Soda, Insomnia and the Parent who said “NO!”
by Lisa Malkiewicz creator of the Sleep Fairy relaxation CD for kids.
Once upon a time sodas were considered a treat, not an everyday habit. Then a terrible thing happened, parents fell under the spell of evil advertisers. They began to believe that soda was a legitimate beverage for mealtimes and snacks. Young children began to down two or more sodas a day, which equals double the amount of recommended daily sugar intake. Why, one can of soda contains up to 13 teaspoons of sugar - more than a quarter cup!
It got so bad that the average American was drinking 56 gallons of soda a year. Disgusting!
Finally one caring parent stood up and said to their child, “No, have water. Soda and it’s dreadful combination of sugar and caffeine lead to childhood insomnia, hyperactivity and, of course, obesity.”
Sometimes it only takes one brave person to make the change and get the ball rolling and that’s how it was with this appalling soda epidemic. At dinner tables across the country parents began to say “No” to soda. In supermarkets and restaurants the craze caught on and parents stopped buying. It was as if parents all came to their senses at once.
The kids balked at first and tested the parents resolve, just like kids are built to do. But the parents stayed firm and pretty soon the kids were all sleeping soundly at night. They were healthier… and happier too, because they were able to focus better in school. And they all lived happily ever after.
The end.