Now that’s delicious news for sure!ġ Added Sugars and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children. And you can still enjoy the occasional sweet treat for special celebrations. This is consistent with the level established by the World Health Organization.īottom line: a diet that’s filled with plenty of wholesome, nourishing foods (vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains and dairy products) and minimizes processed foods and beverages made with added sugars will help contribute to a healthy lifestyle. The 2015 USDA Dietary Guidelines set new guidelines around added sugars, recommending no more than 10% of calories (or 50g) come from added sugar each day based on a 2000 calorie diet. 3. Stay within the guidelines for added sugars – even “healthier” sugars. While many alternatives to refined sugar such as agave syrup or coconut palm sugar are often touted as smarter choices, they still “count” as added sugar, so it’s a good idea to treat these the same as common sweeteners and still stay within the guidelines (see tip #3). And it’s helpful to know that ingredients are required by law to be listed in descending order according to weight. The current Nutrition Facts Panel and the ingredient list are important tools to help parents get a rough idea of whether and how much added sugar may be in a particular product.
Read ingredient lists and check for ingredients like refined sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey and high fructose corn syrup. What’s in a name? According to the FDA there are over 60 different names for added sugars and sweeteners that can be included on a label. Added sugars, in contrast, are the ones you want to try and limit, as a diet filled of foods with added sugars often displace nutrient-dense foods, making it harder for your child to get the recommended essential nutrients he or she needs for optimal development, including a healthy body weight 2. Cow’s milk naturally contains lactose, but comes with calcium, protein and other essential nutrients. For example, fruits naturally contain fructose and are also a source of important nutrients such as dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins A & C.
While they are lumped together: sugars provide energy for your tot to power their oh-so busy lives, but the source of foods that contribute sugar is important to factor into your dietary choices. The recent FDA rule to revise the Nutrition Facts Panel will include added sugar and goes into effect in January, 2020. But that number includes both naturally occurring sugars -those naturally present in whole foods such as fruits, many vegetables, whole grains and dairy products- and also any added sugars- additional sugars or sweeteners that are sometimes added to foods and beverages to sweeten their appeal. When you read the Nutrition Facts Panel of a food label, you’ll see “sugars” listed as a single line item. Understand the difference between added and naturally occurring sugars. Here are 3 surefire strategies to help your family find that sweet spot when it comes to building a delicious, nutritious diet that enables your little one to flourish. But how much sugar is acceptable to still raise a lifelong good eater? Are some types of sugar preferable to others? And how can parents strike the right balance so the occasional cookie or birthday cupcake can be treasured and savored? Whether you’re just stepping into parenthood or already feel like a parenting pro, for many of us managing sugars can be sticky business. 1Īs humans, we’re hardwired to prefer sweet flavors starting from our first days of life. But that “sweet” part can sometimes be a little too literal: according to the American Heart Association, children now consume about 19 teaspoons (80 grams) of added sugar every day. Please always discuss any health and feeding concerns directly with your pediatrician.Įvery parent hopes to create a childhood overflowing with sweet memories and experiences for their precious little one.