The Christmas season is upon us and we are being bombarded by deliciously addictive sugary foods.

It can be difficult to resist all the sweet treats at this time of year, so to help you from over doing it on the sugar front, maybe set your heart on a specific indulgence or event you are going to, one that will really be worth it.

We all know it can be difficult to stay true to your goals when at a party surrounded by deliciously sugary foods but arriving with a full or partially full belly can help you resist temptations, and remember: over the holidays, a piece of homemade cake or dark chocolate will satisfy you far more than the chocolates out of a box of Cadbury Favourites.

If you have at least one other person on your side who is also avoiding sugar, you can share your challenges, your recipes, and your successes, making your journey a lot easier and a lot more fun.

If you do go overboard on the sweet stuff, don’t go down the road of guilt and beat yourself up. Enjoy it for what it was and know that next time you can choose something healthy and nourishing with no added sugar.

Remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about practicing making healthy choices as often as possible. And as for the children, many families have a tradition of leaving cookies out for Santa, but don’t forget about the reindeer! Leave some carrots out for them too, and then you can make eating carrots fun for the kids. Invite them to do their best reindeer impression and you can turn carrots into a treat!

Most children lack the coordination to brush or floss their teeth on their own until about the age of 6 or 7. Up until this time the best way to teach children how to brush their teeth is to lead by example.

Allowing your child to watch you, teaches them the importance of good oral hygiene. Start flossing your child’s teeth once a day as soon as two teeth emerge that touch.

The use of floss sticks or picks instead of regular string or tape floss, may be easier for both you and your child. It is recommended that you floss before you brush, because toothpaste has a better chance of covering this newly exposed surface area after flossing.

And with that, we say farewell to 2018 and wish you a Merry Christmas and stay healthy everyone!