Let’s make some Sugar Swaps!
We know we need to watch how much sugar we eat each day, but the new guidelines mean that we need to try to reduce this even further.

The problem is that too much sugar means extra calories, which in turn can lead to stored fat in the body and diseases like heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes.

Around a quarter of the added sugar in kids’ diets comes from sugary drinks. That’s why the new advice is that sugary drinks have no place in a child’s daily diet. Swap to water; lower-fat milks; sugar free, diet and no added sugar drinks instead.

Eating too much sugar can also cause tooth decay, so be sure to clean your teeth twice a day and check your kids are doing the same.

What’s the maximum amount of sugar we can have?
A typical 8-year-old shouldn’t have more than 6 cubes of added sugar* per day.

Sugar Swaps Chart
*Added sugars: These are free sugars that have been added by a food manufacturer, cook or consumer to a food and include those sugars naturally found in unsweetened fruit juice, honey and syrups.
It doesn’t include sugars naturally found in milk and milk products and intact fruit and veg.
Watch out for some of the words on the label used by food manufacturers to describe free sugars: cane sugar, honey, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit concentrate, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, glucose, nectars and crystalline sucrose.

Remember, eating wholegrain cereals and plenty of fruit and vegetables helps to ensure children are eating enough fibre. Fibre is an important part of a healthy balanced diet.

Count the cubes and cut the sugar
You might be surprised to see how much sugar is in your food and drink For example, there are 7 cubes in 1 can of sugary fizzy drink‡ – more than the maximum daily amount for an 8 year old

Sugar Swaps Checklist
We think we don’t eat much sugar – but it all adds up!
The highest contributors to added sugar in the diet of 4 to 10 year olds are:
30% from drinks (including 16% from soft drinks)
29% mainly from biscuits, cakes and breakfast cereals
22% from sweets, chocolate, table sugar, jams and other sweet spreads
12% from yoghurts, fromage frais, ice-cream, and other dairy desserts.

Dr G Mohan.