The surprising amount of sugar in foods we think are healthy

We all know that certain foods are high in sugar but there are plenty of foods that are high in sugar that may surprise you.  Nutritionist Elsa Jones showed us some of the foods that are high in hidden sugars and how we can take them out of our diet! You can watch the video above to hear more about the amount of sugar we might not know that we are eating. 

She said that “we are rewarding ourselves with sweet treats on a daily basis, and let’s be honest, for a lot of people more than once a day”. The World Health Organisation now recommends that we all cut our sugar intake in half which is easier said than done.

These foods that a lot of us think of as healthy are actually high in sugar. A bowl of granola cereal contains a shocking four teaspoons of sugar; low-fat yoghurt contains three teaspoons, while a low-fat ready meal has a massive five teaspoons of sugar per portion! For contrast a can of soft drink has nine teaspoons of sugar in it!

Elsa said that “a good way to gauge how much sugar is contained in a processed food is to remember that one teaspoon of sugar weighs four grams” and goes on to say that her book Goodbye Sugar has “practical ways for people to be more savvy about sugar”. 

One of those ways is to balance a plate with one-quarter being taken up by protein, one quarter by carbohydrates (potatoes etc.) and half the plate being taken up with healthy vegetables. She also pointed out this recipe for a genuinely sugar-free granola as a way of lowering your sugar intake.

¼ cup coconut oil

1 cup oats
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup chopped almonds (you can chop them in a food processor or use a knife)
½ cup ground flaxseed
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract (I use both)
pinch of sea salt

Makes approx. 12 servings

1 Preheat the oven to 190°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper or grease lightly with coconut oil.
2 Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan and set aside.
3 Place all of the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Make a well in the middle and add the melted coconut oil. Mix thoroughly until everything is lightly coated with the oil.
4 Divide the granola evenly between the two trays and spread out in a thin layer. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until lightly toasted and golden. Stir halfway through to avoid burning.
5 Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
6 Serve with milk or natural yoghurt. It’s also delicious served with fresh berries, grated apple or sliced pear.

Tip: Take care not to overcook as these ingredients burn easily and will taste bitter if cooked too long. I find that the baking tray that’s placed on the lower shelf of the oven cooks a little quicker than the one on the upper shelf, so I take it out a couple of minutes earlier. You might need to do the same.

Elsa’s book Goodbye Sugar contains thirty sugar-free recipes and tons of advice on how to beat your sugar cravings! Goodbye Sugar is available now and costs €16.99