Occasionally, we all go overboard with sugar. But recently, the American Heart Association told parents the sweets overload is a consistent problem and needs to be curbed.
Too much added sugar in processed foods and sweetened drinks leads to obesity, high blood pressure and even diabetes for kids.
So how much sugar should your child be eating? Experts say youngsters between the ages of two and 18 years should consume six teaspoons of added sugar daily. That’s only about 100 calories or 25 grams.
For kids under two, there should be no added sugar.
“If your child is eating the right amount of calories to achieve or maintain a healthy body weight, there isn’t much room in their food ‘budget’ for low-value junk foods, which is where most added sugars are found,” said Miriam Vos, M.D., Ms.P.H, lead author, nutrition scientist and associate professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.
