Sugar fest 2010

I've never been one to be responsible about denying my children sugar. I don't give in every time, but the fact is, I really love sugar myself, and I don't believe I could do without it. So, my house has the occasional cookies or candy, and I don't worry if my kids get that stuff once in awhile.

Growing up, my mom was careful about our nutrition. At my grandparents' house, however, it was a major sugar-fest. There was always sugar available in many forms — sugar cereals, pop, candy, you name it. I distinctly remember once when I was about 8 asking my mom if I could have another pop. I had already had a can that day. My mom said one pop a day was enough. My grandmother responded with, "Virginia, you never let the poor kids have anything." Score one pop for me, straight down the gullet. I remember feeding my grandmother cinnamon bears on the interstate for "energy." I remember my grandfather and brother having pudding eating contests.

It worked for them. My grandfather lived to be 94, and my grandmother just turned 89 and is healthy. Perhaps it's their love of fresh fruits and vegetables that keeps them going.

From redfish 2009

And, that 89-year old still knows how to put out a sugar spread. Matt laughed when he first met my extended family at our annual reunion. The whole family was there, just as they always are, sitting in the living room of the cabin chatting. Soon, out comes a box of chocolates, to be passed around the room. Moments later come divine butter mints. It's how we always do it.

Now, my grandma isn't just about any kind of sugar — something you can open the hatch and toss down the gullet. With a few exceptions for classics such as twinkies, she buys quality, especially in chocolate or mint form. This was good stuff. If we don't agree on anything else, my family agrees on this — good, quality sweets mean a lot.

I recently felt my mother's pain over that pop however, when I went to visit my grandma last week. She had it all available — licorice, candy bars and a delicious citrusy cake. I had a flashback to my childhood when we were at a restaurant for breakfast and Thomas was acting a bit fussy. "Here, give him this," my grandma said, handing me a half-and-half container.

"He has some milk here," I said, showing her the cup.

"That doesn't have half and half in it," she said. "I think he'll like half and half more."

Turns out, he did.

Anne Marie already had the system down. She took a licorice, and I told her to put it back — she'd already had plenty of licorice. She put it back, but not long after that, I found her sitting on her great-grandma's lap, candy in hand.

She has also benefited from the snack plates of her great-grandma. The most memorable so far was the fruit and twinkie plate. It consisted of slices of fresh pears, slices of fresh kiwis and twinkies, placed in an attractive star shape. I wish I had a picture.