Fresh Citrus Fruit is Better than a Lollipop

Many doctors’ offices and banks are in the habit of giving lollipops to their young patients and visitors. While some are replacing lollipops with stickers, there are still far too many still engaging in the practice of appeasing children with lollipops when they could be giving the children citrus fruit slices instead. Is it a cost factor? That is likely to be something they consider, but the reality is you can obtain more orange slices for the same amount of money you pay for a bag of lollipops. Certainly if you choose to give each child an entire piece of fruit it will be more expensive than the cost of giving out lollipops, but you aren’t going to give each child an entire piece of citrus fruit.

Parents are often just as guilty as outsiders when it comes to rewarding children or calming them down-the first thing they want to do is put a piece of candy in their mouths. This is one of the easiest ways to help a child develop poor eating habits. If you begin introducing them to slices of citrus fruit, you will find as they mature they will prefer citrus or any other type of fruit to candy or cookies. Not only is fruit healthier for children, but it helps prevent tooth decay that is prominent in children who consume a great deal of sugary snacks.

Parents are often in places where they feel they have no control over what their children eat. For instance, the bank teller doesn’t usually ask if it’s acceptable to give your child a lollipop, and once he or she sees it you will have a difficult time taking it away from them. While it might be difficult for some places to provide fresh citrus slices, they can invest in dried citrus fruit slices instead. It is important, however, to make sure the dried citrus fruit doesn’t contain additional sugar or you will be defeating the purpose.

With such an epidemic of obese children it’s important for parents and anyone else with whom children have contact to learn to substitute citrus fruit for candy and other high calorie snacks. A bowl of citrus fruit is healthier, better for their teeth and more filling than a piece of chocolate. While the tables are beginning to turn in the other direction, they still have a long way to go before children and adults learn that citrus fruit fulfills a need candy can’t.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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