When given the choice between sweets, chocolates, and ice cream, and boring old fruit and vegetables that they're often forced to eat, children will rarely choose the latter. Instead, they’ll chew happily on a sugary snack as they grin from ear to ear. And who can blame them when chocolate wrappers and sweet packets are purposefully designed to draw our kids in?

As parents, we want them to choose the crunchy apple, the creamy banana, or the juicy orange because we know they’re packed full of vitamins and other nutrients. But why are we so fearful of sugar and carbs?

Free sugars are technically a carbohydrate. Free sugars refers to foods where additional sugar is added such as sweets, chocolates and cakes. Often this is the type of sugar that is over consumed in many diets in the UK. Other foods also naturally contain sugar such as fruits, however this is not counted in free sugars. Carbohydrates include these free sugars but also includes foods which are vital for our toddlers to get all their energy, fibre and calories from. These foods include grains and cereals.

We’re likely fearful due to the fact that so many myths and rumours surround these food types - perhaps more than any other food source - so it can be difficult to know which information rings true. Therefore, we must address these myths, understand the effects sugar and carbs have on our children, and then act accordingly.

So, in response, we’ve tackled some of the more popular sugar myths.

Does sugar cause hyperactivity and ‘sugar highs’ in kids?

You’re driving your child home from their classmate's birthday party - where the fizzy drinks and soda were freely flowing and sugary sweets and chocolate-covered doughnuts were strewn about on every surface. And when you arrive home, your little one is somehow brimming with even more energy than when the party began. It must have been all the sugar, right?

Well actually, no. Scientists haven’t found a link between sugar intake and hyperactivity, despite many parents believing this to be the case. Instead, experts believe that the excitement surrounding special events, such as parties or Halloween, accounts for unruly behaviour in children. Surprisingly, some studies have suggested that sugar may have a calming effect on our bodies and brains.

Does eating sugars and carbs lead to obesity in children?

Possibly the most common of sugar and carb myths, is that they lead to obesity. As with most food and drinks, sugars and carbs do not cause your body to store fat unless they’re eaten in excess. The sugars in your child’s blood are only converted into body fat if they’re consuming more than their body needs, which is equally true of all food sources. So, if your child is eating a balanced and varied diet and exercising regularly, reasonable amounts of sugar and carbohydrates will not lead to problems with weight.

Is sugar addictive for kids?

Some people just love their sweets! It’s a trait that’s innate from birth and especially noticeable in children. You might be used to your child rushing over to the sweets aisle at the local store, grabbing fistfuls of colourful chocolate bars and looking up at you, charming little eyes begging you not to say no, bursting into tears when you inevitably do. And you wonder to yourself whether this behaviour borders on addiction.

But while some children and adults develop a habitual or emotional response to eating sweets, there is no psychological dependency. So, cutting down on sugary drinks and sweets in your child’s diet won’t cause any physical response but is recommended and may take some getting used to.

Does eating sugars and carbs cause diabetes in children?

Despite being scientifically debunked some time ago, this myth still makes the rounds amongst parents. The fact is, neither sugar nor carbs cause diabetes. When it comes to diabetes, a person’s body struggles to handle blood sugar in a ‘normal’ way, which then affects the body’s ability to produce energy from food. Diabetes is usually a result of genetics, a prolonged inactive lifestyle, simply getting older, or obesity.

So, why do we need to be careful of sugar and carbs?

It is in regard to your preschooler's teeth that sugars can be harmful. When sugars are broken down in the mouth, they react with the plaque on our teeth to form acids that damage tooth enamel. It is for this reason that added sugars should not make a regular appearance in your child’s diet, but there’s little harm in providing the odd sugary snack or chocolate bar.

As with all food sources, sugar and carbohydrates can lead to obesity if they are eaten in excess, but many carbohydrates are full of important nutrients necessary for a balanced diet and shouldn’t be avoided.

What do I need to know about free sugars for toddlers?

A taste of what you can learn about sugar from Unii’s Toddler Nutrition Journey.