The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 10 percent of daily calorie needs. That's about 12 teaspoons (48 grams of added sugar) on a 2,000-calorie diet. But for kids — especially little kids, who may only need 1,200 to 1,400 calories per day — it's even less. For them, added sugars should not top 7 or 8 teaspoons (30 to 35 grams of added sugar). You can focus on reducing added sugars by limiting products that contain them.
Common Sources of Added Sugars
Some sources of added sugars are easy to spot, such as:
-Sugary beverages (soda, fruit punch, sweet coffee and energy drinks)
-Sugary cereal
-Candy and chocolates
-Flavored yogurt
-Baked goods such as cakes, pastries and cookies
However, added sugars can hide in some surprising places, including:
-Whole-grain cereals and granola
-Instant oatmeal
-Frozen foods
-Granola bars, protein bars and cereal bars
-Pasta sauce
-Dried fruit, canned fruit, applesauce and fruit juices
-Baby food
-Barbecue sauce, ketchup, salad dressing and other condiments
This information can be found on the new and improved nutrition label.