Volume 9 • 2022 • Issue 2

of free and added sugar in the diets of the participants was bakery products including breads and sweet breads (e.g., banana bread), muffins, granola bars, pancakes and cookies. In previous studies, sugary beverages were often the main source of dietary sugar, but the researchers suggest that consumption of soft drinks and fruit drinks among children has declined in the last decade. “As a parent, my own awareness grew from this research,” says Mahajan. “Free sugars in children’s diets aren’t coming from one food source, but rather over the course of a day as children eat breakfast cereals marketed to kids, bakery goods and a few chocolates or candies, sugar from all of these sources add up quickly.” “Talking with families about sugar intake, and strategies on how to keep it low, can be a powerful way to help them live healthier lives,” says Dr. Ma. Free cookbooks from the Guelph Family Health Study are available at: guelphfamilyhealthstudy.com/ cookbooks The Guelph Family Health Study not only records data about the health of the families that participate, it also works to help improve their health. When the research team asked how they could support healthy eating, participating families asked for recipes. “We’re about to release our sixth cookbook,” says Dr. Ma. “This newest one is about how to incorporate more plant‑based protein, including pulses and legumes, into easy, quick and inexpensive meals.” Dr. Ma says that, as a parent himself, he knows that families are busy and often juggling competing priorities, so acknowledging that parents are trying their best is important. “If dentists can share a tip with a parent that is easy to incorporate into daily life, this can be helpful for both the oral and overall health of kids,” he says. Many of the strategies that adults usetoeathealthyarealsorelevant to children. Eat whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, instead of processed foods. Make water the drink of choice. Tips Dentists Can Share with Families Dr. Ma suggests that many of the strategies that adults use to eat healthy are also relevant to children. Eat whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, instead of processed foods. Make water the drink of choice. “It’s ok to indulge sometimes,” says Dr. Ma. “Enjoy birthday cake. Occasional holiday treats are ok. The goal isn’t perfection, but try for a reasonable balance where the food the family eats on a daily basis is pretty healthy.” For parents, just having an awareness of sugar and reading food labels can be helpful. Children who help with food preparation tend to be open to eating a greater variety of foods. Children are also more likely to eat a healthy food if they see their father eating it. “Seeing a father eat broccoli seems to have a greater effect on children’s behaviour than seeing a mother eat it,” says Dr. Ma. “This is an interesting association, and we are pursuing further research on parent practices to better understand how parents influence children’s eating habits.” Reference: 1. Mahajan A, Yu J, Hogan JL, Jewell K, Carriero A, Annis A, et al.; for the Guelph Family Health Study. Dietary sugar intake among preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional study. CMAJ Open . 2021 Sep 14;9(3):E855-E863. Anisha Mahajan Dr. David Ma 33 Issue 2 | 2022 | Issues and People