Sugar Overload

Slightly shocked at the amount of sugary crap that we've accumulated in the last 2 days. Two of our 'extra-curricular' activities have finished up for the year and the older boys have come home loaded with sweets from their teachers.

Yesterday Shmoo and Loo walked in each holding a huge plastic stocking full of multiple bags of marshmallows, jelly beans, lollipops and other various sweets. Seriously, one of those things would have been more than enough for all three of the boys. Luckily both Shmoo and Loo are more than happy to share with Beanie so a good couple of handfuls of their sweets were put into a separate packet for him.. Then this afternoon Shmoo came home with a large plastic cup full of sweets and a packet of potato chips. The OH informed me that a bottle of lemonade had also been part of that gift but Shmoo had drunk that in the car. His first softdrink. Am slightly miffed but at least it wasn't Coke.

It makes me wonder just how much junk food other kids get at this time of year. I know plenty of mainstream schooled kids who do 3-4+ extracurricular activities... is it common for teachers/coaches to give out truckloads of lollies and softdrinks at Christmas?! It's not that we're fanatical about the kids only eating healthy foods, they get regular little treats, I often bake biscuits, and they've had hot chips, Maccas and pizza on numerous occasions but just the sheer volume of sweets they've receive from only 2 sources... I find it a little alarming. To be honest I don't see the need for it - personally I think a couple of sweets accompanied by some stickers or a small novelty toy would have made them just as happy.

At least Shmoo and Beanie are pretty good at self-regulating when it comes to sweet stuff. Loo on the other hand... he's got about 3-4 small lollies left *sigh*. They've been told that when they're all gone, that's it, and if they eat them all at once and feel sick then that's their problem ;) I anticipate 3 boys bouncing off the walls over the next few days. Fun.

I'm glad that Santa only has a couple of small chocolate-y treats each to go in their stockings next week!