HEALTHY

— La'NA'

It’s School Cafeteria Time

Please, Don’t Eat the Jello!

Well, not exactly, but you should talk with your children about a healthy diet plan as well as some “sweet” rules before they begin their new school year.

Increasingly, more schools are offering sweets and snacks.  High revenue opportunities are causing soda machines to “pop” up in hallways, and candy-filled vending machines are unfortunately commonplace.  As a result, unhealthy eating tempations are facing our children more than ever.  As a parent and doctor, I am concerned about these blatantly placed temptations in our schools.  Soda and sugar has often become simply another food group rather than a “special treat”, and the harmful health aspects are far-reaching.

Soda should not be consumed on a daily basis.  From an oral health perspective, all soda contains harmful acids that literally “eat away” the strong enamel of our teeth, not to mention the near absence of any nutritional value.  Regular consumption can rapidly destroy your teeth, your ability to enjoy good foods evolving into very extensive, costly dental treatment.

Fruits and vegetables should be an obvious choice in the daily lunch box.  Milk over juice is an excellent regular policy.  And, many schools have meal plans that provide nutritious opportunities for those not packing lunches.

A lunch monitor or cashier will patrol school sweets when possible.  However, you must take an active roll to control your child’s sweet consumption at school.  Just like the last time you were at the grocery store checkout line and your sweet one begged for something to make them even sweeter, they can be just as manipulative in “the lunch line”.

Establishing a healthy diet and “sweet” rules when children are young will better prepare them as they enter adolescence and are not so malleable.  Teenage tooth decay can be a serious problem and can be very costly for parents financially, as well as to your child’s overall health.  The occasional “sweet” relief will keep everyone smiling, so remember to practice what you preach in meals and in lunch boxes.

Dr. Steven Anderson practices cosmetic and restorative dentistry at Anderson Dental in Woodstock, GA, and he is a clinical instructor for the MCG dental school.  He is an active member of numerous national dental organizations and is an award winning graduate at the top-ranked University  of Louisville School of Dentistry. 

www.drstevenanderson.com

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