How much sugar should my child be eating?
It seems like everyone is talking about carbohydrates and diet these days. We all know that we should watch our sugar intake, but what are the actual guidelines for children and sugar intake? According to the American Heart Association, children should be consuming less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day. Keep in mind this applies to added sugar, and not the natural sugars found in fruits and grains. It can be surprising how much added sugar is in certain foods and beverages. Below is a list of various amounts of sugar in different foods- most contain more than the daily recommended value of 6 teaspoons!
- Milk chocolate bar (44g) – 5.75 teaspoons of sugar
- Snickers bar (57g) – 7 teaspoons of sugar
- Milky Way bar (58g) – 8.5 teaspoons of sugar
- Dove chocolate bar (37g) – 5 teaspoons of sugar
- Starburst packet (45 grams) – 5.5 teaspoons of sugar
- Fruit juice drink, orange, 1 glass – 7 teaspoons of sugar
- Red Bull (one can) – 7.5 teaspoons of sugar
- Cola, 11 fl. oz. – 9 teaspoons of sugar
- Soft drink, 1 can – 10 teaspoons of sugar
- Flavored milk, 300 ml carton – 5.5 teaspoons of sugar
- Frosted Flakes – 8.9 teaspoons of sugar
- Lucky Charms – 9 teaspoons of sugar
- Cocoa Puffs – 9.3 teaspoons of sugar
- Cocoa Krispies – 9.6 teaspoons of sugar
- Fruit Loops – 10.6 teaspoons of sugar
- Honey Smacks – 14 teaspoons of sugar
For more information on sugar in various foods, see this link to WebMD:
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/sugar-shockers-foods-surprisingly-high-in-sugar#1
