Warning Labels Help Parents Control Sugar Intake of Kids; 5 Sugar-Free Desserts Kids Will Love

The consumption of too much sugar has been proven to be linked to various diseases, including diabetes, which is why health authorities continue to recommend diet guidelines with a reduced sugar intake. The good news is that based on a lab study, parents are now heeding the call of warning labels when it comes to sugar contents. TIME reports that a group of researchers led by Christina Roberto, professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, has found that warning labels on sugary drinks help parents make better choices for their children.

Researchers conducted an online survey among 2,381 parents, who were mostly mothers. They were shown beverages with no labels (control), labels with calorie content, or one of three different warnings that indicated how added sugar can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. Results showed that parents who saw the warning labels were 20% less likely to pick a sugary drink for their child.

However, sugar is not limited to just beverages. In fact, candies, snack bars, and even microwave meals often have added sugar (if not added salt) in them, making it more difficult for parents to skip the sugar. Here are a few sugar-free dessert ideas that will inspire your child's taste buds.

1. Chocolate pudding - This super simple and easy to make the dessert from Babble contains only three ingredients: a can of coconut milk, four to six dates, and baking cocoa. Just place the coconut milk can upside down in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours until the coconut settles on the bottom (top) of the can. Slice the dates and place them in a blender until they are fine. Add the coconut cream and two tablespoons of baking cocoa and blend together until it becomes creamy. Serve cold.

2. Frozen fruit ice cream - This recipe from Babble is even easier. Just freeze bananas for at least 12 hours and place them in a blender together with your choice of fruit to make ice cream. You can do this with strawberries, mangoes, or even peanut butter.

3. Berry Sherbet - This recipe from Nicole V. Bennett involves assorted strawberries, two cups half milk and half cream, 3/4 teaspoon of honey, and 1.5 teaspoons of lemon juice. Blend the ingredients together and freeze the mixture before serving as a cool treat.

4. Honey-cinnamon banana bread pudding - For those who have time to put together more ingredients, here's a recipe from pastry chef Joanne Chang of Boston's bakery and café Flour, courtesy of Oprah. It includes honey, cinnamon, three eggs and four egg yolks, ripe bananas, bread cubes, and heavy cream. Check out the full recipe here.

5. Lemon pistachio agave cookies - This is a different spin to your regular oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies. Also by Joanne Chang (via Oprah), this recipe features yellow cornmeal, chopped raw pistachios, agave nectar, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and unsalted butter. Get the full recipe here.