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It’s election season - your chance to stand up and be counted. The primaries have come and gone, and now it is your turn to stick to your platform of living a healthy life.  You, too, have an opportunity to shape the views of those around you….You, too, have an opportunity to be an example.  Seize this moment for yourself and for those around you.

Did you know, for example, that you don't need to bring in sweet treats for your child's birthday at school?  You may know just what I am talking about: those large cupcakes from your local big box store that are more frosting than cake. Does your little 40-pound child and her classmates need that much sugar?  

I don't think so.  

Ideally, one should strive for no more than 4 grams of sugar per serving.  Many “foods” that are appealing to children far exceed this recommendation - it is not uncommon to see serving sizes with 27 grams of sugar! Think about that!  Now how is your child's body supposed to process that much sugar in a healthy way? They can’t - It's too hard.  

Serving your children foods high in sugar over the course of their childhood increases their risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes or other obesity-related chronic conditions.  

But you can do something about it. You can take a stand today and teach your children that celebrations don’t always have to include eating foods high in sugar. Instead of sending your child to school with sweet treats for birthdays, consider substituting small, non-food treats instead. Kids love them. Think stickers, pencils, or small toys.  It doesn’t have to be expensive – trinkets from a local discount or dollar store will do just fine.

So go for it - take a stand this election season, and be healthy!

Dr. Elizabeth Ricanati is the mother of three children and founding medical director of The Cleveland Clinic's LifeStyle 180 program.  She is a regular columnist for ShareWIK.com

More Dr. Elizabeth Ricanati articles, click here.

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