Siwgrstorm

I am constantly debating how to create the appropriate "Sugar Culture" in my house. The extremes, perhaps: Anything goes just bolus 'till you drop or Alexandra Jamieson's (girlfriend of Super Size Me's Morgan Spurlock) organic, caffeine-free, animal liberation inspired, sugar-free, millet-popping herbal tea bonanza. We fit somewhere inbetween, being vegetarians, but the sugary edges are blurry, and I wonder how influential a young child's diet is on their future habits and health. It is undeniable however; families adopt an attitude towards consumption that kids follow. Sometimes it bleeds into other realms; material objects, environmental stewardship, cultural diet, etc. Being a type 1 diabetic, I've tried to be neutral about sugar some days, I rage against its chemistry the next, decide its worth the bite now and again on other days.

Web pediatrician Dr. Green's article on sugar and kids is annoyingly uncommitted: "The effect of sugar intake on children's behavior is a hotly debated topic in pediatrics. Parents and educators often contend that sugar and other carbohydrate ingestion can dramatically impact children's behavior, particularly their activity levels. Physicians, on the other hand, have looked at controlled studies of sugar intake and have not found hypoglycemia or other blood sugar abnormalities in children who are consuming large amounts of sugar."

Everything is good in moderation, including moderation, they say. But is there reason to ban things from the house (such as high fructose corn syrup). How have you managed to "contain" the madness? Have you had your cake and eaten it too??