SUGAR SUGAR HONEY HONEY
Children are having over 2 times more sugar than is recommended, with half of it coming from snacks and sugary drinks.
It can often be really difficult to know what a healthier choice might be.We've added some info, tips and advice you need to help your family be healthier and happier.
ADDED SUGAR
When people talk about added sugar, they mean sugar that has been added to food and drink to sweeten it.
This could be added by the manufacturer, by you if you're cooking at home, or by the chef or cook if you're eating out.
It's not just the white sugar you might think of on a teaspoon either: it includes fruit juice, honey, syrups and nectars too.
You do not need to worry about sugar in:
- PLAIN MILK
- PLAIN YOGURTS
- WHOLE FRUIT
- WHOLE VEGETABLES
This is not added sugar – but remember to keep dried fruit to mealtimes to protect teeth!
THE EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH SUGAR
Too much sugar is bad for children's health as it can lead to the build-up of harmful fat on the inside that we cannot see.
This fat can cause weight gain and serious diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Having too much sugar can also lead to painful tooth decay – every 10 minutes, a child in England has a tooth removed in hospital.
FOODS TO WATCH OUT FOR
There can be a lot of sugar in everyday food and drinks. Do you know how much sugar is in these family favourites?
JUICE DRINKS
They don't have salt or fat, but 1 juice pouch has 2 cubes of sugar.
YOGURTS
Believe it or not, a pot of sugary yoghurt contains up to 6 cubes of sugar!
CEREAL BARS
We tend to think of these as a healthier option, but a single bar has 3 cubes of sugar.
FUN SIZED SWEETS
The packet may be small, but it still contains 5 cubes of sugar.
ICE CREAM
There are up to 5 cubes of sugar in an ice cream.
CHOCOLATE BARS
Yikes! A single chocolate bar has a whopping 6 cubes of sugar. That's the entire day's allowance for a 10-year-old child.
CLICK HERE TO USE A SUGAR CALCULATOR
AND SEE HOW MUCH SUGAR YOU CONSUME ON A DAILY BASIS
