Morning Sugar Facts Washington DC

Provided By:

(NC)-A recent survey revealed that the average Canadian consumes six teaspoons of sugar in the morning - that's half of the World Health Organization's maximum daily recommended intake! The consumed sugar is often hidden in common breakfast items like bagels and jam and when added to coffee and tea. The survey, commissioned by Splenda, also found that people who consumed high or very high levels of sugar in the morning are more likely to experience afternoon sugar cravings, seek out sweets after dinner and have less energy when they wake up compared to those who consume lower amounts of sugar.

While six teaspoons may not seem like a lot, keep in mind that each teaspoon (4g) of sugar contains 15 calories. If someone has two cups of coffee with two teaspoons of sugar every day that could add up to six extra pounds in a year. With nearly 94 per cent of Canadians claiming they regularly eat breakfast and 80 per cent saying they eat it at home, Splenda has developed some quick and easy recipes at www.splenda.ca that will help start your day off with a smile. Check out the tips below for help on making healthier, but tasty, breakfast choices.

Look at labels. Pay attention to nutrition information to see how much sugar is already in your food before adding more (4g sugar = 1 teaspoon).

Sweet swap. Consider swapping your sweetened fruit bottom yogurt for a plain yogurt with a handful of berries instead. Pre-sweetened yogurt can contain up to 6 teaspoons (0 to 24 g) of sugar per serving.

Try Toast. If you're a bagel fan in the morning, try trading it for whole grain toast. Bagels contain approximately two teaspoons of added sugar and that's before the addition of peanut butter or jam.

Coffee time. The average Canadian has two cups of coffee in the morning with about 1.5 teaspoons in each cup. For those that enjoy sweetened coffee, try an easy swap like replacing sugar with a sweetener such as Splenda.

Jam session. Trade in high-sugar jams for a reduced-sugar option to get the sweet flavour with fewer calories.

- News Canada