Sugar Everywhere: How Kids Are Caught in a Sweet Trap

The Hidden Sugar Problem

Sugar is everywhere, hiding in foods you'd never expect:

• Bread
• Yogurt
• Tortillas

Parents are fighting a losing battle. They want their kids to eat healthy, but sugar is the default.

The Challenge of Processed Foods

It's not just about saying no to candy. It's about avoiding processed foods, which is hard:

• Cheap
• Easy to find
• Quick to prepare

For many families, especially those with less money, this is the reality. They can't just switch to whole foods overnight.

The Bigger Picture

The problem is bigger than parents. It's about the food environment:

• Kids see ads for sugary foods everywhere.
• Schools and child-care centers serve foods high in sugar.

It's no wonder kids are eating so much of it.

The Solution

But it doesn't have to be this way. Policymakers can help:

• Restrict ads for sugary foods.
• Make school meals healthier.
• Change farm policies to support fruits and vegetables instead of sugar.

Changing the System

It's not about blaming parents. It's about changing the system:

• Making healthy foods the easy choice.
• Giving kids a fighting chance.