Hidden Sugars To Be Aware Of
Have you ever stopped to think how much sugar is in a cup of milk? How about eating tomato sauce in your pasta? Forget the obvious bad guys like cake and soda–you already know about those. It’s the seemingly-healthy staples to watch out for…..it might just surprise you how much sugar we intake even though we felt we consumed a “healthy meal”
The Worst Offenders:
1: Oatmeal
Oatmeal, which is naturally low in sugar, makes a very healthy breakfast if you dress it up with nuts and fruit. But the pre-packaged, flavored variety is often packed with loads of added sugar.
1 packet = up to 15 grams
2: Protein Bars
Protein is a smart snack option because it keeps you full longer than carbohydrates. But protein bars can be problematic because they’re sometimes filled with sugar to make them taste better. Unsalted almonds or peanuts are a healthier choice. One bar = 15 grams
3: Salad Dressing
This is a tricky one. Salad dressing, especially the low-fat variety, can contain a lot of sugar. Opt for vinegar or lemon juice with olive oil instead.
1 tablespoon of low fat French dressing = 6 grams
4: Granola
Granola gets a bad rap for being fattier than many people realize. But it often comes coated with tons of sugar, too.
1 cup = 24 grams
You probably know whole milk contains saturated fat, but all milk contains sugar. Pair it with sugary cereal or oatmeal and you could be in for one heck of a morning sugar crash. (And don’t even ask us about sugary milk drinks.)
1 cup of skim milk = 12 grams of sugar
Adding a pinch of sugar to marinara sauce is a common trick cooks use to cut the acid from the tomatoes. But packaged varieties take this practice too far, stuffing jars with tons of corn syrup because it thickens the sauce–and is therefore cheaper to make. 1/2 cup = 10 grams
7: Iced Tea
In its natural state, tea contains no sugar. The trouble begins with the sweetened varieties that come in those familiar glass or plastic bottles–some have almost as many grams of sugar as a Coke.
1 20-ounce bottle = 56 grams
8: Dried Fruit
Fruit naturally has a lot of sugar, but some food companies insist on dusting it with even more. 1/4 cup = 18 grams
There’s a reason ketchup goes so well with salty french fries–the sweetness from the sugar it contains balances the flavor. (The same is true for barbecue sauce.) 1 ounce = 6 grams
10: Sports Drinks
Maybe you’ve heard that sports drinks contain sugar. But think of it like this: one drink has 310 calories. A 150 pound person would have to run for 3 miles to burn that off. Kind of reduces the benefit of working out, huh?
12 ounces = 42 grams