Craving Sugar Like a Drug

My 4-year-old woke up hungry this morning, and while I was making my slow, bleary-eyed way toward the kitchen, he scampered on ahead and took matters into his own hands. When I arrived, he was sitting on the floor scooping out knife-fuls of vanilla frosting from a container that had been up toward the top of the fridge.

We have a house rule that we eat healthy food before sugar, and the boys know they’re only allowed one serving of sugar per day. That second rule is a little more flexible, but in general it keeps the kids from begging for sweets all day long. They know that the more they ask, the less likely I am to give in on sugar #2.

But this is the first time one of them has blatantly helped himself to something he knew he shouldn’t be having, and as I stood there sleepily debating how to respond, the 7-year-old piped up, “What makes us like sugar so much?”

It was waaaaay too early for all this thinking!  But in a weird quirk of fate, the public radio station KWMU came to my rescue, with a Morning Edition story about how overeating sugar affects our brains much the same way drugs do. That is, it makes us feel good – and if we eat high-sugar, high-fat foods, we feel really good. Briefly. If we continue to overeat sugar, our brains will become wired to crave more in order to get the same effect.

Perhaps the 4-year-old had already consumed enough frosting for the happy effect, because he didn’t create too much of a fuss when I took the bowl of kiddie crack away and steered him toward blueberries instead. I put the frosting back (on a higher shelf!) and, feeling a twinge of guilt, cooked a real breakfast.

By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting

Share This Story

Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words

Our Daily Things to Do email is the easiest way to plan your day.
Follow Us
 
Things to Do

Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo
Monday, June 30, 2025
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.

View this event »
Storytelling in the Museum from the Missouri History Museum
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.

View this event »
Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.
Popular Stories

Festivals & Fireworks to Celebrate July 4th in St. Louis

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, and because this year July 4th falls on a Friday, your family can look forward to a full weekend of festivals and fireworks. Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks and lots more.

Continue reading »
Summer Fun in St. Louis Starts Now! Your Guide to Family Fun this June

For many St. Louis families, the start of June represents the real start of summer. That's when the summer fun really starts to kick in, and the fact that so many activities and attractions are free is just a bonus!

Continue reading »
Why Summer Camp is Great for . . . Parents

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: we’re also partners and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your more playful side that you haven’t shown for a while.

Continue reading »
7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

Continue reading »
Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

Continue reading »
You Might Also Like...

From Our Sponsors
Follow Us