Sugar v added sugar

kjo1713

Hello

Is there some type of setting in this app that would allow me to separate added sugars from natural sugars? I’ve been looking for a simple means to track that

lemurcat2

No, not yet. Until recently labels did not have that information, and therefore the entries that have been created over time by users do not.

If you care about tracking added (or free) sugars, the best way is to just do it yourself. Obviously sugar from fruit and veg are not added, sugar in dairy isn't unless it's flavored (the label will say), and I think current labels typically do have that information now. So you can note added sugar in your comments/notes box.

Personally, when I started I'd heard that added sugar was supposedly in everything, so I tracked sugar and fiber and kept an eye on my entries to see if I was getting sugar from anything surprising (I also read labels, as I always have). I found I actually was not -- added sugar in anything but tiny quantities for me was just from foods that obviously contained it (like ice cream). I do often watch it anyway, just because I am interested, but I think for most it makes more sense to look at fiber -- if you have sufficient protein, plenty of healthy fats, and cals are on point, and you are hitting or exceeding your fiber goal without fiber supplements, your sugar is probably mostly from foods that have intrinsic sugar, like fruit and veg. Or just look over your diary to see where the sugar is coming from, again.

kshama2001

Last year I challenged myself to eat no more than 5% added sugar and tracked it in a spreadsheet. I tend to eat the same foods with added sugar, so after the first day, it took very little time.

avpoche

Thank you lemurcat2....I’ll start tracking my added sugar in the notes. Will make me feel better to see the difference. Looking forward to when MFP adds this feature. Until then, I’m set with this great suggestion!