Little Sugar Addicts: End the Mood Swings, Meltdowns, Tantrums, and Low Self-Esteem in Your Child Today (Paperback)

~ (Author) "If you are reading this book, you may intuitively feel that you have a sugar sensitive child..." (more)
Key Phrases: sugar sensitive children, beginner skill, sugar sensitivity, Kathleen's Baking Mix, Potatoes Not Prozac, Sponge Bob (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Addiction expert DesMaisons, who addressed adult "sugar sensitivity" in Potatoes Not Prozac, now turns her attention to the younger generation. Sugar sensitivity can be linked to behavior, health and emotions, she says. In kids who are especially vulnerable to sugar, imbalances in brain and body chemistry are the cause of low serotonin, low beta-endorphin and volatile blood sugar. Consequently, kids react to sugar as if it were a drug, embarking on a craving and crashing cycle. DesMaisons advocates modifying children's biochemistry by changing their diets, and suggests parents explain to kids that sugar has a connection to their mood and feelings, and then get them to help keep a food journal. She also suggests parents alter their own use of sugar before they start on their child. Although DesMaisons advocates cutting out sugar, she isn't a purist; hot dogs and chips are occasionally allowed, along with healthy snacks and whole wheat bread. Though some parents may balk at the monumental nature of the task, DesMaison's sugar-free plan is practical and gradual, and she includes kid-tested recipes as well.
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Product Description

Sugar Is Not Love

Do you have a smart, creative, loving child who is also cranky, inattentive, and sometimes downright obnoxious? If you’ve written off this negative behavior as “typical” for your child’s age—whether toddler or teen—stop and think: Does your child have a taste for soda, sugary breakfast cereals, and treats like candy and cookies? Does she eat regularly scheduled meals or skip them? What, exactly, does he drink and snack on throughout the day?

Your child’s behavior may be linked to diet—specifically to the sugar in obvious sources like sweets and soda and to hidden sugars that lurk in many foods, fruit-based drinks, and “healthy” snacks like granola bars. And if your son or daughter is sugar sensitive, misbehavior and moodiness can be aggravated by missed or late meals and junk foods.

Now, bestselling author Kathleen DesMaisons offers you a workable solution for getting back your child by changing his diet—without creating a sense of deprivation, without setting unrealistic goals, and without turning sugar into “forbidden fruit.” This book offers:

• A step-by-step program, backed by years of research, for gradually improving the food your child eats—you and your whole family will benefit!
• Tips for navigating the sugar-laden world of birthday parties, holidays, and school cafeterias
• Ways to incorporate healthy snacking and regular mealtimes into your child’s day, including suggestions for meals and snacks, plus recipes

Little Sugar Addicts isn’t about strange foods, dramatic lifestyle changes, or complicated menus—just support, guidance, and real-life suggestions from other parents that work. It will help you make the connection between the addictive qualities of sugar and negative behavior and offer a healthy solution you and your whole family can live with.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (July 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400051649
• ISBN-13: 978-1400051649
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,026 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #21 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Diets & Weight Loss > Special Conditions > Low Sugar
  #29 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting > Health & Nutrition
  #39 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Special Diet > Diabetic & Sugar-Free

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will answer so many questions parent have!, November 4, 2004

By	H. Dillon (WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Kathleen DesMaisons first book, Potatoes Not Prozac, changed my life. I went from a completely depressed person well on my way to taking anti-depressants, to a happy, confident person who loves life--all because I changed the way I ate! Since healing my own body and mind I have changed my children's diets with miraculous results.

Before Kathleen's program my kids would whine, scream, hit, be totally out of control, throw tantrums and in general, I didn't like them very much a lot of the time. I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong?!? How could I feel this way about my kids and what could I do about it? No amount of parenting advice or classes could change what was going on with them. Well, after getting myself steady on Kathleen's program I started to look at my kids diet. It took a little time and adjustment, but now by feeding them differently and at consistant times they are mostly fun, loving, compassionate, focused, easy to talk to and the joys I always knew they were. Food was the answer, pure and simple!

Get this book if you've ever had those feelings of helplessness with your kids. It will change your life and your families life!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best books ever for families, October 13, 2004

By	Mary Margaret Goff (Bisbee, Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My experience is much like the previous reviewer's, only I was a bit older when I found Dr. DesMaison's
work, and started following her food program. Her books explained my whole life....depression, mood
swings, meltdowns, temper tantrums, low self-esteem etc. "Doing the food" changed all of this. I've just
finished reading "Little Sugar Addicts", and I think how wonderful that families today have this
available to them, and what a difference it would have made in my family's lives. What is so different
about this is it is not the parent/s *telling* the children what to do, but inviting the whole family to
participate in what and how changes will be made. Lots of quotes from real people that are doing this plan.
It works. I recommend this book to all parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, friends with children.
What a difference it will make.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The program in this book can lighten up the whole household!, July 28, 2004

By	C. Brown "cbrown309" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an excellent collection and celebration of years of experience helping families clean up their food and being delighted by the rewards: a cheerful, funny, smart, affectionate and connected family.

I am the 'Connie' quoted in the book who says you get your easy kids back. I've been 'doing the food' myself for about 3 years and as the mom, I cook and shop per this program. I have a 17 yo daughter still at home (3d of 3) who has come along this food journey with mom; as a teen she still chooses sugary junk food sometimes, but by gum she is completely knowledgable about its effects!

DD much prefers her cheerful, calm mom. She remembers the old days of moodiness, gloom, cranky. Our house is a place of affection, laughs, and consideration where before it was too often drama, crisis, silence and slammed doors. (Turns out that mom's 'pizza coma' kind of scared her but she never said so at the time!)

It's quite unbelievable until you experience it, how big an effect regular, sugar-and-whites free meals can have. Little by little, step by step, recipe by recipe we have moved to fresh whole foods and family meals.

The reviewer of the book sounds kinda spooked herself at changes like this, LOL. But EVERY change we have made, we made because we like the new way BETTER and feel better. None of this grim stuff for us. Really, it is fun and funny to see what we are ready to change and what we aren't, sometimes.

And I say, never, never, never underestimate what kids will 'get.' My DD has not read one word of any of DesMaisons' books, and thinks the full 'no whites' deal is just for middle-aged me who obviously screwed up earlier (I am dealing with overweight)... but even so, here is what she has spontaneously shared with me:

- she thinks her clear skin and luscious figure is from good food available at home
- she always has breakfast and lunch; no starve/binge
- she notices her high school friends - no breakfast, no lunch, and then kaboom, regrettable choices
- she knows about low serotonin and its relation to diet (they studied it in health!)
- she knows about beta-endorphin and its role in craving / addiction
- she knows it is inherited and biochemical
- one time reading a book for English class about an addicted teen, she said, Mom, she was sugar sensitive before she ever started 'using'
- she knows buying junk is out of her own allowance

You can totally arm your kids with understanding & information. they will LIKE it and their feeling of control!

How I wish I had this when my kids were little!