When the Candy Ate My Kids

I've always considered myself a responsible parent who pays attention to my kids' nutrition. But last weekend, something peculiar happened that left me wondering about my parental judgment. I was feeling a bit stressed from work and decided we needed an impromptu treat day for my kids, little did they know it involved buying a giant box of their favorite candy. They were over the moon; the house was filled with laughter and joy as they dove into the treats. But as days passed, I noticed changes in both their behavior and our daily routines. The hyperactivity turned to mood swings, and suddenly we were back to negotiating bedtime instead of having smooth transitions. Was this just a normal reaction or did indulging them too much backfire? Should I have stuck to more structured treats like fruit snacks or was I being too rigid by denying them the occasional candy binge? Looking for advice from fellow parents who might've had similar experiences, as I feel a bit lost here.