Controlling kids sugar consumption: Tips for parents and caregivers to encourage a healthy diet

Practical advice for parents and caregivers on reducing sugar intake in children's diets in order to prevent chronic diseases and create healthy eating habits for life. Sugar refers to both naturally occurring sugar and free sugar. Naturally occurring sugar can be found in fruits, vegetables, some grains, and lactose in milk and dairy products, whereas free sugar is defined as all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer, as well as sugar naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Abhishek Chopra, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in New Delhi's Punjabi Bagh, stated, "Overconsumption of free sugar, particularly in liquid form, is linked to a variety of health conditions, both immediately and later in life. Higher sugar consumption has been associated to a greatly increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular dise