Analysis: The sweetest thing we give our children is not sugar, but energy, confidence and a healthy future that they can carry into adulthood.
It is 8:15 am. You pack lunch boxes, find lost shoes, and do breakfast deals. A cereal ad promises ‘energy for busy kids’. The juice box says “all natural,” but look closer and you’ll see that yogurt pack and snack bar can be hiding more sugar than your child eats in an entire day.
It’s not that parents want to give kids too much sugar, it’s that sugar is everywhere. In Ireland and worldwide, consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks (SSB) increased by 23% between 1990 and 2018, with children and adolescents among the biggest consumers.
The World Health Organization recommends that free sugars make up less than 5% of daily calories – about six teaspoons a day. A small bottle of the popular ‘sports drink’ already contains twice as much. So how do we fix this?
From the RTÉ Archives, The Harmful Effects of Sugar on Teeth and Tips for Being Sweet Smart (1989)
Here are six reasons why this is important – and how Irish parents can help turn the tide.
Childhood obesity: the silent epidemic
Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years, and according to the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) one in five Irish children are now overweight or obese. It’s not about looks – it’s about lifelong health. Too much sugar adds extra calories, leading to higher risks of type 2 diabetes, liver disease, high blood pressure, and low self-esteem.
In Ireland, sweet treats have become the norm: biscuits after school, fizzy drinks after the GAA, cupcakes on every birthday. It adds up. But small changes help. The sugar tax works with sales of sugary drinks falling since its introduction.
at home: Replace juice cans with water or milk and keep fruit visible on the counter. Let the kids pick colorful vegetables at the supermarket – small choices form lifelong habits.
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From RTÉ Radio 1, dietician Louise Reynolds discusses a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks
Diabetes and heart health: The damage starts early
Heart disease may feel like an adult concern, but the roots start young. According to the American Heart Association, high sugar levels raise blood pressure and increase “bad” cholesterol while lowering “good” cholesterol. This forces the heart to work long before puberty. Even athletic children are not immune. A bottle of cola or an energy drink can negate the benefits of a good pitch session.
Try this: Pack a refillable water bottle for school or soccer training. Add sliced lemon, orange, or mint for flavor—a simple habit that keeps hearts healthy without the fizz.
Type 2 diabetes isn’t just for adults anymore
Doctors in Ireland are now diagnosing type 2 diabetes in young people – something that was once almost unheard of. A diet high in sugary snacks, processed foods and SSBs are to blame. When blood sugar rises frequently, the body’s insulin response is weakened, and sugar remains in the bloodstream. Over time, this can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and eventually diabetes.
easy win: Start the day with dates or whole grains instead of sweet cereals. Save soft drinks for weekends or parties. Tea and biscuits are an Irish comfort – but swapping a biscuit break for a walk or a fruit snack may be the healthiest national habit we can form.
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From the Brendan O’Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1, Prof Donal O’Shea highlights how our food environment has become unhealthy
Sugar Rush and Clash at School
Teachers see this every day: Children load up on sugar at 9am and drop off at lunchtime. This cycle – sugar increase, sugar crash – concentration decreases. Nutritional research has linked high-sugar diets to poor attention, poor memory, and emotional ups and downs. Children don’t need perfection; They need stability. A balanced diet provides sustained energy for the school day.
Changing the lunch box: Fruit, plain yogurt, and some nuts keep sugar steady. Try cutting sugary snacks in half instead of cutting them out entirely – a gradual change is more sustainable.
Tooth decay: the killer of a sweet smile
Dental caries remains one of the most common chronic diseases among Irish children. Pre-school children who consume around 30 grams of free sugar per day – just one soft drink – are already at high risk, says the WHO Oral Health Report 2022. Sugar feeds bacteria that release acid, which eats away at tooth enamel. Repeated exposure makes it almost impossible to recover.
Prevention is simple: Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly, and rinse with water after sweet meals. Irish dentists also recommend finishing the meal with milk or cheese – both help to neutralize the acid.
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RTÉ Radio 1 Today with Claire Byrne, dTeeth are routinely removed from children with tooth decay
Sleep, screens and diabetes tendencies
Here’s the part that most parents miss – poor sleep leads to sugar cravings. Children ages 6-12 need nine to twelve hours of sleep a night, but even one hour less lowers leptin (“I’m full” hormone) and raises ghrelin (“I’m hungry”). The result? Lots of mindless eating and sweet cravings. Add late-night screens and you’ve got a recipe for fatigue and overeating.
Correct the fatigue loop: Set a regular bedtime, turn off screens an hour before lights-out, and create wind-down routines. Calm children eat well, and behave well.
Small changes that matter a lot
The story of Irish sugar isn’t all doom and gloom. Finances, education and community awareness help, but the real change happens in homes, schools and shops. Parents are the daily policy makers of children’s health.
It’s not about cutting out sugar at all. It’s about balance, awareness, and small, acceptable changes:
- Water instead of fat drinks.
- Flour or eggs instead of sugary cereal.
- Fruit for dessert a few nights a week.
- Families walk after dinner instead of screen time.
Every choice sends a message: Your health matters. Because in the end, the sweetest thing we give our children is not sugar at all, it is energy, confidence and a healthy future that they can carry into adulthood.
Thanks to University of Limerick medical students Stephanie Anderson, Vasile Balarajah and Hayley Hibbs for their contribution to this research.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
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