Should parents feel guilty about their child eating lots of chocolate over Christmas?
Eating a lot of chocolate over a short period of time probably doesn’t matter too much. But putting a lot of emphasis on chocolate over Christmas sends out messages to young children that chocolate is important. The danger is that they will continue to want to eat lots of it after the festive season, and this could lead to problems with weight and with teeth. Encourage everybody — adults included — to dip into healthier options such as grapes or little satsumas or tangerines. Other treats such as popcorn and nuts can also be a good substitute when the family wants something to nibble — so make sure that there are bowls of these foods rather than chocolates. Hide the chocolates away and only bring them out after meals, when hopefully nobody will have too much appetite for them.
