More Ways to Reduce Sugar Consumption

The sweetener information celebration continues with a few more strategies for reducing the added sugars in your life! Share this article and handout with your clients and let me know what you think...Added Sugar Reduction Tip #4: Get Rid of Sugary CerealsSugary cereals are a surprisingly large source of added sugars in the American diet. Kick them out of your pantry and replace them with oatmeal or unsweetened cold cereal. After all, with the latter options, you can always sweeten them yourself. For example, you could cook plain oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkle of frozen peaches as a filling breakfast treat. Or you could top a bowl of whole grain dry cereal with skim milk and slices of fresh fruit. Berries add a special pop of color to any morning dish.Added Sugar Reduction Tip #5: Choose Fruit Juice WiselySweetened drinks are one of the largest sources of added sugars in the American diet. You already know about replacing sugary drinks with water, but if fruit juice is calling out to you, take steps to make sure you that find a healthful one when you go to answer its call.Lynn Grieger, RDN, CDE, CPT, CWC recommends that you "Look for 100% fruit juice instead of fruit 'drinks' or 'beverages' that contain added sugar." Check ingredient lists and make sure that added sweeteners haven't made their way into your juice. Then be sure to drink the juice in moderation -- it's surprisingly calorie-dense. Consider cutting it with a bit of cold water, or adding some fizz with plain seltzer. You'll get a bigger drink without a corresponding calorie boost. What's not to love?Added Sugar Reduction Tip #6: Skip Sugar in Coffee or TeaTry drinking your tea or coffee without sugar.I know it sounds crazy, but it can actually be fun. Shop around and try different varieties that might taste good without adornment. There are all kinds of tea types and flavored coffees out there -- which will be your new favorite?You can also add fruit or a little bit of 100% fruit juice to your hot or iced teas. Just remember that fruit does contain sugars, they're just naturally-occurring ones. You can also soften the bite of your coffee with milk, but the same yes-there-are-sugars-but-they're-part-of-the-nutrient-package warning applies.And now, without further ado, here's the new handout that accompanies this post! What will you do with your free copy?At the Nutrition Education Store, we're here to help you look your very best, right now. Here are some of the top-selling resources -- will any of them make your life easier?