10 (easy) ways to cut out the sugar

1. Don't ban sugar altogether: Some sugar, judiciously added to wholesome foods, may make them more appetising, such as a sprinkling of brown sugar on oatmeal or a teaspoon of maple syrup on winter squash.
2. Become a careful label reader: The sugar listed on the nutrition label is a combination of the naturally occurring sugar and the added sugar. If you spot the ending '-ose' on a word, it's sugar in disguise. Examples are sucrose, glucose and fructose. Other common ingredients that are sugar in hiding include syrup, honey, brown sugar, fruit juice concentrate and high-fructose corn syrup.
3. Don't make desserts a regular part of every meal: Save them for special occasions or weekend treats. Buy breakfast cereals only if sugar is not one of the top listed ingredients.
4. Reduce the sugar called for in baking: Sugar can often be reduced by up to one-third.
5. Serve alternatives to sugar: Bagels, wholegrain muffins or tortillas can take the place of doughnuts or brownies.
6. Top cereal with fresh fruit: Fresh fruit adds natural and healthy sweetness.
7. Use fresh fruit to sweeten plain yoghurt: Puréed banana mixed with plain yoghurt is great for a toddler treat.
8. Make your own frozen treats: Just freeze 100 per cent pure fruit juices.
9. Create smoothies: Blitz plain yoghurt with banana and fresh fruits for delicious homemade smoothies.
10. Make your own soft drinks: All you need is soda water and your choice of fresh fruit juice.

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