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

I get cross about the constant "this is bad, that is bad". Everything in moderation. I would rather use real sugar than fake chemical sweetners. So I'm not planning on cutting out sugar, or swapping it.

my boys really enjoyed trying different & new sugar swaps, esp the ice-cream made from frozen banana & sugar free jelly :)

I've been thinking about giving up sugar as I know how bad it is for me and how awful it makes me feel but the 'high' I get from it is terribly addictive and I know it'll be incredibly hard to stop.
I've no tips for stopping as have never managed it successfully! My dm has done it before with really good results but hasn't managed to stick to it.
I do think there's too much added sugar in everything and cutting it out becomes incredibly hard when trying to live normal life with eating out, celebrating etc or maybe I'm just too lazy!

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

Yes, I tried cutting sugar out of my tea for a month and succeeded. But I've gone back to adding it, now. I wasn't enjoying my tea anymore! I've reduced my intake of chocolate, cakes and biscuits instead. I'll keep my sugary tea and lose the snacks.

1. If yes, why? Do you have any tips/tricks you have for helping to beat sugar cravings? I wanted to cut calories by cutting sugar. I hoped I would feel healthier. I suppose my only tip is to always have a stash of healthy snacks, like oatcakes, fruit, houmous and veg sticks etc.

I'm trying to eat less sugar as I need to lose 2 stone, so I'm currently using sweetener in my drinks and trying to avoid sweets and chocolate. I make banana cakes for my 2 year old dd and I use honey instead of sugar to sweeten them and she loves them!

I try to reduce our sugar intake. The hardest thing is the hidden sugar in things you wouldn't expect. I am making loads more things from scratch so that I know exactly what is in them.

i have been using canderal now for 1 year after having high sugar levels. i use it in my tea, coffee, cereals and cooking and i love it. my husband also uses it, he is diabetic, i love the taste and wont swap for any other sweetner. it also tastes great in my cooking.

I always look for ways to cut down on sugar. If baking I just use less, I buy less processed food or low sugar options and use fruit as a sweet additive rather than refined sugar.

We have been eating a more 'clean' diet since the new year...much less sugar... and now I can drink coffee and tea without it! I'm very impressed that a change in diet can change your taste... I also eat olives now too which I thought were gross at christmas.

I try to reduce sugar generally but don't feel any need to completely cut it out of our diets. I'm very much a believer in everything in moderation. I wouldn't use any artificial sugars though. In cakes, I tend to use banana or an apple puree to replace some of the sugar or indeed just don't add the amount that's suggested. It's not often that it makes a difference.

Moderately aware / trying to reduce it for general weight loss and healthier living, but not by replacing with sweeteners, or with tons of fruit sugar which is still, surely sugar?

I have never had sugar in tea or coffee, so that's easy. Mostly I am trying not to drink alcohol during the week, or fizzy drinks or fruit juice at all. Lots of fizzy water instead. I also substitute fruit or plain yoghurt for sugary puddings most evenings, as the DC always have pudding at lunch at school.

1. Have you been thinking about giving up or eating less sugar? Gave it up totally for two months last year, and carbs and dairy to as i had been having some health issues that i thought may be diet related. My issues dissapeared whilst I steered clear and have returned now i am easting sugar/carbs/dairy again.

1. If yes, why? See above

Do you have any tips/tricks you have for helping to beat sugar cravings? Yep, protien is yor friend, as is being organised, ime sugar cravings stopped when i gave up sugar completely, but what didn't and where i was oikely to fall down, was when out and about and hungry. Its surprisingly hard to grab soething sugar free in the go, so i learned to always have some nuts in my bag so i could tide myself over til i got a proper meal.

Oh, yes, I should eat less sugar, and all the family should. DP starts the day with two cups of coffee, each with 2 teaspoons of sugar - that just can't be good! DS isn't too bad, and can resist sweets left on the side- isn't fussed. It's sweet carbs I need to cut down on - cakes, biscuits - sugar that comes with added carbs and fat.

