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Original poster

Do you think we all go overboard in analysing every packet in the supermarket for the demon that is sugar?

48 replies

oliveoil · 30/08/2005 13:16

Tesco's on Saturday, looking at cereal packets with dh. Dd1 has decreed that she will not eat Weetabix and Ready Brek anymore (and she has had them every day for years, bless) so we wanted to get something different.

We were frowning and umming and harrumphing at the ingredients and then thought HANG ON! I grew up on Sugar Puffs/Frosties etc etc and I do not resemble a heart attack waiting to happen. AND I didn't have a filling until I was 20 (ooer).

So we got some Rice Krispies and thought to hell with it.

Anyone else? Or am I a baaaaaaad mum?

OP posts:
Enid · 30/08/2005 13:17

rice krispies are not too bad

I refuse to give mine sickly cereals as they are quite happy with plainish ones.

In Sainsburys they do a Kallo puffed wheat cereal which has about 20g sugar as opposed to sugar puffs which has 35g

rickman · 30/08/2005 13:18

Message withdrawn

Original poster
oliveoil · 30/08/2005 13:19

I looked at Cheerios and they were 35! She is 3 in October so hasn't 'got' adverts yet but I am waiting for the 'I want the choc crisp crunch biscuit ones awwww but whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy' conversation.

But she eats ok the rest of the time so I think I may just give in occasionally.

OP posts:
flashingnose · 30/08/2005 13:19

Mmm, I know what you're saying but I too had Frosties, Ricicles etc and my teeth are terrible. Trouble is, sweetners are probably worse...

LilacLotus · 30/08/2005 13:20

i do the frowning and umming at pretty much everything in the supermarket. has it got e numbers? sugar or sweetners? hydrogenated oil?

Seona1973 · 30/08/2005 13:20

we tend to go for cheerios, rice crispies multi-grain (formerly known as muddles), shreddies, etc. They do a reduced sugar 'sugar puffs' and frosties now although there are probably still loads in them. I remember sprinkling sugar on my cornflakes when I was young and my teeth are in good nick too!!

Roobie · 30/08/2005 13:22

I would rather ingest sugar in moderation as it passes straight through your digestive system....not the case with sugar-free options which contain junk like asparatame which enters your blood stream.

northerner · 30/08/2005 13:22

My ds is really good with cereals. He hates all the kids ones. Will only eat weetabix or cornflakes, with no sugar on.

Last week he was having his brekkie at my MIl's and he came home to tell me that Granny had put salt on his weetabix so he wouldn't eat it. He meant sugar bless him.

nutcracker · 30/08/2005 13:23

I won't buy Coco pops or any other chocolate cereal but mainly because of the mess they leave on their pj's with them.

Also won't buy Frosties or any other sugar coated cereal.

Gobbledigook · 30/08/2005 13:27

What's wrong with rice krispies?? I live on them!

I think people do go overboard - I saw a couple scrutinising cereal packets today actually!

I don't buy sugar coated or chocolate cereal and the children mainly eat fruit for snacks. But they do eat chocolate buttons, gingerbread men and other treats as well (in moderation). I never buy 'sweets' in the sugary sense - usually chocolate - but otherwise I don't really read labels.

Gobbledigook · 30/08/2005 13:29

OO - ds1 also asked for coco pops today when I was buying the rice krispies. I just said no - 'you're not having chocolate for breakfast' and walked on. A bit later he said 'can I have coco pops when I'm 5?' so I just said 'yes'

They only know about them cos dh has bought them in the past for himself! Big kid that he is!

zippitippitoes · 30/08/2005 13:35

I think sugar is less harmful than other additives and preservatives, though i do balk at it being used in curries, savoury meals etc

I think shredded wheta is sugar free, as are porridge oats (they are the only cereal I eat just with milk or yogurt and if I feel like it tinned blackcurrants in their own juice)

but Force, Weetabix, Oat crunchies and not sure but maybe Shreddies are not too bad on the sugar front

moondog · 30/08/2005 13:47

If you steer clear of processed food (including cereals) it is very easy to keep salt and sugar consumption to a minimum.

Carmenere · 30/08/2005 20:06

i agree with moondog but when I do buy something specifically for dd (18mths) I do scrutinise the packs as sugar sends her crazy

Mud · 30/08/2005 20:08

only when its yoru first, by the time you get to the third you'll shove anyuthgin in their mouth for a moment's quiet

hunkermunker · 30/08/2005 20:10

Sugar fine in small quantities, sweeteners and transfats not.

expatinscotland · 30/08/2005 20:11

No, I go around looking for artificial sweetners. YUK! Will NOT allow my child to eat them. We do not.

OldieMum · 30/08/2005 20:13

There is no added sugar or salt in Shredded Wheat. We all eat the 'bitesize' ones for breakfast. The downside is that they are a bit like shredded cardboard, but we cheer them up with sliced banana, nectarine, strawberries etc.

bobbybob · 30/08/2005 20:13

Sugar is not bad when combined with good dental hygiene and exercise. It is practically impossible to be allergic to it, which is a consideration for us.

I won't go near sweeteners, artificial colours and preservatives though.

nikkie · 30/08/2005 20:30

I always buy cordial,pop etc WITH sugar just because it is so much better than the sweeteners additives etc.
Aspartame in particular gives me migraines.There is (I think) a link between aspartame and head illnesses.
Lots of own brand cereals have less sugar /salt than the top makes.

katymac · 30/08/2005 20:39

In Sainsbury's once I picked up a full fat fruit fool (try saying that when your tired) I was about to put it down when I saw the ingredients, yohgurt, cream, fruit

On the reduced fat version there were over 30 ingredients

It seems to me that full fat is better....and the same goes for sugar

edodgy · 30/08/2005 20:53

I worry more about sweetners than sugar at least sugar can be broken down naturally by the body.

fqueenzebra · 30/08/2005 21:01

The thing about sugars (or sweeteners) is that the more you have it, the more used to it you have, and the more you think that food doesn't taste "right" without it. So, best (imho) to keep to low sugar/sweetener intake where possible, to discourage a palate that is used to everything having to taste sweet in order to be "tasty".

One big thing that I notice in the USA, I think this has happened over the last 10 years or so: fat became such a "baddy" food that a lot of things have really had their sugar content upped -- to make up for the lack of flavour that fat should provide. A lot of foods in the USA are now revoltingly sweet that didn't used to be, or so it seems to me.

Bozza · 30/08/2005 21:04

Think the same habit is formed with salt Zebra. Had a friend putting salt on his Chinese takeaway this weekend. DH and I (never add salt to cooking or have table salt and buy very little processed food) were quite because we always wake up thirsty in the middle of the night after a Chinese. I think the sweet habit is particularly the case with breakfast cereals.

morningpaper · 30/08/2005 21:13

Sugar doesn't worry me at all.

I worry more about salt, hydrogentated fats, sweeteners...

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