Healthy Tips for Cutting Down on Sugar
Health professionals all recognize that there is a sugar epidemic in America both among adults and children. Sugar is EVERYWHERE – it’s in breakfast, lunch and dinner; and above all, in snacks. It’s definitely hard to go on a sugar fast but there are clever ways to get your daily “sweet fix” without a great sacrifice in diet or habits.
8 Diet-Free Tips to Reduce Sugar:
- Various Sugars Not So Sweet – white, brown, maple syrup, honey and molasses when you add it to cereal, pancakes, coffee or tea. Start with cutting it in half, then go Full Monty. Even better: Replace sugars with Stevia, which is a no-calorie herbal option.
- The UnSoda – Water is the go-to drink, but if you must have a sparkly beverage, then reach for the flavored carbonated water.
- The Big Apple – Fruit has natural sugar and should be your first choice. Try and avoid canned fruit (or at least drain and rinse).
- Label Check – Always look at labels to ID the sugar quantity – you’ll be shocked at the “added” sugar ingredients.
- Add Fruit – Instead of adding sugar to oatmeal or cereals, drop a few raisins, dried apricots or fresh strawberries, bananas or cherries.
- Quantity Matters – Eat less is always best. When baking, cut the sugar called for by one-third to one-half. You can replace some (or all) of the sugar with Stevia.
- The Substitute – Instead of sugar, try adding extracts like almond, vanilla, orange or lemon; or sprinkle ginger, cinnamon or nutmeg for flavor.
- Vitamin Supplements – Gummy vitamins are loaded with sugar to “entice” kids to make vitamins more palatable. However, there are vitamin alternatives, such as Superior Source’s UnGummy Vitamins for Kids!
A healthy lifestyle starts with children. Teaching them the right health habits will be a lifelong lesson. As adults, we know better, but it does take some willpower so small steps are a journey worth starting!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
