Talk to Canderel about eating less sugar and you could win a £300 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We've been asked by Canderel to find out about Mumsnetters' experiences and opinions on reducing sugar intake.

Canderel say "At Canderel, We’re all about sugar alternatives that still let you indulge yourself. With the average UK person consuming more than their recommended sugar allowance (10% of their daily calorie intake per day)*, we’d like to know how we can help your family manage your sugar intake. Be SweetSmart, swap to Canderel"

Below are a few points to get you started, but feel free to add any other comments you have:

1. Have you been thinking about giving up or eating less sugar?
2. If yes, why? Do you have any tips/tricks you have for helping to beat sugar cravings?

Everyone who adds a comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £300 John Lewis voucher.

Please note, Canderel may use your anonymous comments on social media, so please only comment if you're happy with this.

Thanks & good luck,
MNHQ

PS - Our standard terms & conditions apply.

• Source

Of course, almost all of us are conscious of how much sugar is present especially in processed foods. So for health reasons and for reasons of wanting to look better, I'd like to reduce my sugar intake.

I think I am doing quite well - I never drink sugary drinks, but breakfast cereal is very hard: it's a meal I have every day, but try getting a low sugar cereal. Oats are a good substitute.

The other problem is chocolate and sweets. I try to eat dark chocolate, and not skimp on quality, so I eat lesss of it

Of course, almost all of us are conscious of how much sugar is present especially in processed foods. So for health reasons and for reasons of wanting to look better, I'd like to reduce my sugar intake.

I think I am doing quite well - I never drink sugary drinks, but breakfast cereal is very hard: it's a meal I have every day, but try getting a low sugar cereal. Oats are a good substitute.

The other problem is chocolate and sweets. I try to eat dark chocolate, and not skimp on quality, so I eat lesss of it

I'm not really thinking about reducing our sugar intake as I don't think it's very high to begin with.

When I bake, which is only normally for birthdays I always use have the stated amount of sugar and no one has ever noticed. In fact, people are complimentary about my cakes. I think the key to cutting back is to find alternative flavours rather than alternative sugars for example I flavour my porridge with ginger or mixed spices instead of sugar.

Sugar - one of the hardest things to give up. Being a chocoholic - this is virtually impossible for me. I have tried sweeteners, but unfortunately they taste too synthetic to me.

Sugar is now hidden in most foods now, which isn't good for both me and my family x

1. Have you been thinking about giving up or eating less sugar?

I really need to have less sugar, I drink sugar-free drinks and try to monitor the obvious sugar content in things I eat, but its the fruit and the things you wouldn't normally worry about that catch me out.

1. If yes, why? Do you have any tips/tricks you have for helping to beat sugar cravings?

I just try to plan my meals, go shopping when I am not hungry and educate myself as to the sugar content of products so as to scare myself off them!!

I have swapped green tea for my usual tea and coffee with milk and sugar and it works! lost 5 lbs already!

I'm trying to eat less sugar but find it difficult. I've cut out very obvious sugar filled foods like Haribo (!!) but sugar seems to be in a whole array of food I would find it hard to cut it out completely.

I have quite a sweet tooth so wouldn't really want to not have any sugar at all but try to satisfy my craving with fruit juice & fruit.

I gave up sugar for 15 weeks last year. I limited myself to no more than 60g of carbs a day. I lost 4.5 stone. I had horrendous headaches for the first 8 - 9 days, but after that I lost ALL cravings. It was amazing. I'm thinking about doing it again - sugar plays havoc with insulin levels in the body and I'm a fan of keeping them regulated, for health reasons.

I tried but failed.Stopped taking sugar in tea and coffee but found it wasn't the same so I'm back on the Sugar :)

The simple thing is just dont buy the chocolate bars - they were my weakness

I have tried to cut down on sugar this last few months, I have swapped sugar in my tea for sweetener, and try to look for foods with no added sugar.

