Sugar, it all adds up!

 

 

What if I told you your child could be consuming around 40kg of sugar a year! 

 

We all want the best for our children, and that includes ensuring they eat a healthy and balanced diet. However, hidden sugars in seemingly innocent foods can be a sneaky culprit in contributing to excessive sugar consumption in children. We'll explore the hidden sugars lurking in everyday foods and how they can add up quickly, affecting our little ones' health. But fret not, we'll also provide practical alternatives and smart sugar-reading tips to help you make informed choices for a lower-sugar lifestyle. 

 

 

The Sneaky Sugar Offenders  

Sugar hides in many common foods that children love. Breakfast cereals often come with a sugary punch, as do flavoured yogurts and granola bars. Even fruit juices, packaged snacks, and certain condiments may contain more sugar than we realise. With these hidden sources, it's no wonder that sugar intake can soar, even when we don't realise it. 

 

 

A Day in the Life of a Sugar Detective  

 Let's delve into what a typical child might eat in a day: 

 

• Breakfast: A bowl of Frosties cereal with milk and a glass of orange juice (24.1g) 
• Snack: A Cadbury’s brunch bar with choc chips (8.8g) 
• Lunch: A honey roast ham sandwich with a cherry fruit corner yoghurt (21.8g) 
• Dinner: ½ a margarita pizza, with salad and tomato ketchup (8.9g) 
• Dessert Calippo ice lolly mini (14g) 

 

 

Now, let's do the math. These seemingly innocent choices add up to a shocking amount of sugar - 77.6 grams in fact, which is equivalent to just under 20 teaspoons of sugar! That's more than 3 times the recommended daily intake for children aged 7-10 years, and let’s be honest that number could have been far higher if we added, fizzy drinks, sweets, ready meals to the mix. The point here is this example of what a child ate in a day doesn’t seem unhealthy on the surface, but when you break it down, a teaspoon of sugar here and there soon becomes 20 teaspoons a day, 140 teaspoons a week and 7280 teaspoons a year, that is just short of 30kg of sugar a year!  

 

I mentioned fizzy drinks, let’s look at the numbers if we were to add a single can of coke to this child’s diet every day for a year, that 30kg of sugar now looks more like 41kg of sugar a year 🤯  

 

 

The Impact of Excessive Sugar  

Excessive sugar consumption can lead to various health issues in children. Over time, a high-sugar diet may contribute to obesity, tooth decay, and an increased risk of developing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. It's crucial to be mindful of the impact of sugar on our little ones' health. 

 

 

Healthy Sugar Alternatives  

Now, let's make some positive changes to reduce sugar intake while still delighting our children's taste buds: 

• Swap out the fruit corner for Greek yoghurt topped with fresh fruit 🫐 and honey 🍯  

• Opt for whole fruit with nut butters for a healthy filling snack, such as an apple with peanut butter 😋  

• Choose Capri Sun ‘nothing artificial’ over Ribena and other sugar filled juice boxes. 

• Choose whole-grain snacks like air-popped popcorn or homemade trail mix with nuts and dried fruits (maybe a couple of M&M’s too) 😉  

 

 

Smart Sugar-Reading Tips for Parents  

Being a sugar detective starts with reading food labels. Look out for various names of sugar, such as sucrose, glucose, and corn syrup, in the ingredient list. Be cautious of products that list sugar as one of the top ingredients. Instead, choose items with lower sugar content or opt for no-added-sugar versions. 

 

 

Simple Swaps for a Lower-Sugar Lifestyle  

Making small changes can lead to significant results. Consider these easy swaps to reduce sugar intake: 

• Replace sugary drinks with water infused with fresh fruits for a refreshing twist. 

• Try homemade popsicles using pureed fruit and natural sweeteners. 

• Swap out white bread for a sprouted or wholegrain option, if your child will eat sourdough that’s even better 🙌 

• Swap out Frosties, for Rice Crispies or even Coco Pops 🥣 

 

 

Remember, every small step counts. Making conscious choices and being mindful of hidden sugars can set our children on a path of lifelong wellness. Let's create a supportive environment that encourages healthy habits and a lifetime of smart sugar choices. Together, we can empower our children to embrace a lower-sugar lifestyle and live their best lives.