Sugar is hard to comprehend on Labels

Most parents do their best to try and lessen the quantity of sugar their families consume. But that can only happen if they understand what those pesky labels mean since they are designed to be confusing.

However, the FDA that regulates information on those labels did make an attempt to clarify this issue somewhat back in 2016 when they asked manufacturers to indicate ‘total sugars’ and ‘added sugars’.

That leaves families to figure out exactly what that means in easy-to-understand terms.

There is another term that needs explaining. Sugar-free doesn’t mean no sugar at all. They provide a bar and that level is no more than 0.5 grams.

In case you were wondering, that standard also applies when the terms are: zero sugar; sugarless; free of sugar; zero sugar or when it says a trivial or small amount is indicated. But there is more.

That term ‘no added sugar always bothered me because it suggests there is already sugar but they did not add any more in the processing. What it really means is they added something that is considered an alternative to sugar, not sugar itself.

So the sweetness is still high and if you have issues with sugar substitutes, this could be a deal breaker. What I would prefer is reduced sugar since that means 25% less than the original. No doubt your kids would benefit too.

In general, here is what you need to know. Eliminate all sodas, fruit drinks, sport drinks, coffee blend offerings, the same with tea including iced tea and energy drinks. When it comes to food, avoid the processed, boxed ones, go for whole foods and try to make your own meals so you know what is in it.

And whole fruits do have sugar but if eaten as is with the pulp, you are consuming it as nature provided which means it will digest more slowly and that does not allow the sugar to impact you which is much healthier.