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

When I feel cravings for sugar or carbohydrates in general I ask myself if I'm really hungry or just stressed, often it's the latter. In that case, something small and nourishing to eat and some relaxation is in order.

I'm trying out lots of alternatives to sugar. Stevia - not keen on the aftertaste. Coconut palm nectar - tastes lovely. Maple syrup - 25% less calories. Just ordered some date syrup to try. I do think cutting out refined sugar is healthier.

I gave up sugar in tea years ago. I use self-control regarding sweets/cakes/biscuits. I don't bake cakes. It's really not difficult.

If I eat more, I move around more.

Sorry, but I detest the taste of sweeteners so would never use them.

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

I've cut way down on my sugar after reading the Sarah Wilson I Quit Sugar book. I did it properly last Spring but found it a little restrictive so have just cut way down. Had a major relapse in the run up to and over Christmas though, so am trying to get back into it now, although having some sugar at the weekends (probably too much tbh).

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

I gave up chocolate for Lent last year. After Easter ate way too much again and realised how rubbish it made me feel. Also wanted to lose some weight. I think the biggest tip is to remember how much better I feel without sugar. I feel generally more awake and sleep better. I've also cut way back on white carbs and can really feel the difference if I have a sandwich for lunch (sorry, don't like brown bread!). If find Nakd bars are pretty good for a more healthy treat although not perfect as there is a lot of sugar in the dried fruit.

We cut down on sugar almost by accident. Our diet was reasonably healthy but I decided to cook from scratch as much as possible and have fruit, crackers, etc as snacks rather than sweets and biscuits. It's not that we don't have the occasional sweet dessert or piece of cake but we do now really notice that things like ready meals, shop bought pizzas, some drinks, even some brands of baked beans are actually really sweet and not that nice, so we actually don't want them and are avoiding the hidden sugars in foods.

I would like to eat less sugar, but I have a very sweet tooth which makes it very difficult! And, according to an article I read today, that is all my mother's fault! Apparently we crave what our mothers ate while we were in the womb. I wish I had known that whilst I was pregnant!

I would use sweeteners more, except I have a negative view of them. Whether this is fair or not, I'm not really sure. But my perception is that they are harmful. If there was more information about their safety, or alternatively, if there were totally natural sweetners available, that would be great!

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

No. I think it is the latest "fad". I eat anything, and just about everything, in moderation. Same for DC and DH.

2. Do you have any tips/tricks you have for helping to beat sugar cravings?

I do have sugar cravings now and again, which I think are hormonal (early menopause in my case). I just have a bar of chocolate, then drink gallons of green tea to keep myself occupied so I don't go out and buy more chocolate...

I would never use an artificial sugar alternative. I do use maple syrup, honey etc. as alternatives sometimes though.

My husband was told 6 months ago that he was in danger of Diabetes if he didn't moderate his 'sugar' intake.
We both instantly started using sweeteners in Tea,coffee & even in our porridge.
We Haven't bought a bag of sugar in six month's, we buy low calorie drinks & are always checking the sugar content of our foods.
TBH We have not missed it one bit & we can have the occasional guilt free treat as a 'reward for our otherwise 'good' diet.

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

Yes, I noticed I was crashing and getting headaches due to my sugar intake.

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

Replace sugar with sweetener, also I have stopped buying low fat products as these as laden with sugar, read the labels!

I have stopped taking sugar in tea and coffee also i am reading food labels a lot more we do not want our son to eat any extra sugar.The sugar in pasta sauces is a disgrace and should be made illegal.

1. Yes I now eat a lot more sugar.

1. I haven't given it up completely, but instead use honey if I really need a sweet tea or something. I would never use sweetner, they're chemicals that I don't want in my diet. Natural is always best.

My weakness if chocolate so, after reading Davina McCall's recent diet overhaul, I've been inspired to try and reduce my sugar intake (it's a work in progress shall we say!). I do try to offer more natural snacks for my DDs rather than sweets and chocolates, but they do have sugary cereals so I need to try and cut down on those.

