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 stopped having sugar in my coffee and on cereal and i do not eat sweets anymore. I started to monitor sugar in food and was very shocked at what i found

I dont worry too much about sugar per se, I think its a current fab. I eat a balanced diet and dont try to exclude anything, just exercise, still breastfeeding so need the calories lol :)

I tend to avoid eating too many sugary products not because of calories but tooth decay.

Also I tend to substitute honey or brown sugar for white sugar to beat sugar cravings, not ideal but it's a healthier alternative.

having followed slimming world for so long its kind of ingrained in my head about using sweeteners instead of sugars but I still find it very hard to avoid sugar in the few processed foods we eat such as white bread and sauces

I'd like to cut down on sugar- have just floated the idea with DH this evening but as he's sitting with a pile of midget gems (as he does every evening!) I don't think I'll be getting him on board!
I have a pretty healthy vegan diet anyway and am considering aiming for a lot more unprocessed, plant-based foods over the coming month or so. I drink quite a lot of diet drinks but would like to cut these out too as I don't think sugar substitutes are particularly healthy!
If I'm craving sugar, I tend to have a cup of tea with soy milk- I've been training myself to think of the cup of tea as the 'treat' rather than needing a biscuit etc with it. Failing that- bananas always work!

I cut it out of my coffee by reducing the spoonful a little bit at a time

I have a sweet tooth and it's pretty hard to cut it out of my diet, the artificial sweeteners taste disgusting, the only thing I don't have sugar in is my coffee, I'm not a huge fan of chocolate really either I prefer a banana or grapes

I have been trying to cut down on sugar in a big way. I could really do with some baking recipes using sugar substitutes.

I've started to make mine to food, instead of buying things. that way I know what I have put in and how much I have put in, which means I can have a more balanced diet as well as using alternative products to reduce salt and sugar etc

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?

i have been using refined sugar alternatives such as stevia, agave syrup and coconut blossom nectar when cooking and baking and try to avoid going down the treat aisle in the super market!

In my household over the last year we have gradually reduced sugar in all of our foods. I once use to take 3 sugars in my tea, now down to zero sugar, and wow it certainly tastes better.

When shopping in supermarket I have swapped our usual fizzy drinks for sugar free, and also started to make pasta sauces at home from scratch as I was shocked at how much sugar goes into a jar of pasta sauce.

I try to limit any choccie snacks to once or twice a month, if i really want a sugar fix i will go for fruit or low calorie hot chocolate.

I went cold turkey on sugar in my coffee on holiday and now cant drink it with any sugar in- did taste horrible to start with though!

I eat porridge with Candarel at breakfast and try to keep off biscuits, cakes and sweets, although I sometimes do get tempted. I find that cooking from scratch reduces sugar intake as you know what is going into your food. I gave up sugar in coffee and tea years ago, and also only frink Diet Coke.

I have been trying to stop having so much sugar as I have loads. I think if I could cut it down I would lose some weight and feel healthier.
I used to have two sugars in my tea but I have now swapped that with Canderel, there was a slight difference in taste but I have got used to that now.
I am going to start reducing it on food next.

Since joining slimming world 6weeks ago I have completely stopped having sugar in my tea and have switched to sweetener when making anything I would usually add sugar to! It was surprisingly easier to do and I feel much better for it, when I tasted a slice of my sons birthday cake 3 weeks ago I couldn't eat more than 2 bites because of how disgustingly sweet it tasted have also been a lot more conscious of how much sugar my children are having!

Eat a protein filled breakfast such as eggs to fill you up. It keeps you full so stops you reaching for the biscuits!

i have started reducing the amount in tea and coffee and try to buy products with no added sugar

Im trying to use more natural sugars in the form of fruits etc for my snacks at work instead of a sugary treat.

The only way to fight sugar "addiction" for me was quite strict low carb diet for a week. After 5-7 days of it (surprisingly) sugar cravings stop, and I don't want it that much anymore and can eat sweats etc in moderation without really limiting myself. It's kind of a way of waking up the organism to tell what it really wants and needs instead!

I've had to stop baking in the week - far too tempting for the whole family.

I have been thinking about giving up sugar both for weight loss and to see if it'd clear up my skin a bit - still get spotty even though I'm nearly 30
Finding it incredibly difficult though, the cravings I get are so strong I could cry sometimes and I also realise how much I associate sweet food with a 'treat'
Will be following this thread for all tips (and looking at buying candarel!)

I've decided to cut back on sugar without feeling like I am denying myself. I definitely think it's addictive so the weaning process will be slow. That's where candarel comes in! I've managed to reduce my sugar intake in my coffee (I need caffeine perhaps more than I need sugar!). I've swapped hidden sugars in cereals by making my own granola and I've upped my vegetable intake and reduced the fruit intake.

I am desperately trying to give up sugar - I managed for around 3 months last year and my mood, energy, skin etc all improved.
This year, I've given up sugar in hot drinks and for the last two weeks, been reasonably successful in giving up the obvious sugary foods. The key for me was to understand my cravings - for me it was always at around 5pm when I get home from work. I now know how I will deal with these usually by going and doing something else, drinking a huge glass of water or having a cup of tea.
Sugar is everywhere. I feel terrible that my DCs both eat far too much of it too.

I'm trying to eat well to show my daughter a good role model with eating habits. We have switched to no sugar squash, trying to make more food fresh and no sugar on weetabix in the mornings