Most kids get more than their fair share of sweets, so it's not
surprising that a recent study by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture found that, on average, preschoolers eat 15
teaspoons of added sweeteners (such as sugar, honey, or
fructose) a day -- that's 9 teaspoons more than they should. The
main sources of these sweeteners in their diets: soda, fruit
drinks, cookies, and candy, says Joanne Guthrie, Ph.D., lead
author of the study. Nutritionists warn that too much sugar can
lead to cavities and obesity, and possibly increase the risk of
heart disease. Plus, sweets usually contain few vitamins or
minerals -- and may diminish a child's appetite for more
nutritious foods. Some ways to cut back on them: SHOP SMART
Added sweeteners come in a variety of forms -- sugar, sucrose,
corn syrup, honey, maltose, dextrose, and fructose. If any of
these is one of the top three ingredients on a food label, pass
up the item or serve it sparingly. OPT FOR FRUIT JUICE Fruit and
sports drinks often pack in more added sugars