To be a sugar detective, you don’t need a badge and a magnifying glass, but you do need a little brainpower. Many people are amazed to discover how much sugar lurks within the foods they eat. Do you know how to find it?

An apple tastes deliciously sweet because of the naturally occurring sugar it contains, but what about a cookie? It tastes sweet because sugar has been added when making the dough. Many foods that you consume have had sugar added during processing. Candy, doughnuts, pancake mixes, salad dressings, barbecue sauces, and more may all be made with sugar that is added. Thus, these sugars are called “added sugars.” These foods contribute sugar to your diet, but often without the benefits of many other nutrients. Calories that come from added sugars and/or solid fats should be limited.

Now, learn how to track down the added sugar in your diet by answering the questions that follow. Use these facts to help: