In 1966, Len Barry sang "1-2-3 ... Let's fall in love, it's easy (it's so easy), like takin' candy from a baby."

For that, he was nominated for a Grammy.

Len clearly thought it was a piece of cake to take candy from a youngster, but researchers disagree.

It turns out that kids take to sweet treats pretty quickly if they're exposed to them, and they are reluctant to ever give them up. And it's become a major health problem.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently issued new recommendations about added sugar intake for children and adolescents ages 2 to 18, warning that the average American child now eats about 18 teaspoons of added sugar a day.

They suggest cutting that amount down to around six or fewer teaspoons daily.

But we say that's still way, way too much to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity, premature chronic diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and elevated triglycerides that excess sugar triggers.

Did you know that according to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 208,000 Americans younger than 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes?

As for kids 2 and younger, the AHA recommends no added sugar at all. We say, "Bravo!"

Sugar is packed into processed foods, especially cereals (even in your favorite, supposedly healthy granola), snacks, cakes, and fast foods that are marketed to kids.
If you avoid serving those, your infant and toddler will develop more diverse taste preferences and enjoy eating healthier foods.