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

As others have, I am becoming more aware of hidden sugars, in pasta sauces etc. We are trying to reduce processed foods used in the house and using less on cereals etc

I have cut down on sugar by avoiding desserts and I have stopped buying juice.

have started using agave syrup in coffee

yes ive cut down on my sugar over the past year.. I swapped to sweetners and cannot tell the difference. I also check the sugar contents in food and will go with the option that has less or natural sweetners

I haven't been eating any sugar (unless natural in fruit ect) for about 6 weeks and have felt so healthy but it's been hard at times. Good job too because we had the shock of our lives last Thursday finding out I am expecting our third. Not planned and on the pill!! Good job I was being so healthy. xx

Ive switched to sweetener in my coffee, I used to have 2 sugars, and Ive lost half a stone since. I try to eat dark chocolate, Im trying to show my kids that we need less sugar, from everything I buy I always go for the less sugar option.

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

I started in December, just to feel healthier.

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

I wanted to have more energy and feel better about myself. The only thing I found that helped was using an app that you enter everything you eat each day, and the results were very surprising! Just showed how many foods you might think are healthy still have a lot of sugar. That app shocked me and I find it easier to avoid such things now.

I had a headache for a month when i stopped having sugar in my tea and drinking coke. Just have sweetner now and much prefer it

I don't really find it to hard. My husband and I are slowing cutting down bit by bit on the sugar levels. If you do it slowly, and read all packaging, I can be done.

I have been trying to cut down on my sugar intake recently as part of trying to lose some weight ready for my wedding in January. I'm finding it really difficult because I have a bad reaction to the artificial sweetener aspartame which is used in most sugar-free & diet alternatives to sugar & foods that are usually sugary so I've been trying to eat more in the way of natural sugars, like from fruit for instance, rather than my usual chocolate bars. I'm finding it most difficult though with my cups of tea - I love a good cup of tea but it's just not the same without sugar!! Because this thread was started with a question from Canderel I thought I'd have a look at their website & have found that they've just started a new range - Canderel Green, which uses natural plant sugars instead of aspartame which would be perfect for me!! So thank you Canderel, I now have something new to try so I can start really enjoying my tea again!!!

I have been making an effort to eat less sugar, I have also started baking adding banana and sometimes beetroot to my cakes instead of the full measurement of sugar - beetroot sounds weird, but try it, you'll be surprised.

I'm type 2 diabetic and canderell is the only make i'll use because its the only one that for me doesnt have a nasty after taste. I have struggled and continue to struggle with limiting my sugar intake as my body seems to constantly crave it. I have been successful in only using canderell in hot drinks but i am always struggling to resist sweet things in general in an attempt to lower my blood sugars. Cooking for a family also brings its own problems as it leads to even more temptation. I continue to struggle daily but hope to lower my sugar intake as time goes on.

I've tried to stop eating sugar but it's so difficult to avoid added sugars in foods, even ones you don't expect to have any sugar in.

I didn't think I had any kind of problem with sugar until I started the 5:2 diet and then I discovered that what I craved most on diet days was sweet food. I don't deny myself sweet foods at other times but try to go for fresh fruit rather than products containing refined sugar.

we spend more time looking at ingredients rather than just price for prepared foods, but still allow treats like homemade cakes

I found it hard to cut out sugar at first but now I'm used to it, I find that just a teaspoon in my tea is horrible! I found it fairly easy to find products that are sugar free, particularly if you look at supermarket own brands or budget brands. These, surprisingly have a sugar substitute or a lot less sugar than well known brands. When I'm baking, I use a sugar substitute and no one has noticed any different.

I have cut out sugar in tea and coffee. It took a while to get used to the taste but I think it is better than replacing the sugar with artificial sweeteners.

I am also trying to cook more from scratch to avoid all the added salt and sugar.

I dont drink tea or coffee and have never touched anything fizzy in my life....however my biggest vice is sweets and chocolate! I have started to eat dark chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage as it contains less sugars.

I took the drastic step of cutting out puddings and sweets completely - I have yoghurt or fruit instead. Wasn't as hard as it sounds

Reducing our sugar intake is a work in progress in this house! I start with the best of intentions to completely abstain from it and arm myself with an ample supply of fruit to provide some natural sweetness.....Sadly I fall off the wagon with little provocation.....

i try....but i like cakes, sweets and chocolate too much :(

I have started Slimming World so it is essential to give up sugar, I honestly SWEAR by Canderel and have found it irreplaceable in my diet.
I am not a hot drinker but I do have a sweet tooth and have found that Slimming World Pancakes sprinkled with Canderel really hit the spot.
Drinks wise, I have swapped from the full fat fizzy drinks that I usually have and have now moved onto sugar free diet drinks such as lemonade (Coca-Cola and Pepsi just don't taste good in diet).
I don't normally have breakfast either but have started to have Weetabix with Canderel and Hot Milk and its so scrummy and filling I don't think I will go back to not eating breakfast again!

I find it hard. I have tried to cut down as much as I can but it's a tough battle.

1. Yes I have been thinking about cutting out sugar. It's something I am going to start working on, finding alternatives such as natural sugar honey

1. I want to quit sugar to be healthier, I have cut down my sugar in coffee, I didn't take that long to get used to it, I was quite surprised at how fast I got used to the change. My weakness is cakes, I love baking so need to find alternatives for this.

Have cut sugar out of all my hot drinks and I drink a lot between 10-15 a day :0)