With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to celebrate love and sweetness while also encouraging our little ones to give their smiles some love too by making mouth-healthy choices. We know that Valentine’s Day can bring with it an influx of sweet, sticky treats. Cue the classroom parties full of conversation hearts, gummy treats and of course, chocolate! As a parent, allowing your sweet little Valentine some freedom, while instilling good habits, can feel incredibly overwhelming. We want to offer fun ways to embrace the Holiday while still protecting our children’s oral health.
1. Sweet Treats with a Twist:
Valentine’s Day and sweet treats go hand in hand, but we can approach snacking on this day in a different way. Instead of indulging in excessive amounts of sugary candies, let’s opt for healthier alternatives. Consider cutting fruits and veggies into heart shapes to make them more appealing and festive. Strawberries, watermelon, and bell peppers are excellent choices that can be transformed into delightful heart-shaped snacks.
2. Snack Board Full of Color:
Create a mouthwatering snack board filled with a variety of colorful and nutritious options. Include an assortment of fruits, such as grapes, blueberries, and sliced kiwi, along with crunchy vegetables like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, and cherry tomatoes. Arrange them in heart-shaped patterns to add an extra touch of love. This visually appealing snack board will entice kids to make wise snacking choices while enjoying the festivities.
3. Spread the Love with Cute Notes:
Make snacking even more exciting by adding cute love notes or positive affirmations to the snack board. Write little messages like “You’re sweet!” or “You make us smile!” on small cards and place them next to the healthy snacks. Not only will this make the experience more enjoyable, but it will also promote positivity around healthy snacking.
4. Allow for Wiggle Room:
It should be noted at Dentistry for Children we don’t believe in and all or nothing mentality. Valentine’s Day should be fun and celebrated with sweet treats, but all in moderation. We want to help encourage finding a healthy balance of sweet treats with mouth-healthy options. Try offering a small selection of sweet treats alongside healthier options. Maybe taking one of our suggestions above and embed some fun on a snack board or a heart shaped plate of fruit. Balance is important and we can help set our children up for success by modeling for them and engaging in healthy options as well.
Remember, if you do indulge in some Valentine candy fun, always remember to follow up with a big glass of water and brushing if possible. This Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate love and dental health hand in hand. By making mouth-healthy choices, we can enjoy the sweetness of the occasion while safeguarding our oral well-being. Encourage your little ones to embrace the love in a healthy way. Together, we can make this Valentine’s Day both delightful and fun all while safeguarding our children’s oral health.
Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day filled with love, joy, and healthy smiles!