Be Sugar Smart at the Supermarket












Some sugar smart planning before you head to the supermarket can greatly reduce the amount of free sugars you add to your trolley.

The World Health Organisation recommends you should have no more than 10-14 teaspoons of sugar a day.

Be Sugar Smart

  • Don’t shop on an empty stomach, you are more likely to choose foods that are higher in sugar.
  • Write a shopping list and don’t stray from your list. Some people find smartphone apps helpful for planning their shopping. Try the Pepperplate orMealboard apps.
  • Look at the nutritional information on foods you purchase regularly. Are they high in free sugars? See our images for lower sugar alternatives.
  • If you don’t need to go into a particular aisle, avoid it. This way you are less likely to be distracted by special offers and less healthy food choices. 

Being Sugar Smart allows you to make better choices for your overall health. Understanding food labels is the ultimate tool to help you recognise how much free sugar you and your family are consuming. Download our guide to Understanding Food Labels now. Other useful resources include our Supermarket Shopping Guide and our healthy eating recipes section. Check out these resources and start to make the small simple steps to becoming Sugar Smart today. 

Small changes matter – making a few changes to the way you eat and drink can make a big difference to your health over time.

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Remember, high intakes of free sugars are associated with type 2 diabetes, dental decay, obesity and increase the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and cancers.