Sugar contains lots of calories but little goodness, and eating too much of it can cause weight gain.  So it’s best to keep it to small amounts in your diet.  Sugar can also cause tooth decay - especially when you have sugary foods or drinks (including fruit juices) on their own.  It’s better to have sugary foods or drinks with a meal, or just afterwards.

Tips for cutting down on sugar in the diet:

• If you add sugar to your tea, coffee or breakfast cereal, gradually reduce the amount you add until it’s little or none
• Reduce the amount of sugar in your baking recipes
• If you eat sugary breakfast cereals, try mixing some wholegrain flakes into the bowl.  Aim to eventually switch to wholegrain cereals
• Read the labels on pre-packed foods and go for the low-sugar options
• Limit fizzy drinks.  Try unsweetened fruit juice mixed with sparkling water instead.  But keep this to mealtimes to protect your teeth
• Use fruit to sweeten things instead of syrup or jam.  Try bananas sliced on toast for breakfast, or peaches tinned in their own juice with yoghurt as a dessert
• Reduce your portions of sweet foods.  When you fancy a biscuit, have just one or two.  Buy chocolate in treat-size bars, and once your supplies run out don’t buy any more until you had next planned to