How to Cut Sugar - Cooking Light

Photo: Iain Bagwell

You may not have this person's sweet tooth, but being sugar savy can still yield big savings. By Phillip Rhodes

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Cut Back on Hidden Sugar

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Follow along with one of our editors as he finds sugar hiding in the most unlikely (and, at times, likely) places.

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5:30 A.M.

6 Grams Sugar in Sweetened Vanilla Soy Milk

Photo: Iain Bagwell

So long, sweetened vanilla soy milk. Hello, unsweetened.

Savings in a cup: -6g

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5:32 A.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Try a bowl of Cheerios instead of the more heavily sweetened flake and cluster combo kind.

- 13g

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7:45 A.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Use 1 sugar packet instead of 2 in my coffee. Not much of a savings, actually.

-3g

7:46 A.M.
Had a good morning workout, but not good enough to burn off a slice of reduced-fat coffee cake. Skip it.

-40g

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12:00 P.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Order a large half-sweet/half-unsweet iced tea with my deli sandwich.

-17g

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12:03 P.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Resist the cookie, grab a banana. Fruit has sugar, too, but it comes with other good-for-you stuff.

-14g

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3:15 P.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

If the office-fridge thieves haven't hit, there's a Greek yogurt waiting for me—with blueberries instead of honey.

-13g

4:30 P.M.
Who calls a meeting at 4:30? Resist temptation to dip into mood-boosting mini candy bar supply.

-7g

6:15 P.M.
Headed to potluck cookout. Glad I made coleslaw with my own vinaigrette instead of buying ready-made.

-5g

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6:45 P.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Margarita from a mix? I'll just have a beer. Only 0.32g in 12 ounces.

-22g

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7:30 P.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

BBQ! Avoid extra sauce on the sandwich: Sugar is the first ingredient in many sauces.

-8g

7:31 P.M.
Skip the molasses-y baked beans.

-13g

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8:30 P.M.

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Cut the caramel sauce from an already-sweet treat.

-27g

1 CUP SUGAR SAVED!

728 CAL. TOTAL!

Replay gallery

Cut 1 Cup Sugar in 1 Day

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Cut Back on Hidden Sugar

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5:30 A.M.

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5:32 A.M.

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7:45 A.M.

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12:00 P.M.

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12:03 P.M.

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3:15 P.M.

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6:45 P.M.

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7:30 P.M.

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8:30 P.M.

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Cut 1 Cup Sugar in 1 Day

1 of 11

Cut Back on Hidden Sugar

2 of 11

5:30 A.M.

3 of 11

5:32 A.M.

4 of 11

7:45 A.M.

5 of 11

12:00 P.M.

6 of 11

12:03 P.M.

7 of 11

3:15 P.M.

8 of 11

6:45 P.M.

9 of 11

7:30 P.M.

10 of 11

8:30 P.M.

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