At first, I was stunned to learn that children across the UK are tucking into drisheen every day, before reminding myself that in England pudding is a sweet treat not blood sausage. Not so long ago, a friend’s young daughter informed me that her grandparents had a saying: "Treats are not for every day." Often, in shops, I overhear parents, who are surely better than me, telling children: "OK, it’s Friday, get your treat." Can we really judge children for reaching for the sweet treats first, when they have watched us throw out uneaten fruit but never uneaten chocolate? What I’m saying is rather than fix my children’s relationship with the sweet stuff, I should probably be examining my own.

Source: Irish Examiner March 31, 2026 01:07 UTC