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

Yes, I definitely need to cut down on my sugar consumption. I switch to sweeteners where possible and I have cut these down too. I used to take 3 sweeteners in coffee and now I'm down to 2. I think sugar is a very addictive substance and as previous posters have said sometimes it's hard to avoid in products as it's almost hidden in many of its "--ose" disguises.

I've tried to cut it out, but still allow myself treats on weekends. That can be dangerous though, because I do find the cravings and habitual snacking comes back very quickly. I had to quit by cutting it out entirely, it is amazing how much I must have been eating before without realising it. I feel so much healthier now, but it is something I have to pay constant attention to, it really is addictive.

I reduced my sugar intake a few years ago as I found I felt much better without it. Due to family allergies I cook everything from scratch. I do use some sugar in puddings etc. for the other members of the family but cut down the sugar. We all prefer dark chocolate which has much less sugar and we generally only have a square or two and find that satisfies us.

I reduced the sugar in my tea to half a spoon of sugar - I didn't mind it and when I got transferred to another office that only had vending machines I had a straight choice of going back to one spoon of sugar or none at all. By this time a spoon of sugar was horrible as it was too sweet for me. That made me go sugar free in my tea and that is how it has been for over 10 years now!

I started growing stevie and sweet cicily so that I can sweeten my puddings without sugar

1. Yes, although this is far from easy. Tea without sugar is misery.
2. There are some awesome recipes (mostly for toddler foods) which just use natural sugars like orange juice to allow you to basically make fruit cake without refined sugar or indeed any substitutes. This can help when all you want to do is cram a bar of fruit and nut in your face.

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

Yes! I don't take sugar in tea/coffee, but find myself reaching for sweets/chocolates/biscuits for a mid-morning and mid-afternoon 'bump' most days.

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

I realised that the more sugar I eat, the more I crave. And have really noticed that the days I give in and have loads of sugary stuff leave me feeling quite sluggish when the sugar high wears off.

I have found that reaching for a herbal tea, or a drink (sparkling water or some no-sugar cordial) can really take the edge off the craving. When I really need something, I try to stick to very dark chocolate.

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

Yes but it's not a recent thing - have always been mindful of it

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

Because it's addictive and unhealthy and I see it as my responsibility that my children are not too addicted to it. I'm very aware of it being added to processed (and not so processed) every day foods so I read the labels and don't by foods that have it. For example, I never buy bread with added sugar - not an easy task!! Pasta sauces - absolute madness the amount of sugar they have. Same applies to all ready meals, soups etc. Did anyone know that the first ingredient after water in a chicken cup-a-soup is glucose syrup??!! I also never add sugar to savoury dishes when cooking. Seems to be an obligatory ingredient when cooking with tomatoes - no idea why.... definitely no need.

On the other hand I bake on the weekend and have no problems in using whatever amount of sugar is in the recipe.

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

Yes definitely - I really think it is bad for you and the more you eat the more you seem to crave it.

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

As above, my tips are to not eat low fat, slimming type foods, as these seem to be crammed with sugar. Instead just try to eat normal foods, in moderation (easier said than done sometimes!!)

I gave up caffeine when pregnant and have found that now I have a baby I'm using sugar as an energy boost when I'm feeling tired. The best way to cut down I imagine would be more sleep (hollow laugh)

Yes I want to give up sugar and the tip I have is butternut squash soup
Butternut squash
Onions
Veg stock cube
Coriander
Blend and serve really sweet and good for you

cut down on tea

I find if I have at least six servings and fruit and veg I don't get sugar cravings much. However when I'm tired I do crave it.

My husband is a type 1 diabetic so it forces the issue really - we have very little sugar. I have discovered that removing sugar from lots of different puddings means they can still be palatable - more trial and error than anything else!

I bought chocolate body cream - the smell of chocolate on my skin seems to help with sugar cravings!

I have started using half the amount of sugar required for recipes I bake. I add a similar amount of powdered artificial sweetener instead and I must say it tastes just the same to me and no one else in the house has noticed the difference.

I try my best to eat less sugar, for example eating wholemeal bread instead of white bread

i must admit i love my sugar i have a very sweet tooth and would find it hard to give up but i do try and keep my intake to a minimum by eating fresh food and cooking from scratch so that i have some control over how much i actually eat

I want to reduce our family's sugar intake overall. Personally, I eat far to many sweets and cake during the day and don't feel good as a result- sick of the 'crash and burn' after the sugar high. I want to reduce my kids' sugar intake as I'm concerned about the effects on their teeth. My DD2 has had to have fillings and she's only 6!
I've tried to cut back by reducing my sugar in coffee to 1 teaspoon from 2. I'm also thinking of switching to canderel although have never tried it before. The thing which works for me to banish sugar cravings is to eat a piece of fruit rather than reach for the cake box. I'm gradually training my kids to do the same and they quite like it if I chop lots of different fruits up on a platter for them as an after-school snack. My friend told me a good tip as she is trying to lose weight as well as cut down on sugar: each time you go for fruit instead of a cake write down how many calories you've saved & you'll be amazed by the end of the week!

Yes,I have tried for a number of years to give up sugar with varying degrees of success.Its not easy but worth doing and I feel better for it.It is however in so many products however a little/in moderation is fine.
I don't think artificial sweeteners are the answer as they tend to make you crave more 'sweet' products.

Over the past couple of years, I've become aware of just what a lot of sugar I consume, and it worries me. So I've stopped having sugar in tea (I switched to sweetener, then eventually cut that out), and I'm trying to stop having it in coffee (I have a level teaspoon rather than a heaped one, and sometimes I can bear to have it without any sugar at all).

If there are sweet snacks in the house, I'll eat them - so I have to use all of my willpower and not buy any. (Most of the time, this doesn't work. If I still have any teeth left by the time the DCs are teenagers, it'll be a miracle.)

I rarely use sugar and use sweetener on cereal and in hot drinks

1. Sugar is associated with a reward, a treat in my house unfortunately and I have been conscious particularly recently of trying to cut down on sweet 'treats' as well as choosing low sugar alternatives.

1. I think probably the focus in the press on the damage sugar can do (similar to salt a few years ago). In most other aspects we are a healthy, very active family but we have been stuck in a pattern of having desserts at weekends and chocolate or biscuits after dinner during the week, popcorn for the kids when watching a movie and the odd jelly sweet as a reward for good reading (not good,I know).

I consciously restrict fruit juices for the kids now or mix half and half with water. I think being more mindful when shopping and taking that little bit extra time to read the ingredients on products to help make an informed choice. That and brushing your teeth if you are craving something sweet can help. We are looking at other ways to feel rewarded other than that sugar rush.

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

Yes, I have been eating less sugar for my healthy life

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

Because I want to lose weight and get my shape back after giving birth. I reduce sugar with a low carb diet

I'm VERY aware of my sugar intake .. not that that's necessarily a good thing. I have always tried to take a lower calorie option (hence reducing sugar) but actually media says that this isn't necessarily the best option. I try to do without sugar wherever I can; tea/coffee/cereal, etc, I know that we indulge in sweet things, it's hard to wean the children off sweet things per se, and to be honest I'm thrilled that they eat as many fruits/vegetables and as healthy as they do - but we tend to bake a lot. What I do do is use Canderel in recipes instead of sugar. It's a great alternative and seems to work a treat. The kids seem to be fooled and don't think twice about it now. WIN;WIN