It’s the most *sugary* time of the year!

Yes, this is the season for sweets, which I love, but… even my toddler is starting to understand that some foods simply aren’t good for us. He asks me often, “Mommy, does this have sugar?” Honestly, it’s a great question, because sometimes I have to do a double-take and check the ingredients.

Often I’m shocked! Foods I once thought were “healthy,” turn out to be packed with added sugars! Baby and toddler yogurts, for instance. Very high in sugar.

So as we head into the holiday season, in addition to doing a 5-6 day family cleanse diet (nothing radical, just a week of “clean eating”!), I also have some tips and tricks for reducing sugar intake during the holidays.

Go halfsies. Instead of your usual two spoons of sugar, just add one spoon. You will get used to the reduced sweetness in a few days.

Switch your sweetener. Some sweeteners are better than others. While it’s important to track your overall sugar intake, some natural sweeteners have a lower glycemic index, making them easier for your body to process out. Try switching your white sugar for coconut sugar, maple sugar, honey, or stevia sweeteners. The coconut and maple sugars especially have little to no taste alteration when used in coffee or baking.

Play a little mind trick. I changed my sugar spoon out - instead of using a regular teaspoon (like I’d use for cereal), I started using a “sugar spoon” which holds a bit less than a teaspoon. If your brain is used to the habit of two spoonfuls of sugar, you’ll still go through those motions, but you’ll be getting a smidge less with each spoonful! It’s the small things.

Make it yourself. If you must use sugar for a dessert or treat, baking from scratch will likely mean a dessert with less sugar than store-bought (and probably fewer preservatives, dyes, and other yucky stuff!). It definitely depends on what you’re baking, but homemade goodies allow you to control the sugar! (Psst, even dinner items like tomato sauces often have hidden sugars! Watch OUT!).

Reward yourself… just with something else! Instead of going for that sugar-laden mocha after a long day shopping with the kids (!), how about a new nail polish, cute accessories, or a fun magazine to read! Too often our society has trained us to reward ourselves with food, but there’s so many other inexpensive ways to “treat” ourselves.

It’s definitely hard to reduce sugar intake all at once, so above all, I’d recommend a slow-but-sure approach. Baby steps towards healthier snacking is better than going cold turkey only to give in and overdo the sweets.

Here’s to a healthy holiday!

How do you limit sugars and sweets for yourself or your family?

~Julie, A Year With Mom and Dad

Julie is a family lifestyle blogger, based in New England, who loves partnering with her hubby to wrangle and entertain two inquisitive boys. She shares food, living, and educational ideas on her blog A Year With Mom and Dad.