Experts agree that some added sugar in the diet is acceptable, but many Americans are consuming sugar in mass quantities, much of it hidden in plain sight.
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day for women, 9 teaspoons for men and 3 to 6 teaspoons for children. Yet the average American consumes approximately 20 teaspoons of sugar every day. This translates into about 66 pounds of added sugar consumed each year per person, according to Sugar Science and the University of California San Francisco.
Most people associate sugar with common culprits such as candy, sweets and soda, but there are countless other products high in sugar content that go unnoticed. Sugar is often hidden in our “healthy snacks” and, with snacking on the rise, this is an increasingly important topic.
Snacking has increased significantly, with many consumers seeking multiple snacks each day instead of several large meals. Snacking jumped 47% from 2010 to 2014 and continues to trend upward, according to Today.com, with more snacking possibilities than ever in the marketplace.
“We are becoming a nation of grazing snackers as we shift away from the traditional meal times,” said James Russo, senior vice president of global consumer insights for Nielsen.
With snacking replacing traditional meals, it is imperative that shoppers recognize the nutritional profile of the foods they choose in order to limit their sugar intake. Some surprising sources of sugar include nutrition bars, which can contain up to 25 grams of sugar per serving; yogurt, which can contain up to 30 grams of sugar per serving; and granola, which can contain up to 13 grams of sugar per serving.
As consumers become more aware of hidden sugars, many are seeking high-protein, low-sugar alternatives. Meat snacks have become a popular option due to their the high protein, iron and zinc content. Due to this trend, the meat snack/jerky category has seen a big spike in sales in the past year and has grown by 46% since 2009.
“The love affair with protein keeps growing, with 50% of consumers actively looking for higher-protein foods,” said Greg O’Neal, vice president of marketing for Duke’s Freshly Crafted Smoked Meats. “With the increasing trend toward snacking, meat-based proteins are the perfect meal replacement. Here at Duke’s, we’re focused on slow-crafting smoked meats with real, whole ingredients so we can give snackers a flavorful, protein-based snack without a lot of sugar.”
While there are offerings like Duke’s that have low sugar or no sugar at all, people should be aware that some meat snacks can be high in sugar—as much 8 to 11 grams of sugar per serving or 24 to 39 grams of sugar per bag.
“Because of the high sugar content in many of the snacks on the market today, reading food labels before purchasing and comparing products can give consumers an edge on healthy eating and sensible snacking,” said O’Neal.
This post is sponsored by Duke’s Smoked Meats