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Healthy eating
Advice on healthy eating for all age groups, accessing free and low-cost food, and support for eating disorders.
Eat less sugar and go fizz free
Why sugar is bad for your health
Too much sugar can lead to tooth decay and weight gain. It can also reduce your ability to concentrate and learn in school.
Weight gain increases the risk of:
- heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
- stroke
- some cancers
How much sugar is OK?
Sugar should not make up more than 5% of the total energy in your diet. Children's maximum daily amount of added sugar should be:
- 4 to 6 years, 5 sugar cubes (19 grams)
- 7 to 10 years, 6 sugar cubes (24 grams)
- 11+ years, 7 sugar cubes (30 grams)
Added sugar has no nutritional value. It's just there to sweeten food and drink. It includes honey, syrups and fruit juice nectars.
Find out more about sugar and your health from the NHS
Ways to cut down sugar
The easiest way to cut down the amount of sugar in your diet is through simple swaps like:
- choosing water instead of fizzy drinks
- taking our Fizz Free February challenge to cut out fizzy drinks for the month
- checking labels and opting for food labelled with 'no added sugar'