Chocolate Myths

Chocolate or sweets are great for a mid-afternoon energy snack.

Fact: Refined sugar is found in foods such as confectionary and soft drinks and with fat in sweet biscuits, cakes, ice-cream and chocolate. The kilojoules from sugar and fat are easily absorbed into the bloodstream and if they're not used in physical activity, they're converted to body fat. Many foods high in sugar and fat contribute little to our overall nutritional needs and they should be used as 'occasional' foods rather than everyday items. The "energy burst" we get from sugary foods and drinks also tends to be quite short lived - compared to the long-lasting energy we receive from carbohydrates in wholegrains, fruit, milk and yoghurt. We don't actually need any refined sugar and most adults should restrict their daily intake to no more than 40-50g. Children and those who need to lose weight should have even smaller quantities. 

Fresh ideas for reducing refined sugar:

• For a healthy, naturally sweet dessert, warm some fresh blueberries and raspberries and serve over low fat plain yoghurt with a sprinkling of cinnamon.
• Drink iced water with a slice of lemon or lime instead of soft drinks or cordials.
• Add banana or stewed fruits to your morning cereal instead of sugar. Simply slice up some peaches, apples and pears and boil for a few minutes until soft. Drain excess water and add nutmeg for extra spice. 
• In cooler months, add sultanas and chopped banana to porridge for added sweetness.