Activity
Natural vs. Artificial: Can You Taste the Difference?
You probably know that cane sugar isn't good for you in large doses, but did you know that many artificial sweeteners can't even be processed by your body? Although many opt for artificial sweeteners because they have fewer calories than regular sugar, many studies have found that they can actually be worse for your health. Artificial sweeteners often contain chemicals that trick your body into thinking it's getting real sugar, causing your body to release sugar-digesting enzymes when there's no sugar to digest. These chemicals also have many unhealthy side effects.
Which do you prefer: natural or artificial? Try this sweet little science experiment in which you'll try the real stuff alongside the artificial to see which tastes better, then do a little research to decide which is best for you. Help your child develop a better awareness of the foods she consumes by helping her record the calories, ingredients, and overall nutritional value of each food she tastes and analyze her findings.