We are currently advised to eat no more than 5 teaspoons of sugar a day but most of us are consuming way more than that, one can of fizzy drink alone can contain up to 9 teaspoons of sugar. And sugar is not just found in the obvious places, it is literally everywhere, in processed foods, cook in sauces, low fat products, alcohol, plus of course the sugar we physically add to drinks, cereals, puddings etc. Do you know how much you are consuming?

Sugar is literally creating havoc within our bodies, increasing insulin production, causing dangerously high blood sugar levels which hugely affect our energy levels, it’s just exhausting. Not only is it increasing obesity levels across the globe, it is increasing cases of type II diabetes, which if left unchecked can be fatal. Not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, but this is serious stuff.

Don’t get me wrong I love a slice of cake or a biscuit but treat it as a treat and not a habit and you are half way there. I get my sugar kicks mostly from natural sugars and have a treat once in a while. I found it almost impossible to give up sugar in tea but far easier to give up the tea so that is what I did!

Here are some of my top ten sugary snack alternatives that keep my energy levels balanced throughout the day and my weight in check, some are sweet, some are not but they all hit the spot at the right time.

1. Mashed banana sprinkled with chopped walnuts or flaked almonds

2. No cook flapjacks or other sugar free tray bake

3. A few chunks of good quality, very dark chocolate 70-85%

4. Homemade hummus and vegetables sticks, I know this is not sweet but it usually hits the spot just as well and is full of protein

5. Oat cakes with almond/cashew nut butter and topped with sliced banana

6. A handful of unsalted nuts and raisins

7. Fruit Leather, easy to make dehydrated fruit snack

8. Chunks of crunchy apple spread with a nut butter of your choice

9. Peanut butter and celery sticks

10. Soya milk hot chocolate made with good quality hot chocolate like Green and Blacks, sweeten with Xylitol.*

Jamie Oliver is on a crusade to educate people about excess sugar, not only did he air an amazingly eye opening documentary last year called ‘Sugar Rush’ but he has added a sugar tax on all sugary and fizzy drinks sold in his restaurants. He has also started a petition, which has got over 150,000 signatures on it, meaning the government had to consider it for debate. If you feel strongly about this then please visit this website and sign the petition too.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/106651

I could rattle on for another 2 or 3 pages about why not to eat sugar but hopefully this is enough to get you started on your own campaign to…..

….EAT LESS SUGAR!

*Xylitol is similar to Stevia, but has less of an after taste, they are both plant based natural sweeteners which have a less dramatic effect on the body. Xylitol is also known to reduce tooth decay, which is something ordinary sugar definitely does not do!