If you read the news on a regular basis, you may have come across articles linking excessive sugar consumption to rising rates of decay in children. If you have children, and you’re eager to protect their smiles, here are 5 top tips to cut sugar intake.
- Swap sugary cereals for whole grain versions: breakfast cereals are often marketed as healthy products, but sometimes, they can contain a lot of sugar. It’s best to swap sugar-coated puffs, balls and flakes for whole grain cereals. These have a much lower sugar and higher fibre content, and they release energy slowly, so your kids shouldn’t get hungry between breakfast and lunch.
- Swap fizzy drinks for water or sugar-free cordial: fizzy drinks and energy drinks are among the worst offenders when it comes to sugar consumption among children. A standard can of cola, for example, may contain up to 9 teaspoons of sugar. Swap fizzy pop for water or sugar-free cordial.
- Make smoothies at home: smoothies can be really good for you, but if you buy them from cafes and shops, they may have a lot of added sugar. If you make your own smoothies, you’ll save money, and you can control the amount of sugar that is added.
- Swap sugar for honey: if your child has a sweet tooth and they like to sprinkle sugar on porridge or yoghurt, swap sugar for honey. Honey is sweet, but it is rich in natural sugars rather than refined sugars.
- Limit your child’s intake of treats: treats are supposed to be something you have from time to time, rather than every day. If your child has chocolate bars or bags of sweets on a regular basis, swap these foods for healthier options, and keep them as treats for the weekend.