Read your labels!

The new year is upon us and many of us make our yearly resolutions to become healthier and lose weight. I was asked to write this article as an eye opener for many. Yes we have been told to read our labels but how many of you are actually doing this. I hope that the references below will help you be more aware before you purchase foods especially if you are feeding this to your children.

Here are a few words used to describe sugar: malt, sorghum, sucrose, fructose, maltose, glucose, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, maple, brown sugar, powered sugar, brown rice syrup, cane juice. Here are some sugar alcohols: mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol

I got a great kick looking at this sight. I hope this helps put some things into perspective. Yogurts: we think they are healthy but take a look at the site below. They compare three and show the sugar content. Remember every 4 grams is equal to 1 teaspoon.

http://whatscookingwithkids.com/2011/

04/06/look-theres-yogurt-in-my-sugar/

here is some info on regular every day foods gotten from:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12354500/Data/Add_Sug/addsug01.pdf

The above site is from 2006 but the sugars have not changed.

For Babies: individual servings

Finger snack cereal 27 grams

Cookies 17 grams

All baby desserts almost 10 grams

Here are some foods we eat thinking their healthy:

Apple cider 81 grams (20 teaspoons),Instant coffee with sugar cappuccino flavored 64 grams (16 teaspoons), Fruit punch powdered mix 95 grams ( 23 teaspoons)

Sweet tea 95 grams, Grape juice frozen concentrate sweetened 36 grams

Salad dressing for coleslaw reduced fat 38.4 grams

Canned fruit 77 grams

Dried cranberries sweetened 62.6 grams, Carmel popcorn 64 grams, Banana chips 25.7 grams

Granola bars oats fruits and nut 40 grams

Sauces: hoisin 25.8 grams, teriyaki 13.3 grams

Bouillon cubes between 12.4-17.4 grams

Of course candies:

Carmels 50.7 grams, butterscotch 80.5 grams, gelatin dry mix 86 grams

The above are just a few. Go to the sight for many more.

These are from WEB MD

SoBe Energy or Elixir: 16 ounces = 52-54 grams sugar, 200-220 calories
SoBe Green Tea: 16 ounces = 50 grams sugar, 200 calories
Snapple Iced Tea, Peach, Lemon, or Raspberry: 16 ounces = 46-50 grams sugar, 200 calories
Arizona Iced Tea: 16 ounces = 48 grams sugar, 180 calories

Vitamin and Energy Drinks

Snapple Antioxidant Water, Agave Melon: 20 ounce bottle = 32 grams sugar, 140 calories
Glaceau Vitamin Water: 20 ounce bottle = 32 grams sugar, 125 calories
Gatorade Bring It, Shine On, or Be Tough: 16 ounces = 28 grams sugar, 100 calories

Instant Cocoa

You’d probably expect hot cocoa mix to have cocoa, or maybe powdered milk, highest on its list of ingredients. But for Swiss Miss Mocha Cappuccino and Marshmallow flavors, the first and second ingredients are sugar and corn syrup, with cocoa listed as the fourth ingredient.

Swiss Miss Mocha Cappuccino or Marshmallow flavors: 1 envelope made with 6 ounces water = 19 grams sugar, 120 calories

12. Yogurt

To enjoy yogurt without the added sugar, make your own flavored yogurt starting with plain yogurt. Or, buy the light yogurts that use alternative sweeteners.

Yoplait Original 99% fat free, Lemon Burst: 6 ounces = 31 grams sugar, 180 calories
Yoplait Thick & Creamy Yogurt, Strawberry: 6 ounces = 28 grams sugar, 180 calories
Yoplait Original 99% fat free, Boysenberry: 6 ounces = 27 grams sugar, 170 calories

13. Frozen Breakfast Foods

You wouldn’t expect to find frozen breakfast products that feature savory items like sausage and cheese to be foods that are particularly high in sugar. And yet the new Jimmy Dean breakfast entrees contain 16 and 21 grams of sugar per serving.

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Entrees, Sausage & Cheese Croissant with diced apples and hash browns: 1 entrée = 21 grams sugar, 560 calories (the sugar seems to mainly be from the sweetened diced apples)
Eggo Cinnamon Toast Waffles: 3 waffles (each with 4 mini waffle pieces) = 17 grams sugar, 300 calories
Jimmy Dean Breakfast Entrees, Scrambled Eggs with Sausage & Cheese with diced apples and hash browns: 1 entrée = 16 grams sugar, 390 calories
Eggo French Toaster Sticks Cinnamon: 2 pieces = 15 grams sugar, 230 calories

14. Frozen Desserts

Weight Watchers Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cups (and other flavors): 1 small cup = 22 grams sugar, 140 calories
Weight Watchers English Toffee Crunch: 2 bars = 20 grams sugar, 220 calories
Skinny Cow Low-fat Ice Cream Cone (different flavors): 1 cone = 19 grams sugar, 150 calories
Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge Bar: 1 bar = 16 grams sugar, 110 calories
Weight Watchers Giant Cookies & Cream Bar: 1 bar = 15 grams sugar, 140 calories
Skinny Cow Low-fat Fudge Bar: 13 grams sugar, 100 calories

WebMD Article on Sugar

So as you can see I just highlighted a few that we do take for granted. Be aware of what you place in your mouth and your childrens.