with a pleasant feeling of satiety in the infant. Your baby is therefore very likely to be naturally drawn to sweets. This isn't meant to upset you, but they're following their instincts! So how do you manage this innate passion for sweets?

Sugar? Sugars!

The sweet taste found in certain foods has various origins. At its core, it always comes from nutrients, "carbohydrates": fructose in fruits, sucrose in table sugar, or lactose in milk.

There are also natural sweeteners derived from plants that can serve as alternatives to beet sugar and cane sugar. The best known are undoubtedly honey (the fruit of the labor of our little bees) and maple syrup (which, in addition to being absolutely delicious, is rich in vitamins and minerals). For the past few years, agave syrup has also been gaining popularity. It comes from the agave plant, native to Mexico (it's also the plant used to make tequila... but shhh). Stevia, meanwhile, is a sweetener derived from the plant of the same name. This natural sweetener has a strong sweetening power without adding any calories.

Two types of sugar are sold: refined sugar and unrefined sugar. Only unrefined sugars (in moderation, of course!) can provide beneficial nutrients for your baby's body.

Is sugar a true or false friend for our babies?

Sugars, or carbohydrates, are the "fuel" that powers the body. They provide the energy needed for muscles and nerve cells. In short, they are absolutely essential, especially in a developing baby's body, which burns a lot of energy! This is why the only food a baby consumes until 4-6 months is milk, which is naturally very sweet.

Every time your child consumes carbohydrates, they are either used directly (glucose) or stored in their liver and muscles (glycogen) to create an energy reserve. So it's important!

But if there's too much sugar, then the excess is converted into fat... And that's where the problem of being overweight, even among the youngest, arises...

What foods can you give your baby without hesitation?

Your little miracle hasn't arrived yet, and you're a mom-to-be with a sweet tooth? Remember that when you're expecting a baby, you shouldn't eat twice as much, but twice as well. Even in your womb, your baby's senses are awakened, and they're already starting to get used to the taste of what you eat. To limit their sugar cravings later on, be mindful of your sugar intake, but don't deprive yourself!

Is your baby starting the big milestone of weaning? Opt for homemade preparations, without added sugar, and organic baby food from the store, which is very rich in fruits and vegetables. We're not going to be modest: at Good Goût, all our recipes contain at least 60% a good vegetable , and our compotes are 100% fruit, with no added sugar.

Regarding drinks: plenty of water, but no syrup (except on very rare occasions, of course).

When your baby can sit up on their own and starts getting several teeth (around 10 months), they can have a snack. It's best to avoid small biscuits high in sugar, jam, chocolate, etc., and instead opt for mini rice cakes naturally sweetened with organic apple or carrot juice.

Sweets, candies, cakes, pastries, etc., should be reserved for special occasions, such as a birthday. The goal isn't to forbid them, but to give them at the right time. Ideally, these little treats should be allowed at the end of a balanced meal, not between meals. In fact, besides contributing to tooth decay, sweets offer no nutritional benefit and therefore won't create a feeling of fullness in your child. They will then tend to want more to feel satisfied and thus confuse hunger with a craving.

Sources

La nutrition.fr : http://www.lanutrition.fr/bien-dans-son-assiette/alimentation/sucre-et-produits-sucres/sucre/quels-sucres-consomme-t-on.html

INPES “The nutrition guide from birth to 3 years” : http://opheliefouretsassmat.e-monsite.com/medias/files/inpes-diversification-alimentaire.pdf

"Eating well and moving: the first step in weaning" : http://www.mangerbouger.fr/pour-qui-242/enfants/la-phase-de-diversification-6-mois-3-ans/bien-manger-57/la-1ere-etape-de-diversification-4-mois-8-mois.html