
12/08/2025
Teach your kids to see through this!👇
Spotted today at the checkout counter in a Lidl, in Cyprus (but could have been anywhere).
Prime location. Eye level. Exactly where parents queue with hungry kids in tow.
Barbie wasn’t alone — the Minions and other cartoon characters were there too, smiling, waiting for little hands to grab them.
This is marketing directed at children.
It’s manipulative.
Frankly, it should be illegal.
(Not so) Fun fact: Cyprus is a european champion in childhood obesity. We cannot afford to ignore this.
If you’re in this situation, instead of succumbing to the pressure, I suggest you see this as an opportunity for some badass parenting - teach your kids to see this for what it is.
Step 1
Turn the packet over - ask them to read the Ingredients.
(If they can’t read yet, do it for them).
"Let's see what's actually in this "fruit juice" popsicle?
➡️ Water
➡️ Sugar
➡️ Dextrose — this is another name for sugar. It’s made from corn that’s been changed to make it sweet. It goes straight into your blood very fast.
➡️ Fruit concentrate — a tiny bit of fruit that’s been processed so much, it’s lost most of its vitamins.
➡️ Flavourings — these are just chemicals to make it taste like fruit, even when no real fruit is there."
Step 2
Explain what happens in their body when they have this “sugar water.”
➡️ Blood sugar spike — "the sugar from this will go straight into your blood. It will make you feel good for a little bit. But then the sugar in your blood will drop down very quickly. This will make you feel hungry, tired, cranky, and wanting to eat something sweet".
➡️ Dopamine hit — "The sugar makes your brain feel happy for a short while, so you want more. The more often you have it, the more your brain asks for it".
Step 3.
Go home. Blend some strawberries with water (or squeeze some oranges or [insert your child's favourite fruit]).
Pour into molds.
Freeze.
Result:
They get joy from a popsicle made with real fruit that they helped make.
You saved some money, did a good thing for the environment, spent some quality time with you kid.
Why it’s worth it:
Once your child's brain is wired to get pleasure from real food, junk won’t taste as good.
They’ll be more likely to make better choices, even when you’re not around.