Candy Culture  

I grew up in a health-conscious household. We had fruit leather, not fruit roll-ups. Whole wheat bread, not white. Water, not juice. That worked just fine until I got to kindergarten. After the first birthday celebration in school, my mother received a phone call from my teacher.

“Your daughter did something unusual today — after the party she went around to everyone’s cupcakes and licked off whatever frosting was left.”

My mom was horrified and promptly incorporated more sweets into our family diet.

Just as my mother experienced, we’re up against a lot when we try to eat healthfully, but society around us doesn’t do the same. This is especially so in frum circles, where sugar, snacks, and sweet treats are the norm — in our cookbooks, at our simchahs, and in many of our classrooms.