With Halloween kicking off the holiday season, millions of children will begin chasing the sugary treats that come with participating in the parties, festivals, carnivals, and celebrations that we all have come to know. Many parents will try to monitor their consumption during these special days but studies show the biggest fear is what they eat every day – their focus is misdirected.

According to the American Heart Association, adult women’s recommended sugar intake is 5 teaspoons (20 grams) per day, adult men’s recommended sugar intake is 9 teaspoons (36 grams), and children’s recommended sugar intake is 3 teaspoons (12 grams).

To put that in perspective, a can of diet soda alone can have as many as 40 grams, or about 10 teaspoons of sugar.  “Our target recommendation is the same for all children between the ages of 2 and 18, to keep it simple for parents and public health advocates,” stated lead author Dr. Miriam Vos in a heart association news release. Added sugars are any sugars, including table sugar, fructose and honey, used in processing and preparing foods or beverages, added to foods at the table, or eaten separately.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published guidelines on sugar recommending it be less than 10 percent of our total daily energy intake. It further suggested that a reduction to below 5 per cent would have added health benefits; this is equivalent to about 25g (six teaspoons) of sugar per day for an adult of normal body mass index.

The WHO guidelines are based on findings from a review of scientific studies into sugar consumption, excess weight gain and tooth decay. Its recommendations refer to all “free” sugars that are added to foods by manufacturers and consumers, as well as sugars that are naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrate. The intrinsic sugar found in intact fruit and vegetables is excluded from the new guidelines and shouldn’t be counted towards your daily tally.

Added sugar is hidden in all kinds of processed foods. A single tablespoon of ketchup has about one teaspoon of sugar. A Quaker chewy granola bar with chocolate chips has almost two teaspoons of sugar. A single cup of apple juice would take up your entire recommended daily allowance.

Regular consumption of foods and drinks high in added sugars can lead to high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, which increase the risk of heart disease. “Children who eat foods loaded with added sugars tend to eat fewer healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products that are good for their heart health,” Vos noted.

“There has been a lack of clarity and consensus regarding how much added sugar is considered safe for children, so sugars remain a commonly added ingredient in foods and drinks, and overall consumption by children remains high – the typical American child consumes about triple the recommended amount of added sugars,” she said.

The American Diabetes Association reports that In 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, has diabetes. Approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have type 1 diabetes. Of the 29.1 million, 21.0 million were diagnosed, and 8.1 million were undiagnosed.

About 208,000 Americans under age 20 are estimated to have diagnosed diabetes, approximately 0.25% of that population. In 2008—2009, the annual incidence of diagnosed diabetes in youth was estimated at 18,436 with type 1 diabetes, 5,089 with type 2 diabetes.

We can do a lot to determine the health and wellness of our children by helping them make better choices about sugar every day. Since most of the sugar consumption is happening at home, simply not buying soda, fruit juice and other sugary snacks can go a long way to eliminating sugar consumption in our children.

Starting in July 2018, food products sold in the United States will have to list the amount of added sugars on the Nutrition Facts Panel. Until then, the best way to avoid added sugars in your child’s diet is to serve mostly foods that are high in nutrition, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meat, poultry and fish, and to limit foods with little nutritional value.

Action in Our Community

AHF Grantees, like Neighborhood House Association (NHA) are leading the way nationally, offering made-from-scratch whole and natural foods to youth, dispelling the belief that children won’t eat healthy foods. NHA seeks to educate children about the positive effects of a healthy lifestyle by using an innovative approach to fuse education and healthy school menus.

Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) has partnered with other organizations to develop the San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative which is a public-private partnership with the mission of reducing and preventing childhood obesity through policy, systems, and environmental change. This program “creates, supports, and mobilizes partners from multiple domains (i.e., sectors); provides leadership and vision; provides education and advocacy; and coordinates and sustains county-wide efforts in the prevention and reduction of childhood obesity.”

Take Note

Healthy eating starts with paying attention to what you eat. Take note of the ingredients in your food, and of how much sugar becomes part of your diet. Think about the American Diabetes Association’s “STAR” to help make smart choices:

• STOP before you make a decision. What kind of snack is best to choose? Is it better to go for a walk or watch TV?
• THINK about your choices before you act. How will they affect you and your health? For example, a piece a fruit will affect your blood sugar level differently than a bag of chips.
• ACT on the better choice for your health. Remember, change is slow. No one expects you to always choose the healthier option. Small steps add up to big results!
• REFLECT on your progress. Give yourself credit when you make a healthy choice. If you choose the bag of chips, think about what you can do to make up for your extra calories. How can you make a different decision next time?

Over time, it gets easier to make healthy choices. Try to make healthy changes as a family or a group. Review your progress together and support success. Be careful to not exceed the recommended daily intake of 25 grams of sugar to keep your body advancing towards health and wellness.