Biscuits, flavoured milk, packaged juices and breakfast cereals are common in many households.
But some products marketed for children contain significant amounts of added sugar.
Understanding food labels can help parents make more informed choices.
What is added sugar?
Added sugar is sugar included during food preparation or manufacturing.
It may appear on ingredient lists as sugar, glucose syrup, fructose or other sweeteners.
Naturally occurring sugars in whole fruit and plain milk are different from added sugars.
Foods worth checking
Pay attention to sugar content in:
Packaged breakfast cereals.
Flavoured yoghurt.
Packaged fruit drinks.
Biscuits and snack bars.
Flavoured milk.
Sweetened breakfast mixes.
For children younger than two years, foods and drinks with added sugars should be avoided. cdc.gov
What can parents offer instead?
Try whole fruit instead of juice.
Choose plain curd with fresh fruit rather than sweetened yoghurt.
Offer homemade snacks such as idli, chilla or vegetable poha.
Water is a good everyday drink.
For older children, occasional sweets can fit within an overall healthy diet. The goal is to build balanced habits rather than create fear around food.
💚 Earlyhood Parent Tip
Read the ingredient list before buying packaged food.
Don’t assume a product is healthy just because its packaging mentions children, growth or nutrition.
Sources: CDC – Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit; ICMR–NIN Dietary Guidelines.