10 tips for cutting back on sugar

Here are 10 tips to help get you started:

1. • Start small. As a first step, try decreasing the amount of sugar you add to your coffee each day.
   • Don’t drink your sugar. Opt for water instead of soda or fruit juices.
   • Eat fresh fruit. Avoid fruit canned in syrup.
   • Flavor yogurt yourself. Choose plain yogurt that’s lower in sugar and add fruit or nuts for flavor.
   • Add fruit instead of sugar. Try fresh or dried fruit in oatmeal or cereal.
   • Cut the serving back. When baking, cut the sugar by one-third to half.
   • Watch out for hidden sugar. Some packaged foods, like beans, contain more sugar than you’d think.
   • Replace it completely. Enhance foods with spices like cinnamon instead of sugar.
   • Substitute. Switch out sugar with unsweetened applesauce in recipes.
   • Try a sweetener. Use plant-based sweeteners like Stevia.