Ideas

Here are some easy swaps that mean that kids can enjoy their food without taking in too much sugar.

Drink swap

Switch from sugary drinks to no added sugar drinks such as water, milk (ideally semi-skimmed - but remember children under 2 need full-fat milk), unsweetened fruit juice or even sugar free fizzy drinks.

Snack swap

Choose snacks without added sugar such as fruit, unsalted nuts, breadsticks, rice cakes or toast, instead of sweets, biscuits, chocolate, cakes and pastries.

Food label swap

When shopping compare food labels and switch to the one that’s marked lower in sugar or sugar free. Some packaging uses a traffic light system, which makes it even easier to choose food that is lower in sugar. Go for more “greens” and “ambers” and fewer “reds” in your shopping basket.

Aygul Mustafa,
Kent

"I have cut out any unneccesary sugars and additives from their diet so they go to bed at an earlier time. I have more time to do the housework, read, paint my nails. I have even looked at starting an Open University degree."

Breakfast swap

Switch to lower sugar cereals or other breakfast options like fruit or toast (but if you spread on jam or honey, make sure it’s a thin layer!)

Dessert swap

Switch from sugary desserts like chocolate, biscuits and cake to less sugary desserts, like yoghurt or fruit. Or compare the labels on two desserts and choose the one with the lower level of sugars.

See how many sugar swaps you can make in a week.