When Dipika Kakar made a sweet dish for son Ruhaan (Photo: Dipika Kakar/Instagram)Actor Dipika Kakar made gajar ka halwa at home on her son Ruhaan’s request. “I didn’t expect him to enjoy gajar ka Halwa so much,” she told Shoaib’s YouTube vlog. Shoaib responded to a question about whether they were overfeeding sugar by saying, “Sugar Par Sugar nahi khilaaye Ja Rahe Hai (We aren’t overfeeding him). We do make him eat sugar. He said that we felt in this age children should be given all things but in moderation. Consult your doctor before beginning any new routine. Dipika added: “Ha, Bilkul deni Chahiye Kyunki Abhi Ruhaan’s in the growing-age. They should be given to him because he’s in the growing-age. They play, they run…so their bodies need energy. It does not mean that you should overdose them on sugar…correct. Limiting the quantity is also very important. We give Ruhaan everything. He eats pizza and pasta occasionally. Shoaib then said, “Sometimes we are not able shoot, but he eats sabzi roti, dal chawal. Woh sab kuch khaata ahai (he eats all).” Taking a cue, we asked if it was a good strategy to use for parents of young children. (Photo: Freepik).Dr Rajiv, head of diabetes and a weight loss expert at Zandra Healthcare and Co-founder the Rang De Neela Initiative called it a “worrying” trend that sugar is being normalised for very young children on the assumption that they are growing and therefore need it. “Scientifically this is not correct. Dr Kovil said that a child doesn’t need sugar to grow; they need balanced nutrition. Story continues below this ad. “The taste for sweet is learned, and once this hedonic pleasure pathway is activated in early life, it sets up the stage for a lifelong preference for sugary foods. This directly links obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic disorders in later life,” said Dr Kovil. Children do not understand food choice as parents do. “What we introduce to children in their first few years becomes normal.” Sugar is often used to reward, comfort or create a habit. We are unintentionally promoting unhealthy eating habits. In childhood, the foundation for metabolic health is set. This is where parents’ responsibility is critical. Dr Kovil explained that we are not only feeding a child but also shaping their future metabolism. Consult your doctor before beginning any new routine.
