Kids are consuming too much added sugar according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control. On average, 16% of daily calories consumed by American children come from sugar. The USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend that discretionary calories – solid fats and added sugars – should not exceed 5 to 15% of total caloric intake.

Added sugar, a caloric sweetener that doesn’t exist naturally in foods, comes with many different names: white sugar, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup, honey, dextrose, glucose, and molasses. Most ‘processed’ food (including many boxed, frozen, and pre-prepared foods), have added sugar. Some unexpected foods high in sugar are chicken nuggets, dried fruit snacks, granola bars, and ketchup. Continue reading →