Added Sugar for Kids: How to Read the Label

Added sugar is not the sugar naturally in fruit or milk

Added sugars include sugar, syrups, honey, and other sweeteners added during processing or preparation. Total Sugars also counts naturally occurring lactose in milk and sugar in fruit. Whole fruit and plain dairy bring nutrients and should not be treated as equivalent to a sugary drink.

Use the label for comparison

Check serving size first, then grams and percent Daily Value for Added Sugars. Compare similar products using the same serving size. Current U.S. guidance recommends avoiding added sugars for children younger than 11 and minimizing them across the diet, but use that direction for routine choices—not as a reason for shame or extreme restriction.

• Water instead of sweet drinks
• Plain yogurt plus fruit
• Unsweetened cereal or oatmeal
• Lower-sugar sauces and bars
• Dessert without bargaining or punishment

Change the pattern gradually

Identify the family’s largest routine sources, especially beverages, and change one at a time. Talk about “more often” and “sometimes” choices without connecting sugar to a child’s body size, worth, or goodness.