Today I got to ELI5 to a literal five-year-old... who instantly understood CICO I nanny for a literal five-year-old, who will be entering kindergarten this fall. His mom took him in for his five-year checkup and found out that his BMI had crept up a bit and she was concerned. She asked his daycare teachers (the majority of whom are morbidly obese) about his eating habits there, and they told her he routinely eats 2nds and 3rds for breakfast and lunch, and never turns down snacks. So the mom set them straight (asked them to cut out 2nds and 3rds), and mentioned it to me so I would be in the loop as well. Well, I have always talked shitlordy to the boys (he has a younger brother), but since hearing this from the mother a few weeks ago, I’ve been stepping up my efforts to talk about nutrition and smart choices with them. Today both boys asked for a treat from their Easter basket and I let them each pick out one of those tiny Dum Dum suckers. (I think it’s better to teach sugar in moderation rather than never allowing sugar.) This led to the following conversation: Big Brother: This [sucker] is making my lips sticky. Me: Yeah, that happens. Suckers have sugar, and sugar’s pretty sticky. Big Brother: What happens to it? Me: What happens to what? Big Brother: The sugar. After you eat it. (I can’t believe he asked this, talk about handing the conversation to me on a silver platter! I jumped at the chance.) Me: Your body turns it into energy. To do things. That’s why we have to eat. Big Brother: Oh yeah. Me: And you remember what happens if you eat too much sugar at one time? Big Brother: What? Me: Your body turns all that extra energy into fat. On your body. Big Brother: Where? Me: All over. Like, here… here… and here. (Pointing to his abodmen, arms, legs, etc.) Big Brother: Oh. Me: That’s why smart people eat only a little bit of sugar at a time. It tastes good, but who wants to get fat? Ew. Big Brother: Not me! Me: Me neither. And later on, if your body needs energy again but you don’t eat, your body uses the extra energy in your fat and your fat goes away. Big Brother: (silent, wheels obviously turning in his head) I think some people don't know that. Me: Well it's a good thing YOU know that, huh? Big Brother: Yeah!