4 lower sugar grocery swaps

Tomato sauce

Whether your concern is diabetes or weight gain, it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of added sugar in your diet. Sugar is also listed on food packaging as syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose or maltodextrins, among others. (When checking the label, four grams of sugar equal one teaspoon; a teaspoon [5 mL] has 15 calories.) Here are some easy grocery swaps to help you cut back.

Swap this: No Name Original Pasta Sauce is an easy topping for weeknight spaghetti, but the amount of added sugar means that a 1/2 cup (125 mL) serving has 8 g sugar and 80 calories.

For that: No Name All-Purpose Tomato Sauce also has added sugar, but less of it; there are 6 g sugar (and 60 calories) in the same-size serving. Or, use canned tomatoes and add your own herbs for extra zing.

Applesauce

Swap this: President’s Choice Apple-Cinnamon Appletreets, with added sugar, have 17 g sugar in each 100-mL container (and 80 calories).

For that: President’s Choice Unsweetened “Just Apples” Appletreets have just 10 g sugar in the same-size container (and 50 calories). If you love cinnamon, add a sprinkle!

Soy beverage

Swap this: Natura Organic Fortified Soy Beverage Original, which is sweetened with the addition of organic cane sugar, contains 7 g sugar (and 100 calories) in a 1-cup (250 mL) serving.

For that: Natura Organic Fortified Soy Beverage Unsweetened has just 2 g sugar in the ?same-size serving (and 80 calories). Enjoy soy beverage on its own or in smoothies and other recipes.

Vegetable juice

Swap this: V8 V-Fusion Peach Mango Vegetable & Fruit Juice Blend has 28 g sugar (and 120 calories) in a 1-cup (250 mL) serving. There are no added sugars.

For that: V8 V-Fusion Peach Mango Vegetable & Fruit Blend Light has 25 percent fewer calories (90 calories), and 20 g sugar in the same-size serving. It contains no artificial sweeteners.

Related:
• 10 shocking sources of sugar
• Are you eating too much sugar?
• Quiz: How much sugar are you really eating?