Why can’t we celebrate without sugar?

[content_protector password=”gumboot15″] It’s coming up to Easter. The supermarket shelves can barely carry the weight of hundreds and hundreds of cardboard and plastic boxes containing chocolate eggs, chocolate bars, chocolate rabbits, chocolate chicks, chocolate this, chocolate that…

Cast your minds back a few months to Christmas. A similar chocolate season (without the chocolate eggs. Replaced by snowmen and Santa). Birthdays? Cakes, lollies, ice-cream, bottles of fizzy drinks. How about the end of term? I’m sure that there’ll be bags of sweets and possibly shared lunches with – you’ve guessed it – more sweet treats.

Why is it that we can’t seem to do without sugar when there’s something to celebrate?

In the classroom, on television, in supermarkets, in cafes and restaurants, by our favourite sports players, we’re constantly being reminded to eat healthily. It’s good for our bodies, good for our brains, good for the environment.

Except when there’s something to celebrate. Or so it seems.

Sugar – like fast food (and there’s plenty of sugar and too much salt in fast food) – should only be enjoyed in small doses, say the experts.

So. Let me get this straight. If we’re only to eat sugar in small quantities, and we’re supposed to eat it in all our festive and celebratory food, then maybe we shouldn’t celebrate quite so often. Does that make sense? No, that can’t be right…

It’s time to challenge the ridiculous message that less sugar = less fun.

Maybe it’s time, and this might sound like a radical plan, that we stopped eating so much sugar. Bit by bit, mouthful by mouthful, bite by bite we should all have less and less.

 

Article written by Ben Egerton

[colored_box color=”green”]This is an opinion-based article designed to provoke debate, discussion and further inquiry
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[colored_box color=”yellow”]Critical Thinking Challenge:

Why do you think sweet food plays such an important part in celebrations?

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[colored_box color=”green”]Practical Task:

Design a celebration menu for a festival, party or cultural event – and perhaps even cook a dish – which contains no sugar.

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[colored_box color=”red”]Have Your Say:
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