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 use stevia in my coffee and I use half a tsp in anything that asks for a tbs of sugar and the like.

I'm not eliminating it, but I like to know what we've had it in.

I am trying to cut out sugar, Finding it really difficult as it's everywhere.

I have been gradually decreasing my sugar in coffee from 2 spoons to half a spoon.

I took part in a trial to reduce the sugar intake in my family. So yes, I want to reduce it.

The suggestions made were often to swap sugar laden items for diet products filled with aspartame.

Aspartame gives me terrible headaches, so there is no way on earth I shall be peddling this to my DC.

I would be genuinely interested in good alternatives though.

I have been thinking of cutting down on the amount of sugar I eat as I have a hugely sweet tooth and am very overweight. However, I think I need to be realistic and won't be cutting it out completely. I really don't like sweeteners, they taste 'odd'.

I'm hoping that by cutting out sugar but keeping on eating 'full fat' versions of things like yogurt (in smaller portions) will keep it manageable-but we shall see. No biscuits, cakes, sweets etc have been added to my shopping this week.

I have cut down sugar by avoiding processed food. I would never buy artificial sweeteners, or products containing them. If I wanted sweet I'd eat some sweet fruit.

I have been anti sugar since reading Robert Lustig's book about sugar and health. I do feel that we are healthier since we have reduced our intake.

I love to bake but now have a relative with diabetes so I have reduced my baking dramatically to reduce temptation (can't resist anything I bake) I would love to try using an alternative to sugar but I am not really sure where to start and whether it is swapped gram for gram etc

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

Yes, it's a constant battle. I've given it up almost completely for long periods of time but I only have to slip for a short period and then have to start all over again. It's hard, sugar is very addictive and added to a lot of things when you don't expect it to be.

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

I'm diabetic so being aware of my sugar intake is vital.

If I have a lot of sugar in my diet I can compensate with more insulin but I really notice a difference in my overall wellbeing. My skin breaks out, I feel sluggish and tired (always craving that next hit) and I gain weight very easily.

I think going cold turkey is the best way to deal with sugar and after a while you do lose the taste for it. I always use sweetener in my tea and coffee as I don't like them without. I've also experimented with using sweeteners in baking with some good results.

I think some people don't realise there are different types of sweeteners that can be used for baking.

I always keep a few sachets of sweetener in my bag for when I pop to a friends for a hot drink and they only have sugar.

Yes to cutting back on sugar and more specifically the hidden ones.

Aware that along with sugar added to foods - and classed as low fat - seems that chemicals need to be added too.

Attempting to get to food in a more basic state with fewer additives of anything.
Specifically do not buy at all fruit juices, fizzy drinks, low fat yoghurts, supermarket soups, sugary breakfast cereals or sugary boiled sweets.
Cutting back on diluting juice and use it weakly anyway.

Find that cutting out sugary snacks such as biscuits and cakes has led to a good weight loss.
Also reviewed the '5 a day' and find I'm not happy with 5 fruit a day and aim for 5 veggies instead - usually by making a pot of home made soup.

I am not a sugar addict but my hubby is, so I bake a lot reducing the amount of sugar and replacing it with an alternative often coconut.

I've not been worried about my sugar intake - maybe I should be! I don't seem to have particular sugar high/lows though. I have friends that do experience this, so obviously everyone is different.

If I was trying to cut down on sugar I'd be looking for hidden sugar in processed food and reducing amount of obviously sweet things. I would not switch to artificial sweeteners.

I understand that sugar is the latest food that is supposed to be really bad for you. I agree that it does appear in so many bought products but making your own food from scratch can help you keep in control of your sugar levels.
I opt for sugar free squash for my children and I and have recently converted to dark chocolate as it contains less sugar and a little of it gives you the sweet fix that you need.
Tesco and waitrose also sell sugar free milk and dark chocolate. I love the dark chocolate but the milk does not appeal so much.
I try to water down fresh fruit juice.
I have recently started to adjust cake recipes but simply halving the amount of sugar it suggests. My family and I have not noticed the difference yet and in most cases prefer the taste of the lower sugar cakes.

I don't think I eat an excessive amount of sugar to be honest. By snacking less generally, avoiding fizzy drink and sweets it's easy to reduce consumption. I just wish convenience foods (pasta sauces etc.) contained less sugar but don't think they need a substitute, just less of the sweet stuff.

I am confused, when people say sugar is in everything, what do they mean? Where is there sugar? I can't think of anything that I eat that would contain a processed sugar I wouldn't know was there eg obvious places such as cereals, bread, cakes and biscuits

I bake a lot and get through large bags of white sugar, icing sugar, Demerara sugar, brown sugar.

