Sweets are the constant cause of disagreement between child and parent and after hours of negotiations end up being used as a reward or punishment. "Eat your food and you can have a sweet..." "If you don't do your homework, you can’t have ice cream" "Congratulations, you did very well at school let's go choose any dessert you want". These are just some of the lines that most parents have used at some point in their lives. In reality, sweets are often high in sugar and calories and do not contain many important nutrients that growing children need, and yes, it’s true that excessive consumption of sugar can also lead to tooth decay, obesity, and other health problems. It is important for children to have a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods from all food groups such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy. However, we cannot completely ban sweets in a child's diet. Sweets can be included in moderation and healthier options can be chosen whenever possible. It's also important to encourage children to drink water instead of sugary beverages like soda or juices that contain large amounts of hidden sugar. What is more important, however, is that we do not categorize foods as "good" or "bad", "forbidden" and "healthy", because in addition to their actual caloric value we also attribute a sentimental value. When a child follows a balanced diet overall, naturally they can enjoy their favorite sweet treat. What is important is how often (frequency) and how much (quantity). Make sure your child has a reasonable portion size in front of them and that they enjoy every bite guilt-free. Make an agreement with them on which day of the week they can choose their favorite dessert without this entailing that a specific behavior is expected from them in return. Together, as a family make, meal time a positive experience, avoiding distractions such as screens, and try to follow regular meal times and snacks to avoid overeating.