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My parents did this for me for quite a long time: dried papaya was sweets, and it was a special event if little bits of dried papaya appeared in muesli.

DanBC 10y ago
Lots of parents think dried fruit are a healthy sweet treat, and in the UK there's a big market for raisins or dried fruit bars or dried fruit sheet (Fruit rollups) aimed at children. All of these are terrible for teeth because they're high in sugar and they're sticky, and there's guidance to avoid these things.
- Banthum 10y ago
  Is dental health really a big issue for kids? I mean, they have replacement teeth incoming...
  - TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
    Old habits die hard. With new teeth inbound are you going to convince your child to stop eating foods high in sugar? Also, dental health isn't the only reason to minimise sugar intake.
  - DanBC 10y ago
    Decayed teeth are painful and need treatment; that treatment carries some risk. Tooth extraction is the leading cause of child hospitalisation in the UK. A few of those children will have problems such as hypomineralisation, but many extractions are entirely preventable with better diet (milk or water to drink, not fruit juice or sugar sweetened tea or soda, and especially not in a bottle or sippy cup) and better oral hygiene. And it's important to start these habits early. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/27/england-hospital-treatment-children-severe-tooth-decay https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/27/england-hosp... https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/13/teeth-problems-children-hospital-decay-extractions https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/13/teeth-proble... http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Careofkidsteeth.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Careofkidsteet...
- chestervonwinch 10y ago
  In the states, even the majority of plain, "adult-marketed" dried fruits have oil and sugar added, which is terrible IMO. I've always assumed oil is added to allow for higher temps without burning, and therefore quicker dry times -- just a theory. A dehydrator has been on my want-list for a little while now because of the ubiquity of added sugar and oil.
  - danudey 10y ago
    My wife has been making cinnamon apple slices with our dehydrator, and our 2-year-old son loves them (on the occasions where I don't eat an entire bag before he gets to them). They're a much better way than juice to get a snack in, and while they still contain the same sugars, they also have all the fibre as well. We soak them in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown while dehydrating, but since he loves lemon juice (and will drink it out of the bottle if we leave the fridge unlocked), this is a pretty huge selling point for him.

DanBC 10y ago

Lots of parents think dried fruit are a healthy sweet treat, and in the UK there's a big market for raisins or dried fruit bars or dried fruit sheet (Fruit rollups) aimed at children. All of these are terrible for teeth because they're high in sugar and they're sticky, and there's guidance to avoid these things.

Banthum 10y ago
Is dental health really a big issue for kids? I mean, they have replacement teeth incoming...
- TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
  Old habits die hard. With new teeth inbound are you going to convince your child to stop eating foods high in sugar? Also, dental health isn't the only reason to minimise sugar intake.
- DanBC 10y ago
  Decayed teeth are painful and need treatment; that treatment carries some risk. Tooth extraction is the leading cause of child hospitalisation in the UK. A few of those children will have problems such as hypomineralisation, but many extractions are entirely preventable with better diet (milk or water to drink, not fruit juice or sugar sweetened tea or soda, and especially not in a bottle or sippy cup) and better oral hygiene. And it's important to start these habits early. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/27/england-hospital-treatment-children-severe-tooth-decay https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/27/england-hosp... https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/13/teeth-problems-children-hospital-decay-extractions https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/13/teeth-proble... http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Careofkidsteeth.aspx http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/dentalhealth/Pages/Careofkidsteet...
chestervonwinch 10y ago
In the states, even the majority of plain, "adult-marketed" dried fruits have oil and sugar added, which is terrible IMO. I've always assumed oil is added to allow for higher temps without burning, and therefore quicker dry times -- just a theory. A dehydrator has been on my want-list for a little while now because of the ubiquity of added sugar and oil.
- danudey 10y ago
  My wife has been making cinnamon apple slices with our dehydrator, and our 2-year-old son loves them (on the occasions where I don't eat an entire bag before he gets to them). They're a much better way than juice to get a snack in, and while they still contain the same sugars, they also have all the fibre as well. We soak them in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown while dehydrating, but since he loves lemon juice (and will drink it out of the bottle if we leave the fridge unlocked), this is a pretty huge selling point for him.