Eddie Izzard completely cut out all sugar and sugar creating foods, like bread and not only lost loads of weight, but stopped the sugar craving cycle. He said it takes three weeks to wean yourself off but once you have, you don't want it.

1. Yes, because of the health risks associated with too much sugar.

1. I avoid chocolate and other sugary snacks/treats. If I get a craving, I have some sweets and one of them, once a day is enough to satisfy the sugar craving. If you really cut down on sugar a tiny amount goes a long way.

I would happily throw out all sugary foods, such as the biscuits and cereals my husband always comes home with. I generally do pretty well but every couple of weeks I end up going on a binge. Naughty!

I've certainly been thinking about it but not really done it so much yet. I've been looking online at davina and seen her substituting sugar with honey/maple syrup so think I will start by giving her brownies a go.

Yes, I have been thinking that i consume too much sugar BUT I don't want to substitute it with artificial sweetners.
I need to eat less treats/choc/cake rather than switch to something else - I don't see the point in taking out sugar, and putting in honey either - its all glucose / fructose.

And if were going to be picky about it, anything with carbohydrates in will get broken down to glucose, and there is no way I'm giveing up carbs.

So, personally, I think we should reduce the sweetness (and saltiness) of everything - sweet and savoury, but not by putting in artificial sweetners, but by cutting it out altogether - ie readjusting our palets.

I gave up sugar last year for lent and after a few days felt fine and had no cravings - of course after lent I stupidly went back to it.

we as a family are trying to cut down, need to find more low sugar recipes

I am cutting down simply by being more aware of what's on the nutritional labels of the foods we by. If it's a dessert, fair enough, you expect it to be sweet but some pasta sauces and soups are high in sugar which seems ridiculous but we previously consumed it, simply because we weren't aware of it!

I have certainly been contemplating ways to reduce my families sugar intake. I recently saw a documentary on it which has spurred me on to take more action to reduce our consumption.
I like to eat lots of sweet vegetables, we have been having a lot more sweet potato, roasted squash, parsnip and pumpkin, which are all naturally sweet. I now put parsnip and sweet potato in our mash. The children call it sweety masdh and think I have added sugar!
Trying to substitute sugary snacks for fruit so that they are just eating natural sugars rather than products with added sugar. Labels on food don't distinguish between the two which can make it difficult with some product choices.

I would love to eat less sugar, but since I got pregnant my cravings have increased. I'm also not sure what products are safe in pregnancy, for example I used to drink lots of herbal teas but I have read that those containing liquorice root/raspberry leaf can induce miscarriage in the first trimester. Consequently, I gave up herbal tea and have moved on to the odd glass of sugar-loaded squash for those times when I'm bored of drinking water. I tried the non-sugar squash but I cannot get used to the taste of aspartame, it's pretty vile.

So, ways to cut down? Snacking on fruit and seeds instead of chocolate bars is helping, and drinking a lot more plain water than before.

I've got a very healthy diet right now based on years of experience (and failure) and its something I can stick with permanently. Your tastes change so anyone who feels they can't live without sugar in whatever form really just needs to persist. I really enjoy all the food I eat, lots of fruit and veg and meals cooked from scratch. I like the feeling that everything that is going into my body is good for me! I feel that sugar is very addictive and you just need to break the cycle.

I prefer savoury, so do not eat cakes, chocolate, biscuits etc and do not add it to drinks or cereals, however it is difficult as it is added to so many other foods

I have been thinking about the sugar I have in cups of tea (I drink many throughout the day) but as I have a half spoon a sweetener is too much. I may have to invest in granulated sweetener or go cold turkey.
I don't worry about my kids as much as I cook many meals from scratch and they have healthier cereals for breakfast and sweets are rationed or only used for emergency bribery.
I always have fruit in the house for something sweet that's not as bad for you.

I stopped drinking fizzy drinks altogether. I moved to water or dilute juice. Feel all the better for it.