Children under 2 years should have NO added sugar (cheeni). For children 2-18 years, limit added sugar to less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day. Don't worry if your child occasionally has mithai or ice cream - the key is making healthy choices most of the time. Small changes today lead to lifelong healthy habits!
Watch: Breast Milk vs. Formula: Why Breast Milk is Best for Your Baby! #breastfeedingbenefits #babyhealth
Indian culture loves meetha (sweets) - from ladoo at celebrations to chai with extra cheeni. While occasional treats are fine, today's children are eating much more sugar than before through:
NO added sugar at all!
Still no added sugar recommended!
Maximum 4 teaspoons (16 grams) added sugar per day
This includes ALL sources:
Maximum 6 teaspoons (25 grams) added sugar per day
For reference:
| Food Item | Sugar Content |
|---|---|
| 1 cup Frooti/Maaza | 25-30g (6-7 teaspoons) |
| 1 serving Chocos | 12g (3 teaspoons) |
| 1 Britannia cake | 15g (4 teaspoons) |
| 1 cup flavored yogurt | 15-20g (4-5 teaspoons) |
| 1 glucose biscuit pack | 8g (2 teaspoons) |
| 1 Horlicks serving | 12g (3 teaspoons) |
Instead of: Chocos, Cornflakes with sugar, sweet biscuits
Give:
Instead of: Packaged biscuits, chips, chocolate
Give:
Instead of: Frooti, Maaza, cola, packaged juice
Give:
Instead of: Ice cream, chocolate, candy
Give:
A simple daily goal for children:
"Baccha kamzor hai, thoda meetha khila do"
Response: "Doctor ne kaha hai bacchon ko sugar nahi dena chahiye. Fruits dete hain usse."
"Ek chocolate se kya hoga"
Response: "Aap pyaar dikhane ke liye khilona ya book de sakte hain instead of chocolate."
"Hamare zamane mein sab khate the"
Response: "Sahi kaha, lekin aaj kal packaged foods mein bahut zyada sugar hai jo pehle nahi thi."
Expert Insight: As our pediatricians remind parents: 'Milestones have wide ranges. Focus on progress, not comparison.'
A: Jaggery has some minerals that white sugar doesn't have, but it's still sugar and affects the body similarly. It's not a "healthy" alternative - use it sparingly just like white sugar.
A: Never give honey to babies under 1 year - it can cause infant botulism, a serious illness. For older children, honey in small amounts is okay but still counts as added sugar.
A: Gradually dilute the juice with more and more water over 2-3 weeks. Eventually switch to whole fruits instead. Juice lacks fiber and is basically sugar water.
A: Most sugar-free products contain artificial sweeteners which are not recommended for young children. Stick to naturally sweet foods instead.
A: No, please don't add sugar. Try mixing dal with sweet vegetables like carrot or sweet potato instead. Babies need time to accept new tastes - keep offering without adding sugar.
A: Even 100% fruit juice is concentrated sugar without the fiber of whole fruit. Limit to 100ml per day for children 1-3 years, and prefer whole fruits.
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This article was reviewed by a pediatrician and nutritionist. Last updated: January 2025
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