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

the main challenge for me is all the hidden sugar in everything so feels like an impossible mountain to climb. Plus how do you cope with that 2.30pm feeling which can only be quenched by a couple of Orios?!

I used to take sugar in my tea, coffee and even put it on my cereal! The first change I made was to stop sugaring my drinks and cereal - and now I don't have a taste for it at all. If someone puts sugar in my tea I balk!

I have found trying to give up sugar so hard. When I do eat it I never feel very good afterwards!
I've tried opting for fruit instead, it still doesn't seem enough. I'm trying to now pause and leave 10 minutes to think before a sugar fix.....

Trying to cut out sugar again from my diet. Did it last year- first few weeks of going cold turkey were tough but once the addiction was broken all was well... until Christmas came, and there were lots of goodies to be eaten... that's where Canderel will come in next year... I will beat this!!! :-)

I've tried cutting down, although i do find it hard as i love sugar but i have to be an example to my kids and help them as it's not good for there health and teeth. I have reduced my sugar in my tea and coffee and try to use honey or something similar on cereals and i try to encourage my girls too

I cook all our meals from scratch so that cuts the sugar out of the main meals which gives us good start.

I exercise a lot so I need a bit of sugar and that generally means cakes. In every other respect I'm happy where my sugar levels are.

the best way is to things in halves by taking things less so if you eat two biscuits take one or if you take one spoon of sugar add half-spoons. One step at a time.

Sugar has become an indulgence. I have tried for months to become accustomed to sugarless tea and coffee, to no avail. Substitutes then, are good for lowering the calorie intake, if not for lessening the desire! Sugar is my bete noir - I eat healthily otherwise.

1. Yes I have thought about reducing me and my families sugar intake. The amount of press recently, focusing on this topic has naturally made me have to think about our intake levels.
2. A few years ago I substitued sugar in my tea ( 2 big spoons ) for Canderel. I drink quite a lot of tea throughout the day and was shocked, after a little experiment, to see what my daily intake was. The change was easy and I feel much better for it.

But with regard to my family as a whole, I think we do fairly well at maintaining a sensible balance of good wholesome food, plenty of exercise and so therefore a sugary treat once or twice a day poses no health threat for the time being. I have always encouraged my children to eat fruit with natural sugars as a pudding rather than something containing stacks of refined sugars. Everything but in moderation seems to the key for us

My quest to eat less sugar has been working pretty well. Firstly thanks to being pregnant and wanting to make sure I give this little human the best possible start (without getting hugely fat) and also because I've started making mini versions of my family's favourite treats. I've been using raw cane sugar, dates, ground almonds, raw cacao, maple syrup and raisins to come up with all sorts of delicious goodies like truffles, cheesecake and cookies. I make them miniature so you still have that 'I can eat the WHOLE THING' feeling of decadence without actually consuming too much sugar or bad stuff.

I have recently cut out sugar from tea and coffee. It was really hard the first week but couldn't drink it with now!

savoury cakes have been a great way to cut out sugar in our home but yet keep a 'snack' for the kids

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

Yes, I take too much sugar in hot drinks. Have cut down from 2 to 1 spoon but hope to cut further.

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

I am finding it harder to lose weight as I get older (not overweight but nearer to top of healthy weight and want to lose a few pounds) - too much sugar makes me sluggish too. I'm afraid I don't get on with Candarel etc, I find them vile in drinks and they make me more thirsty. Also have a terrible effect on dd's psoriasis so not a direction we take as a family - just to eat natural foods in moderation, seems to work ok in general - no big secret really.

A month ago I started cutting down on the amount of sugar I consume.

I have stopped adding sugar to my tea & coffee and I've reduced the amount of sugary foods that I eat.
I wish supermarkets would discount more of the healthier foods.

Would love to cut back on sugar, but just all the stuff that's bad for you so much, and sometimes chocolate is the only think that gets me through the day!

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

Yes

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

My son recently had a test for diabetes, it was actually something else entirely but it scared me enough to start thinking about ways to cut sugar intake for both of us. The reason we'd have too much sugar is laziness, there, I've said it. I would buy things without looking at the sugar content, I would grab a bar of chocolate rather than a a piece of fruit or veg, I would eat out when out and about in town. Now I check every single label, time consuming but I'm getting to know which options are better for us. I prepare fruit in advance for snacks, I make up a bowl of fresh fruit every single morning (it only takes 5 minutes) into a fruit cocktail - then when we feel like a snack we scoop some into a bowl. I make sandwiches to take with us when we're in town, I know they are sugar free and it also saves lots of money. No more excuses from me!

Would love to cut down on sugar for my poor wee teeth's sake - staying away for overprocessed food for a starter

I have recently tried to cut down on refined sugar as I think I've eaten much more since having children. We don't have a lot of processed food but do have yoghurts/ice-cream for pudding in the week and home made puddings at weekends. I do cut the sugar in baking recipes by 1 third without noticing any difference. I wouldn't use sugar substitutes as I don't like the idea of having chemicals - no better then sugar! We eat plenty of fruit and try to ensure healthy snacks for DC (though DH will give them chocolate/sweets - I don't buy them and try to get rid of them if he gets them, it's a bit of a bone of contention between us as he was brought up on sugary cereals and lemonade...)

I don't think sugar is a problem if you don't have too much of it, but these days there is so much added to processed foods, it's difficult to know just how much you are eating. So I think it beneficial to cut it out, or use a substitute where possible.

I have for the last five days cut out white sugar. I have tried to stick to three meals a day. Am struggling to find tasty mid morning snacks. Finding it hard as am craving biscuits and stodgy puddings.
At home I am trying to get the kiddies involved in helping me cook the meals from scratch. Am shocked at how much sugar is in everything.

I've been thinking about giving up sugar in a bid to lose some weight. Chocolate is my biggest weakness.

Well we have stopped buying sugar and replaced it with sweetener

I have been on a major change of diet since Xmas and i've tried to reduce sugar in my diet.

My biggest weakness is fizzy pop, so I changed to things like Diet versions and no sugar. However personally, i feel these taste much sweeter and I did not like them.

It really is surprising how much sugar is in the simplest of things. I try to make things myself now, then i know how much sugar my family is having.

I've cut out sugar in drinks, but am struggling to cut out sweet foods. I need to lose at least 2 stone though so do need to try harder!

I have tried to cut back on sugar, find it very hard! lol, but try to use alternative's i.e. a little bit of honey in my porridge or coconut oil in baking which seems to make cakes a little sweeter so I use less sugar