Who doesn’t remember the sweets they had as a child? Whether it was a favourite chocolate bar, a bag of something like Rhubarb and Custard from the cornershop, penny sweets, a huge tin of chocs at Christmas or even homemade goodies such as coconut ice, sweets immediately transport me back to my childhood. Sweets are a part of my treasured memories that remain as vivid as ever.
And it’s still fun to share sweets with my own children. Last week, I made fudge with my boys. Homemade fudge is fun to make and dead easy (check out my fudge recipe here). It’s very indulgent crammed with butter and sugar but it’s also delicious and nothing like the stuff you buy in the shops. It’s crumbly and creamy.
When I told some friends that I’d been making some fudge they were horrified. They told me that I should be giving my kids healthy snacks like fruit. I didn’t feel embarrassed. I was angry.
I’m no saint as a mum (who is?) but we do eat plenty of healthy homemade food. And as long as the bulk of what you and your family is eating is good honest grub surely there’s no harm in the occasional naughtiness? If I never allowed sweets as treats I’d be robbing my own family of the same treasured sweet memories that I recall so fondly.
We need to lighten up just a little bit. An excess of sweets is bad. And excess of anything is bad. But it’s not a well deserved treat that is causing tooth decay and obesity. It’s a lack of balance. Sweets as treats as part of a generally healthy diet can only be a good thing. A little bit of what you fancy does you good.