Tips for cutting down? A packet of crisps is always a good alternative.... no seriously (although that was serious ) the person who said the less you eat the less you want is right - when I eat properly, get exercise, and crucially enough sleep, I pick at sweet stuff less. Lack of sleep provokes my inner sugar monster.

Ugh, your friend not yor.

I have thought for some while that sugar is the biggest baddie not fat.

I definitely try to eat less sugar and use Canderel on my cereal and in cooking, but there is hidden sugar in so many things that it is very hard to reduce sugar intake. I was amazed to find so much sugar in tomato sauce, baked beans, fat free yogurts etc.

I think a little help from some of the food manufactures is needed here

1. Yes, it seems to be everywhere in the news at the moment so it's been hard not to think about it! I haven't started trying to reduce my sugar intake yet, but I know I need to!
2. Agave honey is a really good option instead of sugar in tea, coffee, baking, etc. I think the only way to ensure you really are cutting sugar out of your diet, is to eat only natural food, &/or food you have prepared from scratch yourself so you know exactly what has gone into it. I definitely think this is achievable, it's just a matter of willpower!

1. I decided a year ago to adopt a healthy eating lifestyle in order to lose weight (lost 3st 3lbs and dropped from dress size 16 to size 10/12). This included avoiding processed foods and cutting out salt and sugar where at all possible. It is a real education as I noted that practically all processed foods contain high levels of sugar and/or salt.

1. I kick-started my new (permanent) healthy eating lifestyle by giving up processed foods, sugar, alcohol and meat (except fish) for Lent last year (2014). It was just the challenge that I needed. The key for me is cooking from scratch. The longer I continued the easier it became. 12 months done the line and I no longer have sugar in my diet, I have turned to herbal teas and water for refreshment and I do not eat biscuits, pastries or cakes except on the odd occasion. I drink alcohol socially and have not returned to drinking the large glass (or two) of wine that I used to enjoy at home in the evenings.

It helped me enormously to set targets and to log my achievements or failures in my notebook. As the healthy eating took off it touched other areas in my life, I increased my physical activity, more walking, running and dancing (passive exercising generally) and I feel amazing. I have lost my addiction to sugar (and salt) and have adopted a new healthy lifestyle in general. I have lost my sweet tooth and prefer to snack on raw nuts, fruit, salad and raw vegetables.

It's very hard to cut down on sugar and still eat a varied, healthy diet. Not only is it "hidden" in a lot of unexpected products, it is present in many fruits and vegetables.

I eat almost no processed sugar - I haven't got a sweet tooth, though I do use sweeteners in cocoa to give a nice comforting drink in the evening

Ive tried brushing my teeth when I am having a sugar craving but its actually finding the discipline to get up and do that rather than grab something sweet. The only fruit ive found that satisfies the sugar crave a little is blueberries.

I've been seriously looking at cutting out sugar from my diet, as I didn't know until recently that it is far more likely sugar than fat, that makes one overweight. I read a really interesting article about high protein, high fat, no/low carb diets, which I'd previously thought of as a daft fad, but now realise there is a lot of sense in it. Up till the post war years there was very little obesity as the diet was different, now we all eat so much processed junk and there is hidden sugar in EVERYTHING! Even bread, sauces etc, it's shocking.
I definitely plan to cut down on "obvious" sugars; I think it's going to be very difficult to get away from sugar altogether due to what I've just said about it being hidden everywhere, but if I can cut out the basics then it will be a good start!

I find it so hard because everything contains sugar! I do use canderel where possible

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

Yes I have.

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

It would be nice to lose weight, be more active. I don't have any tips so I will be reading this thread with keen interest!

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

Yes, I try to eat less sugary foods, as I'm trying to lose weight at the moment.

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

I eat porridge for breakfast and sweeten it with granulated sweetener. That starts me off for the day, feeling nice and full and having satisfied my sweet tooth.

I feel as if sugar is addictive and do think of reducing the amount especially when there is so much hidden sugar in the food we buy.

I stopped putting sugar in my tea and coffe and when I bake I put half the sugar that it is said on the recipe.