Avoid Providing Sugar-High Foods For Children During Homecoming, Here's The Reason

Illustration of sweet foods (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Avoiding high sugar foods for children during homecoming is very important to maintain their health. Excessive sugar consumption can have a negative impact, such as reducing endurance, increasing the risk of digestive disorders, and causing a spike in energy that leads to fussy and tantrums.

The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) reminds high foods of processed sugar and carbohydrates, such as packaged snacks and sweet drinks, often given to children during homecoming to keep them calm.

However, the Chairperson of IDAI, Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, emphasized that this habit could actually have a negative impact on children's health. Many parents tend to choose instant snacks as a provision of travel because they are practical. Unfortunately, this type of food can reduce children's immunity because excess sugar can reduce the function of immune cells by 40 percent within hours of consumption.

"As we know, going home often makes parents more permissive with children's foods, including providing sweet snacks and high sugar drinks so that young children," said IDAI Piprim Chairman Basarah Yanuarso as quoted by ANTARA.

In addition, foods such as excessive white bread, biscuits, and white rice also risk increasing blood sugar levels, which can cause children to become hyperactive and tired easily.

If children's blood sugar levels increase dramatically, they will experience a temporary increase in energy but then quickly feel hungry again. This can trigger tantrums, making travel uncomfortable for the whole family.

Furthermore, constant consumption of processed sugar and carbohydrates can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome from an early age. As a solution, Piprim recommends that parents choose healthier and more nutritious provisions, such as animal protein-rich foods.

Some of the recommended options include boiled eggs, fried chicken, fish, and rendang meat. This protein-based food can help maintain blood sugar stability, strengthen the immune system, and provide a feeling of fullness longer.

In addition, traditional dishes such as Lemper and arem-arems made from protein can also be a practical provision choice that children like. Piprim emphasized the importance of avoiding careless snacks and bringing healthy food from home so that the child's health is maintained during the trip.