To answer the questions I have recieved on sugar and healthy snacks. I hope this helped

I've been looking for healthy snacks for my kids and things for us to snack on during the day, and I came across many articles on children and adults and sugar. For me it is a very important issue I deal with with my kids. Maybe more so from me being diabetic I know what sugar does to the body and how damaging it can be regardless if you have diabetes or not. When we were kids some candy now and then was not a big deal, but we deal with a time now that literally EVERYTHING has some sort of sugar in it. Bread, cereal, Juice, crackers, yogurt,soup and most all processed foods has added sugars. So not realizing that most of our kids already have had there recommended dose of sugar in their everyday diet then adding those desserts and candy and cookies on top of that is damaging to our self and our children. I am more then happy to have a dessert now and then and for holidays and birthdays but we still limit what we eat. I know what it is like to not be allowed to have ANY sugar, growing up at the age of 3 with diabetes. I don't recommend taking sugar completely away but to give your children a limited amount and give your children an alternate option from time to time like fruit or veggies or something else, gives them the tools to know the difference. Try giving them one or two pieces of candy instead of half the bag, one cookie instead of 3 and so on. If we give our children the guidance to know the difference and give them the snacks but limit them it will teach them later in life to make a better healthier choice. If children are having more then 2 snacks a day that have added sugar, cookies candy soda etc that is way to much. Limit to possably 1 to 2 times a week as a snack. Even Yogurt has 24 grams of sugar per serving that is so much sugar and many people don't even realize it. Like I said this is what we do for our family and I have had some of my friends ask advice on healthy snacks and things for their kids, so this is what we do. We do not take all sweets away but we do limit them.
Here some of the dangers of consuming sugar for children and adults:
Makes children hyper active
Lack and slower brain function
In large amounts is harmful to children body organs and the growing process
Damages their immune system
Feeds Candida - A fungus is a microscopic organism that typically lives harmlessly in people. However, if your inner ecosystem is out of balance and your immunity is weakened, you are at risk for a fungal infection, like candida (also known as a yeast infection).
Promotes wrinkling and aging skin
Makes your blood acidic
Can lead to osteoporosis.
Rots your teeth
Raises your blood sugar level
Contributes to obesity
Is addictive (almost as much as drugs)
Can create the urge to binge
Provides 'empty calories' with no nutritional value
Contributes to diabetes (TYPE 2)
Robs your body of minerals
Robs you of energy
Contributes to heart problems
Can cause cancer
Contributes to ulcers
Can cause gallstones
Contributes to adrenal fatigue
Can suppress your immune system
Raises the level of neurotransmitters called serotonin
Weakens eyesight
Can cause aging
Can contribute to eczema
Can cause arthritis

Healthy snack ideas
1/2 a piece of toast with cream cheese with fresh or frozen berries mixed in

Almonds ( for older children) if you set them in water over night they double in size and its fun for the kids

Frozen berry mix (from Sams) Maddox eats bowls of this (there is no sugar added)

I always have travel size tupperware in the fridge of cut apples,grapes, melon,strawberries and blueberries and cheese for a fast grab snack for the kidos

For maddox he really doesnt love raisins yet so I'll soak them for a few min. in hot water and they get very soft and he loves them that way

I always have Tofu on hand you can really use this any way but Maddox likes it warmed and I put a little ground flax seeds on it. I also put it in fruit smooties it makes it very creamy.
Smoothie recipe - What ever fruit you want we usually use frozen berry mix and a banana. A little bit of ice and water or milk. A little wheat Germ and Flax seeds and some Tofu. Both me and the boy's eat this

Hard boiled eggs

Wheat torrilla cream cheese roll-up
wheat tortilla with a little bit of cream cheese some deli meat and cheese roll up heat a little and enjoy

I hope this answers some of the questions I have recieved and I'm sorry I had to this fast as I have Maddox and Jax both needing my attention.