I really wouldn't switch to canderel though. Surely no one thinks that's a healthy subsitute?

We have as a family been eating less sugar and in particular for dh who has been diagnosed as diabetic.

So I've been doing things like only buying one small pack of biscuits a week instead of lots! They can have one a day if they ask. Often they don't.
baking with half the sugar or scones with raisins and just a pinch of sugar
Then using low sugar jam
Giving the kids bowls of chopped up fruit as soon as they come from school. Or crackers with cheese.
Take a banana in the car when collecting ds.
Making porridge with honey instead of sugary cereal
Or boiled eggs and toast for bf
Not using pasta sauces but making my own
Make bread which only has 1tsp sugar in it - not often tho as it gets wolfed down in about an hour!
And finally I low carb one week a month and cut out bread and anything sugary which really helps me focus on eating the right things.

That's me that low carbs not everyone else

I was out for dinner with three friends last week and one of them has completely cut our sugar since the beginning of the year. She reckons that the weight has just fallen off and that she notices 'signs' from her body that she hadn't before. She said she feels great and doesn't have cravings and that sweet things taste too overpowering now.

I do try to limit sugar intake.

I cook most things from scratch so I know what goes into them. I use lots of passata which adds sweetness (and is cheap). I've ditched breakfast cereals and I share a savoury omelette with the kids.
It also helps that Cream Eggs are now minging!

1. i have significantly reduced my sugar intake. I've dropped over 4 stone since summer last year. Low sugar and fat diet.

2. i haven't used sugar as an addition to food since childhood but do use it in cakes and bakes. I have been using sugar substitute so that I can enjoy the odd sweet treat. I make overnight oat pancakes, a slimming world originated recipe, soak 35 g oats in about 200ml fat free yogurt overnight. Mix in an egg, flavouring (lemon juice) and sweetener. Spoon blobs into a heated nonstick pan flip after about two minutes. These are lovely without anything else or with sliced fresh fruit. The sweetener makes all the difference.

A second low fat/ sugar favourite of mine is meringues. I make piped meringue kisses from 3 x egg white 90g sugar and 10g sweetener and either vanilla or orange essence. Thats half the normal sugar amount and so near half the calories. For valentines we're having pink piped low sugar hearts. A little bit of something sweet hits the spot and makes sticking to the healthy plan just that bit easier.

1. yes a bit. Mostly as I get a bit addicted to biscuits, and if I open a packet I finish itthere and then.

2. I don't take sugar in things like coffee, so as well asvknocking the biscuits on the head, I try not too eat too much processed food, it being full of sugar (and salt). Eg I'd not use a jarred pasta sauce, I'd make it myself. We no longer have cereal other than porridge or bircher muesli, I try to buy lower sugar bread or make it myself.

Our family has cut back dramatically on sugar since my husband was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I gave found the kevels of hidden sugar in some savoury foods to be incredible.

I think the less sugar you eat the less you crave but we do use sweeteners in some things such as porridge or coffee and sugar free jelly or drinks are good for a hit if you are desperate for a sweet taste!

I have been thinking about reducing the amount if sugar in my diet, but not by replacing it with sweeteners. The sugar in my diet is mainly 'hidden' sugar - sugar in foods like bread etc, rather than more obviously sugary foods.

I feel like I don't eat all that much sugar, but suspect that's me kidding myself. I do find it goes in cycles - if I get into a habit of eating chocolate/biscuits/cake then I eat more, if I can keep away I don't want it as much.

1. Luckily I have never liked sugar in tea or coffee. I also hate sugar on fruit like strawberries or raspberries.....just cream for me! But yes, in answer to the question, I am trying to cut down on sugar. I buy low sugar cordials and other drinks. I do lots of baking, but search for recipes which use less sugar of honey for sweetening. Unfortunately I do not like artificial sweeteners, and have found that drinks manufacturers assume everyone wants drinks oversweetened. I love sparkling water, but I have yet to find a flavoured one that isn't sweetened beyond belief.

1. I want to cut down for health reasons, weight, teeth etc. I find too much sugar can mask the flavour of things so by cutting down gradually, food can taste better. Other seasonings, herbs and spices can help too.

Tea tastes wrong to me with sugar but I do like a sweetener in coffee. Am happy with no added sugar squash and fizzy drinks. I use granulated sweetener when baking for diabetic Dad. I use plain yog and add low sugar jam. Definitely you lose cravings by minimising intake.

I'm actually doing a paleo/primal diet and I never have sugar anymore.

I found that doing whole30 was what I needed as it was strict and to the point. After that month, all the other months went by in a breeze. It's more than a year now and although I'm no longer strict paleo, I don't have sugar still only sweeteners.