Sep 05, 2025

Hidden Sugar Bombs in Your Everyday Diet

Aanya Mehta

Breakfast Cereals

Even cereals marketed as “whole grain” can be sugar traps. Some contain 10–15 g of added sugar per serving, and certain kids’ cereals can be over 50% sugar by weight, often comparable to a glazed doughnut.

Source: The Foodie Diary/ unsplash

Flavoured Yoghurt

Many flavoured yoghurts pack a hidden punch of 15 to 25 g of sugar per 6-ounce serving, often more than half the daily limit for women. Opting for plain yogurt lets you add fresh fruit and control the sweetness.

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Ketchup and Sauces

Condiments like ketchup can hide 10 to 15 g of added sugar per 100 g, and sauces like BBQ or sweet chili often contain even more. Over a year, this “invisible” sugar can add up to 20 kg.

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Low Fat Food

Removing fat often pushes manufacturers to add sugar for flavor. For example, low-fat yogurts can contain 15–22 g of sugar, compared to just 4 to 6 g in full fat versions.

Source: healthline/ unsplash

Canned Fruit

Canned or packaged fruits, especially those in syrup or juice, and dried fruits, especially when sweetened can dramatically increase sugar intake despite being perceived as healthy.

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Salad Dressings

A simple two tablespoon serving of sweet vinaigrettes or creamy dressings can contain 5 to10 g of sugar, nearly the daily limit in just one pour.

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Store Bought Smoothies

Granola or energy bars and ready made smoothies often contain sweeteners like honey, syrups, or juices, transforming what feels like a healthy choice into high sugar snacks.

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What does it mean?

It’s easy to exceed sugar limits without realizing: the average person consumes about 71 g (17 tsp) of added sugar daily, far above recommended amounts (25 g for women, 36 g for men).

Source: The Foodie Diary/ unsplash

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