A dietitian mom’s take on sugar for kids…

by | Mar 20, 2019

Navigating sugar with kids

By Pediatric Dietitian Lindsay Rieger on our team specializing in family nutrition, kids nutrition, chronic disease and women’s health.

In the interest of “getting to know your Dietitian” I thought it might be fun to share a recent family photo.

Here we are with tiny person #3 who has recently decided that he can’t get enough of the white stuff…sugar that is. I frequently whisper to him “Mommy’s a Dietitian, you can’t be a sugar addict” but it turns out that he doesn’t particularly care.

So for all the parents who share in my daily struggle, here are the words of wisdom that I try to remind myself of daily…

Save the sugar for treats, don’t waste it on meal or snack items that are unnecessarily loaded with sugar.
Don’t freak out when treats show up. Treats WILL show up- it’s inevitable, and that’s okay. Overreacting will backfire most of the time, especially long-term. When a food item becomes forbidden it often turns into what we want most. This is typically true for children and adults.
Be a good role model with YOUR food choices. Kids learn by what we do – not what we say. (So this OBVIOUSLY means pigging out on chocolate after the kids go to bed…and don’t forget to hide the wrappers).

Tiny R’s mecca. I’d like to think he’d be as enthused if this was a giant smiley carrot but somehow I doubt it. Sigh

Kids and sugar by pediatric dietitian Lindsay Rieger

For more information on SUGAR you may want to check out our previous articles:

Looking for more family feeding tips from a dietitian that won’t expect you to be perfect but that nudges you towards healthier habits for yourself and your family? Book an appointment with Calgary pediatric dietitian and online nutritionist Lindsay Rieger.

As a mom dietitian of 3 active kids, she can help you figure out how to feed your family healthy foods, despite a hectic lifestyle. Lindsay specializes in family meal planning and as a Calgary paediatric nutritionist for kids nutrition issues such as picky eating, weight concerns, growth issues, iron issues, constipation, food allergies and more. She has worked with a wide range of pediatric nutrition issues with kids with many medical issues. Lindsay also enjoys working specifically as a Registered Dietitian for women to help them with weight concerns and to develop a healthier non-dieting relationship with food.

For more information about our Calgary dietitian team and our virtual online nutrition counseling services by our experienced team of nutritionists visit: ONLINE & DIETITIAN CALGARY NUTRITION COUNSELING

Success stories

"I am a psychologist in private practice and it is very important to me that my clients have the best care with other health care professionals. For that reason Health Stand Nutrition is my only source for exceptional Dietitians. Andrea and her team provide highly knowledgeable, compassionate, and real world support to my clients who require assistance with food lifestyle. I trust my clients to them and you would be in excellent hands making them part of your health care team."

Adele Fox, Psychologist

“This is the first time I feel satisfied; my cravings have diminished dramatically and I have a whole new relationship with food. I am eating guilt-free for the first time in my life. My energy has also dramatically increased and I feel great!”

Rhonda Jenkins, Nutrition Counseling Client

“The Dieticians at Health Stand Nutrition help you to take action on the science behind eating well by making it practical, understandable, and fun. Their office is cozy and not at all clinical or intimidating. I felt like I was sitting down with a really smart, caring friend who wanted to help me make the best choices for my lifestyle and food preferences. They really are the best in the business.”

Marty Avery, Nutrition Counseling Client

“I have come to think of the program as a one stop shopping excursion for everything one needs to know about creating a joyous relationship with food and our bodies. In a single word, the course has gifted me with freedom from the punishing rigidity of disordered eating, old stories that never were true, and body dysmorphia that did nothing but make me lose sight of a body that has done everything I've asked, despite my careless dismissal of her needs. Now when I look in the mirror I find myself shifting from harsh criticism to gentle gratitude.”

Lynn Haley, Pursuit of Healthiness Online Course Participant

“I spent 3 hours when first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I learned more from my Dietitian about food in those 3 hours than I had learned in all the years of my life. I also love the newsletter, there is always something to learn.”

