There are no official recommendations for the amount of sugar that's OK to eat. The USDA's Food Guide Pyramid provides suggestions based on calorie levels. According to the Food Guide Pyramid, people eating 1,600 calories per day should limit added sugar to less than 6 teaspoons per day. Those eating 2,200 calories should limit it to 12 teaspoons and those eating 2,800 calories, to no more than 18 teaspoons. Soda is fine for special occasions, but it shouldn't be an everyday beverage.
Offer beverages such as skim milk, orange juice and seltzer water.
Be a good role model. You can't expect your kids to eat fruit as a snack or drink milk with their dinner if you won't. Moderation is key. All foods can fit into a healthy diet and that includes sugary foods and beverages, as long as they don't replace foods in the diet that provide vitamins and minerals. All rights reserved.