How to Read Nutritional Labels For Total Sugar
How to Read Nutritional Labels For Total Sugar
Simple Sugar Equation
4 Grams of Sugar = 1 Teaspoon of Sugar
You may think you are buying ‘healthy’ food when you see catch phrases on packaged food such as: low fat, low calorie, all natural, energy boosting, sugar-free, good source of fibre, multi-grain, antioxidants, no trans-fats or sports drink. However, be aware when reading these cleverly marketed slogans because the information is often misleading.
Learning how to read the information on nutritional panels is the only way to decipher what is in the product and this can also be confusing. The best way to match up the cross-section of competing food varieties is to compare the information in the right hand column, e.g.“Per 100gm/100ml serve”.
Carbohydrates/Sugar To Support Kids Health
This heading represents the entire amount of carbohydrates in the product, good and bad. Sugar is the amount of simple sugars present in the food such as fructose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, lactose and glucose. Generally speaking, the higher the percentage of sugar to total carbohydrates, the less healthy the food will be. Aim for less than 10mg of sugar per 100mg serving. And remember the easy sugar equation 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon.
Fiona’s Tip: Don’t get too overwhelmed and frustrated reading nutritional labels when there are different serving sizes between brands. To work out which brand is best for your child, simply read the 100ml / 100gm column to compare the sugar content. All labels carry this information.
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Hello, wonderful parents! Fiona Stock here. your guide and friend. I'm a highly respected Paediatric Naturopath and Children’s Nutritionist. I'm known for my expertise as an educator, mentor, and author, with over 25 years of extensive experience. Throughout my career, I've gained a profound understanding of the unique needs involved in supporting children's health conditions.
My knowledge is enriched by specialised training from the American Medical Academy of Paediatric Special Needs (MAPS) and Gut and Psychology Syndrome, under the guidance of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. You can trust my advice, as I adhere to Australian law and hold registration with both the Australian Natural Therapies Association and the Australian Therapeutics Act.