I joined Slimming World on January 7th and have given up sugar! I use Canderel in my hot drinks and in my cooking.....I'm using it as I type in a spaghetti bolognese sauce to counter the bitterness of the tomatoes. And, I found out yesterday about a Slimming World recipe for donuts!! Apparently, you take a wholewheat roll, poke a hole in it, pop in 1/2 a teaspoon of jam, spray the roll a squirt of Butter flavour fry light and coat lightly with granulated Canderel. Then pop the roll in the oven for 10s minutes and , hey presto, a diet donut!!! I'm trying them tomorrow. Yep, giving up sugar is hard but Canderel helps!!

*less sugar

I've actually used sweetener since I was a child & continued to do so into my adult life. I use it in my baking too so thaat cookies & cakes are healthier.

I do now eat less sugar on a fat and calorie controlled diet and have lost all my baby wait each time and I've had for children

1. I've tried to cut back on sugar recently as I have a huge family history of diabetes and I am concerned about my health.

1. I use sweeteners for my coffee and tea, because while I'm happy to cut back a bit on sugar..... I still need my caffeine!!!

We have all cut down on sugar - but my daughter just hasn't noticed yet.
If i make the drinks she only gets half a spoon instead of one.
Its only if she KNOWS she plays a face.

Also cook more fruit cakes/ pies then you don't need the sugar as the fruit will sweeten it anyway - i have had no complaints yet!!

I do still buy sugar but only unrefined organic sugar anyway.

I no longer buy fizzy pop of any kind, only small bottles of water or natural juice drinks.

We used to only have mainly apples, oranges bananas in the fruit bowl - where now we have a much wider choice. I have now added kiwi, grapes, mango etc so we all pick at that instead. :)

its so had to reduce sugar, im trying to make everything from scratch, sauces etc and have taken sugar out of my tea etc.

My attempts to eat less sugar involved substituting sugar for sweetener and trying to eat things that were sweet but healthy, such as fruit and fat free yoghurt. Of course, then I fell pregnant and it all went out of the window because all I wanted was chocolate and ice cream. I am paying for that now with 8 weeks to go and being the size of a small country.

Oh well, hopefully I will find the motivation to get started again once baby is born.

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

Yes as my new years resolution

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

Im drinking alot more water and fruit tea (green tea with salted caramel is amazing) instead of squash and tea which i really enjoy, and im also not buying sugary treats for the house and buying more fruit to replace, not quite as satisfying but it makes a sugary treat alot more like something to look forward to!!

I have been trying to eat less suger as I don't think it offers you anything nutritionally, although I believe in moderation.

I am conscious of the amount of sugar my children would like versus what I think is acceptable and try and limit juice or squash to occasional treats and have water a usual drink. I am much more aware of hidden sugars now and always check lables to see what I am eating.

In terms of replacing sugar, I distrust artificial sweetners and may try and use something like fruit (e.g. banana) to sweeten things or just moderate the amount I eat. I try to eat as naturally as possible, rather than low-fat or low-sugar as think these can be misleading in terms of health. We would all do a lot better to focus on avoiding processed food.

I am constantly trying to eat less sugar.

The reason why is the link to obesity, illness and diabetes however I do struggle with sugar cravings especially mid afternoon when my energy dips. I try to combat this by eating fruit and having some nuts and seeds but still find it really hard not to reach for something sugary.

I do think about the amount of sugar in our diets, and am aware it is too much, but haven't done much about it. I don't like the taste of artificial sweeteners when I am baking so always use sugar. We should eat less biscuits and cakes, and the DCs and DH love sweets, but we only have them as 'dessert' after a healthy meal. They are not allowed sweets at school.
My tips for beating sugar cravings - put chocolate in the fridge because then I don't see it as I walk past the shelf so don't have any. DH was bringing snacks into the sitting room of an evening so now have got him eating liquorice which I hate so am not eating any.