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How to Buy Inexpensive Foods Low in Sugar

The Best Grocery Store Finds that Contains Little or no Sugar

Jan 15, 2009 L. Marie Dubuque

Sugar can sabotage anyone's diet. Cutting down on the white stuff can lead to weight loss and better health. A look at which supermarket foods you should choose.

If you're trying to cut back on sugar, you don't have to resort to a diet of tofu and rice cakes. You can find many foods that contain less sugar or are naturally sweetened. Just be sure to read the labels.

How to Choose Foods that are Low in Sugar

Be wary of labels that say "lightly sweetened." Certain breakfast cereals are notorious for high sugar content, even though manufacturers have been cutting down on those cereals marketed toward children. Still, a product labeled as "low sugar" might contain as much as 12 grams per serving! Look for breakfast foods that are sweetened with honey and other natural ingredients.
Buy fruits that are in season. Not only are they cheaper, but these treats are naturally sweetened and are packed with vitamins and nutrients. This time of year, oranges and grapefruits are plentiful, inexpensive and packed with antioxidants like folic acid.
Watch out for canned fruit. If your supermarket is running a sale and the deal is too good to pass up, make sure the canned fruit you buy isn't loaded with sugary syrup. Check the label carefully. Canned is better than no fruit at all. Just make sure you're not getting mostly syrup.
You can even cut down on treats that are notorious for high sugar content. For instance, there is a big difference between ice creams. Some have a much higher sugar and fat content than others. So if your child craves a certain flavor, buy the brand with less sugar and fat. Edy's contains a lot less sugar than other brands. Still, check the label to be sure.
Look for low sugar candies. This may not be as hard as you think. If you love the taste of chocolate, but are cutting back on sugar and calories, consider Raisinets instead of Milk Duds. You'll get the added fiber and antioxidants from the raisins, but you'll still be eating the chocolate you crave, though not as much.
Swich to fruit juices instead of soda. Just make sure the jucies are "natural" with no sugar added. Trader Joe's is a great place to find an assortment of juices that contain no additives.

Trying to cut down on the sugar in your diet isn't easy. The stuff is added to so many foods. But if you pay attention to labels and make small changes, you might be surprised at how much you can eliminate just by being aware at the grocery store. Keeping a food log of everything you eat will help you see the places you made mistakes where you're headed in the right direction.

The copyright of the article How to Buy Inexpensive Foods Low in Sugar in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish How to Buy Inexpensive Foods Low in Sugar in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Fruit is naturally sweet!