Healthy eating starts as soon as kids can take solids. From being spoon-fed to learning how to eat by themselves, kids have always been transparent with the food they like and aren’t particularly fond of. And as hard as parents try to delay introducing them to sweet treats like candy and chocolate, there’s no denying that these will eventually become a big part of their childhood. Most kids can never resist chocolate, especially when it’s given as a reward for good behavior.
Let’s not forget, there’s even an entire day dedicated to letting kids go door to door and ask for candy.
Even when there are certain rules about candy, sooner or later kids will be exposed to it: play dates, school, name it. That’s why most parents only do one thing: regulate. Parents control how much candy their kids are allowed to eat, and they also use the irresistible treats as a way of testing their kids’ integrity, and you guessed it, a reward.
Glen Henry, dad to Theo and Uriah, shares a hilarious experiment he did involving Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and his adorable little boy.
Glen, known as the dad behind Beleaf In Fatherhood, took his daughter Uriah to a room and asked him for a small favor.
“What I want you to do is watch it for me. Okay? That’s it. That’s all I want you to do. Can you do that?”
Uriah was agreeable. He listened attentively as his dad gave instructions and agreed to comply. He didn’t realize something comical was about to happen. All Uriah knew was that his dad wanted him to watch the chocolate. The instructions were simple and specific.
Don’t eat it. Just watch it.
It seems like such a huge favor to ask of a kid who’s basically smack in the middle of the candy-loving stage. But kids are honest and sweet, and so Uriah nodded obediently and waited as his dad left the room.
What Uriah didn’t know was that Glen hid more than just a camera – there was also a mobile phone hidden somewhere near the little boy.
Uriah started by slowly dipping a finger in the chocolate and tasting the chocolate.
Then he stopped. That alone already showed impressive restraint, despite the temptation to make a grab for the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and eat it all up. How many kids can exercise the same self-control Uriah showed? As he drummed his fingers on the table, rested his chin on his arms, and waited for his dad to come in and give further instructions, the unthinkable happened.
Uriah heard a voice calling his name. He sat up, looked around in confusion, and hesitantly answered the voice calling him. The innocent little boy didn’t know it was his father pretending to be the chocolate. All he knew was he was being spoken to by someone – or something – he couldn’t see. Honestly, most kids (and adults) would be creeped out. Uriah may have been confused but amazingly enough, he remained calm.
“Eat me,” the voice repeated. “I don’t want to,” Uriah answered.
Keeping up the act, Glen proceeded to “tempt” the little boy by asking him to eat. He would also pop in from time to time to check on him and he immediately told him about the voice tempting him.
The honest little boy tried to explain to him understanding of what was going on, telling his dad the candy was telling him to eat it. He pretended not to know and once again reminded him to watch the candy. Once again, he left the room and continued to use the hidden mobile phone to talk to him, to which he gave the most impressive response.
“My dad doesn’t want me to eat the candy,” Uriah explained.
“The candy” even went as far as telling him that if he didn’t eat any of it, his brother would end up finishing it all. He refused to give in to the temptation – sort of. All he managed to do was dip his finger in the chocolate again and take a teeny-tiny bite. Then he decided to put it back and follow his dad’s instructions.
To be fair, it’s extremely difficult for a child not to give in to such a temptation: having delicious treats right in front of you and being expected not to have any of it.
Uriah may have had a bit of trouble but what matters is he tried his best and was honest from the beginning.
Moreover, his responses and reactions showed just how selfless and pure he truly was. He didn’t want to eat the candy for two reasons: his father specifically told him not to, and if he gave in and ate it, then no one else would be able to have any.
It may have been a challenging experiment but Uriah handled the challenge beautifully.
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