4 Ways to Stop Sugar from Sneaking into Your Diet

March 2, 2017 | Blog

by Marissa Davis
Project Director, NJPHK – Trenton

Much like my daughter in the picture above, sugar is everywhere! Foods we typically think are healthy (think yogurt, granola, spaghetti sauce) often contain significant amounts of sugar. Consuming too much sugar can lead to many health-related issues like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Per SugarScience.org, the average American consumes nearly 19.5 teaspoons of sugar per day, which is approximately 66 pounds per year. In observance of March being National Nutrition Month, here are four easy ways you can reduce your sugar intake:

1. Remove the sugar bowl, honey, or molasses from your tables and counters – Out of sight out of mind! You’ll be less tempted to use these sugary products if they aren’t at your fingertips daily.
2. Buy fresh fruit instead of canned fruit – Fruit is naturally sweet, so consuming canned fruit in syrup or juice adds additional If you purchase canned fruit, be sure to wash it off in cold water before consuming.
3. Instead of using sugar in recipes, try using extracts – vanilla, lemon, and almond extracts are great alternatives to using sugar while cooking. You can even try unsweetened applesauce!
4. Cut your usual sugar intake amount in half – Use three spoonfuls of sugar in your coffee or tea? Try only using 1.5 spoonfuls; this will slowly reduce the amount of sugar you use daily (trust me, you won’t miss it!).

For more tips on reducing your sugar habits, please visit SugarScience.org or GoRedForWomen.org.

 

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