Peter Whitehead, Nutrition Counseling Client

“I didn’t realize how strong my “diet mentality” was, and all the rules I had in my head about food. I was in a cycle of reward/punish/binge/cringe. I booked with your business very reluctantly, on the repeated advice of my doctor, to get my slowly rising cholesterol levels in check. I thought I knew everything about food, and my behaviour with food, but I was definitely re-schooled. My weight is creeping down, I feel good about my diet, exercise, body image, and lifestyle.”

Amy Floyd, Nutrition Counseling Client

“Thanks Andrea for an amazing presentation, I have heard all positive remarks from attendees and the evaluations show the same sentiment. It is really gratifying when a speaker does their “homework” and weaves in our profession’s day to day challenges within their content, you did an awesome job of this! You truly took the “die” out of Dietician! Your information on healthy eating and simplifying how we can work towards this as we are all so busy really hit the mark. Andrea connects very well with her audience; she is energetic, funny, and very approachable.”

Carole Ann LaGrange, Transfusion Medicine Safety Officer

Event Planner for Laboratory Diagnostic Imaging Annual Event

“I am a family physician who sees patients with a myriad of eating concerns – from wanting to know how to plan healthy meals for active families, to weight loss, to eating disorders, and so on. I cannot recommend the Health Stand team highly enough. I have worked with (and been to!) other Dieticians in the past and too often find that they just ask for food logs and make suggestions that are easily obtained online or in books. The Dieticians at Health Stand offer much more than just telling clients what they “should be eating.” In contrast, the team really does more of a counselling practice, and they work hard to help their clients learn more about why their eating habits may be off track and not optimal for them, as well as helping people to effect change at a deep level that, most importantly, is sustainable for lifetime health.”

Dr. Deb Putnam, Family Physician

Nutrition Counseling Client & Referring Physician

“I am a busy mom, with kids in high level sports, working full-time downtown, and running our home acreage outside the City. I now have the knowledge and tools I need to plan for and manage the chaos of meal planning.”

Gillian Gray, Pursuit of Healthiness Online Course Participant

“As a construction company, we select speakers who can relate to our industry and its employees. Andrea’s message was delivered with humor and empathy. She makes people feel as though they can make changes without leaving behind every favorite food. Andrea focused her presentation on healthy eating as a way to keep energy high throughout the day. This message and the way it was delivered resonated with our predominantly male, blue collar culture. I would highly recommend Andrea as a speaker for groups such as ours. She will get your message across without alienating anyone in your audience – which is a huge hurdle when trying to introduce a wellness program in the workplace!”

Stephanie Wood, HR and Safety Manager

Fisher Construction Group, Burlington, WA

“I found my Dietitian warm, funny, and skilled at teaching nutrition concepts without the overwhelm. The general approach of each session was to mix science with emotion, which was exceedingly effective in helping me shift my perspective on food from one of anxiety to one of joy and curiosity.”

Erin Kronstedt, Nutrition Counseling Client

“Excellent presentation! What a refreshing change to have a speaker inspire rather than “lecture” about nutrition. Your captivating stories, tips and overall approach to healthy eating uplifts and puts people at ease. It was great to hear we don’t need to strive to be perfect eaters, and that small changes really can make a difference in how we feel and in our health. Thanks to Andrea, we have solutions to our everyday nutrition challenges that can actually work in real life!”

Tina Tamagi, Human Resources

ARC Resources Ltd.

“Had I not joined this course I would have struggled with no focus, low energy, and mindless eating. Excellent teaching and motivation. This is not just a course, it is a nutrition club with mentorship, support, and connections with other people with similar situations.”

Lorri Lawrence, Pursuit of Healthiness online course participant

A dietitian mom’s take on sugar for kids…

Navigating sugar with kids

Looking for more family feeding tips from a dietitian that won’t expect you to be perfect but that nudges you towards healthier habits for yourself and your family? Book an appointment with Calgary pediatric dietitian and online nutritionist Lindsay Rieger.

For more information about our Calgary dietitian team and our virtual online nutrition counseling services by our experienced team of nutritionists visit: ONLINE & DIETITIAN CALGARY NUTRITION COUNSELING

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