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Satisfying Sweets Without The Extra Sugar

Being mindful of added sugar consumption helps maintain health and prevent potential chronic disease.  The US government's 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) daily recommended limits for added sugar are 6 teaspoons or less per day for children age 2-19 and for adult women and 9 teaspoons or less per day for adult men.  

So how can you satisfy that sweet tooth and stay within the guidelines? Our Vail Health dietitian Annegret Kessler offers three tips:

Tip #1 
Eat your fruit, don’t drink your fruit! Most fruit beverages are not 100% fruit juice and whole fresh fruit provides fiber which juice does not. Whole fresh fruit is also high in water content and can aid in hydration on hot summer days.

Tip #2
Create your own soda without the sugar. According to the most recent National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 47% of added sugars in the American diet come from sweetened beverages.  Did you know there are 9 teaspoons of sugar in a 12 ounce can of soda? That is equal to or exceeds the maximum amount of sugar that is recommended for healthy eating in one day. Annegret recommends making your own soda with this simple recipe.

Recipe: Soda Base, Serving  Size = 1 Cup

• ¼ Cup Frozen Fruit Concentrate or Homemade Concentrate
• Raspberry Ginger Lime
• ¼ cup raspberries
• ½ lime, sliced
• 1 tsp sliced fresh ginger
• 3 fresh mint leaves    
• 1 Teaspoon Simple Syrup
• ¾ Cup Seltzer Water
  *(Recipe from Diabetic Living, Summer 2018)

Tip #3
Remake Your Scoop! Don’t miss out on the hot summer night bowl of ice cream. Choose ice cream with less than 15 grams of sugar Per- Half Cup Portion

• Edy’s Slow Churned Mint Chocolate Chip, (13 grams of sugar)
• Breyers Delights Cookies and Cream, (9 grams of sugar)
• Halo Top Sweet Sherbet, (5 grams of sugar)

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About Vail Health's Food And Nutrition Department
(970) 479-5058
 
The mission of Vail Health's Food and Nutrition department is to improve patients' lives through quality nutritional care and expert education. We provide our in-patients with wholesome, nourishing and well-balanced meals that enhance their treatment and recovery. In addition, our goal is to educate patients on nutrition and health to help them make good decisions and maintain a healthy lifestyle.