Sugary Secrets: A Mother’s Fight for a Healthier Future

Deepti Beri’s heart hammered against her ribs. Not with fear, but with a quiet, white-hot rage. The news report blared about yet another lie – sugar hidden in baby formula, that sweet poison companies dared to feed the most vulnerable.

“How dare they?” the words seethed unspoken in her mind as she pictured innocent babies, their tiny bodies tricked into craving something so harmful.

Her fingers danced frantically over her phone’s keyboard, each word she read fueling the fire within. “Diabetes… obesity… heart disease…” Had she unknowingly put her own precious girl, her sunshine Riya, at risk? She pictured her daughter, softly snoring in her crib, a wave of protectiveness washing over her.

The betrayal stung. All those years of careful parenting, choosing the best foods, reading endless labels… was it all a facade?

A sickening feeling rose in her throat – had she become an unwitting accomplice in this war on children’s health?

The Bitter Truth

Deepti’s mind hummed, the words “sugar,” “obesity,” and “heart disease” forming a dark cloud. It felt like a betrayal. All those years of careful parenting, choosing the best foods… was it all a lie?

“Ma, can you make me some laddoos?” Riya’s voice broke into her frantic reading. Deepti closed her eyes, picturing the sugary treats her mother lovingly prepared, passed down through generations. Tradition weighed heavy on her.

“Beta, maybe a piece of fruit instead? Apples are sweet too!” Her voice felt strained, a battle waging within her.

“But Amma always makes the best laddoos…” Riya’s eyes pleaded, mirroring Deepti’s own childhood.

Deepti sighed. “Amma grew up in a different time, sweetheart. We know better now. These sugary things… they’re not good for us.” A lump rose in her throat – how do you explain the dangers of addiction, obesity, hidden diseases, and compromised healthcare to a child?

The Cycle of Sugar

Deepti’s mind raced, a whirlwind of guilt and realization. Her own cravings – those late-night trips to the pantry, the way a single cookie turned into three, the fleeting comfort before the gnawing dissatisfaction returned. It wasn’t just Riya; it was her, too.

The insidious way sugar crept into her kitchen – disguised in savory snacks meant to be healthy, in fruit juices labeled as ‘natural’, even the seemingly wholesome yogurt Riya loved was a sugar bomb in disguise.

Memories flashed like warning signs: her friend Gita, stoic as the nurse pricked her finger, the way her eyes glistened in the doctor’s office when the word ‘pre-diabetic’ hung in the air.

Aunts whispering over cups of sweet chai about women’s hearts, how sugar was the silent killer, stealing their vitality one laddoo at a time.

It was an epidemic cloaked in sweet lies, a poison passed down through generations, leaving a trail of health problems in its wake.

The weight of this realization pressed down on Deepti. It wasn’t just about corporations and misleading labels. The cycle started in her own home, with her own choices.

The battle wasn’t just for her daughter’s health, but for their shared future, a future where a sweet treat could truly be a treat, not something to pave the way toward a lifetime of compromised healthcare.

Finding Her Voice

“This has to change,” Deepti whispered, a fierce resolve igniting within her. It was time to be more than just a mother. It was time to be an advocate and protect children’s healthcare.

She’d start small: swapping sugary breakfasts for savory ones, replacing Riya’s afternoon juice with plain water, reading labels with newfound scrutiny. It wouldn’t be easy. Tantrums, arguments with well-meaning relatives, doubts… those were bound to come.

Yet, she found support: a WhatsApp group for mothers on similar journeys, articles debunking sugar myths, and a nutritionist who patiently explained the science behind her choices, assuring her this wasn’t about denying Riya joy, but creating healthier forms of it.

The Power of Community

One evening, Deepti saw Riya munching on carrot sticks with homemade dip. “This is actually tasty, Ma!” a small smile played on her lips.

Deepti’s heart soared. Change was possible. One hesitant step at a time, she found her voice. A talk on children’s nutrition for parents in her neighborhood, sharing resources about healthy eating within her family, sparking conversations about healthcare.

The fight against sugar was far from over, but Deepti, inspired by the love for her daughter and empowered by knowledge, was leading by example, creating a healthier future for the women and children in her life.

Reading food labels became her new superpower, a way to protect her family’s healthcare and fight for a healthier future. Also, the World Health Organization (WHO) has clear guidelines about limiting sugar intake for better health and reducing the risk of healthcare complications. Learn more on the WHO website!

Watch a video

What is Sugar Doing to Our Bodies?

Curious Times is a leading newspaper and website for kids. We publish daily global news aligned to your learning levels (also as per NEP 2020): Foundational, Preparatory (Primary), Middle and Senior. So, check out the News tab for this. We bring kids’ favourite Curious Times Weekly newspaper every weekend with top news, feature stories and kids’ contributions.

Curious Times News Program for Schools for FREE. Over 5,000 schools and teachers from all over the world have joined our programme so that students and teachers can get FREE Educative Newspaper. Here, kids can take part in world events and win prizes and certificates for free through their schools.

The following social media platforms allow you to communicate with us: Instagram.