Sugar is everywhere! It’s in the fruit and vegetables we eat, the sweet treats we love, and even some foods we don’t expect. It comes in natural forms – like in fruit – and refined forms, like the sugar in cakes and cookies. While sugar is a normal part of our diet, how much is too much for children? Are they eating more sugar than they should? And most importantly, what can we do to help them make healthier choices?
Let’s take a look at what sugar is, the impact it has, and how school catering teams can help reduce the sugar intake for every student.
What is free sugar?
Not all sugar is the same! Some sugars occur naturally in foods, while others are added during processing. The term “free sugar” refers to sugars that are either added to food and drinks or released when the structure of fruit and vegetables is broken down. Here’s what that includes:
- Added sugars in any form – These show up on ingredient labels as cane sugar, honey, brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, glucose, crystalline sucrose, nectars. Basically, if it’s sweet and not naturally part of the food, it likely falls into this category!
- Sugars naturally present in fruit and vegetable juices – This includes things like fruit purées, jams, fruit chews, and smoothies. Even though they come from fruit, their structure has been broken down, making the sugars more readily absorbed by the body.
- Sugars in drinks – Any sugar in drinks counts as free sugar, except for dairy-based drinks (which contain naturally occurring lactose and galactose).
So, what doesn’t count as free sugar?
Naturally occurring sugars – Found in milk, dairy, fresh and some processed fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, nuts, and seeds. These foods also provide essential nutrients like fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals, making them a key part of a balanced diet.
How much sugar is too much?
The UK government recommends that free sugars should make up no more than 5% of daily calorie intake, but right now, every age group is consuming more than this.
For context, here’s the recommended daily limit for free sugar:
- 4–6-year-olds: No more than 19g per day (around 5 sugar cubes)
- 7–10-year-olds: No more than 24g per day (around 6 sugar cubes)
- 11+ and adults: No more than 30g per day (around 7 sugar cubes)
Sugar, tooth decay & the government’s role
Tooth decay is the number one reason children aged 5-9 are admitted to UK hospitals. And a major cause of this is sugary drinks!
To tackle the issue, the UK Government introduced the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) in 2018. The idea was to encourage manufacturers to reduce the sugar in their products. A 2023 study published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health suggests that since this levy was introduced, fewer children have needed teeth extractions due to decay. While the study doesn’t prove direct cause and effect, it highlights how big-picture changes can have a real impact on children’s health.
Whether you’re a caterer, a teacher, or a parent, there are plenty of ways to help kids cut down on sugar. Small changes can make a big difference!
The Great Snack Survey: What kids really think
In November 2024, the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) set out to learn more about kids’ snacking habits with their Great Snack Survey. They asked over 2,000 children aged 10-13 about their favourite snacks, what they buy at school, and how they feel about the snack choices available to them.
So, what did they find?
- More than two-thirds of students said they’re open to learning how to choose and make healthier snacks.
- 53% of students buy snacks from the school canteen at breaktime.
- 9% of students feel their school canteen helps them to choose healthier options.
Why this matters…
We know that poor diet and lack of physical activity in childhood can lead to serious health issues later in life, including heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and even some cancers. That’s why school catering teams play such a huge role – not just in providing healthier food options but also in teaching kids about nutrition.
A whole-school approach to healthy eating can make a real difference. When food education is built into the curriculum and healthy choices are easy and accessible, we set children up for better lifelong health. And with so many students eager to learn about healthier snacks, now is the perfect time to make changes!
Simple ways to cut sugar in school meals
School meals are a great opportunity to boost nutrition for children, especially by reducing added sugar and increasing fibre – a nutrient many kids don’t get enough of. Right now, the biggest sources of added sugar in children’s diets are cakes, chocolate, and biscuits.
Although current school food standards still allow cakes and biscuits, there’s growing pressure on the Government to make changes – just like they did with the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL). But while we wait for wider reforms, schools and school caterers can start making small but powerful changes.
Here are some practical ways to reduce sugar in school meals while still keeping food delicious:
- Go for unsweetened plant milk alternatives – Choose only unsweetened versions when buying plant-based milks. This can be led and set by procurement as a business standard with input from your business nutritionists.
- Rethink cakes and cookies – Reduce added sugar in recipes and use fruit or sweet vegetables (like sweet potatoes, bananas, or carrots) for natural sweetness. Most recipes can handle a small sugar reduction without kids even noticing. There is still some work to be done on adjusting the palate of children given they are born with a preference for sweet tasting foods.
- Limit fruit juices and smoothies – Always serve unsweetened versions and, if possible, stick to a max of 150ml. This is the UK recommendation for fruit juice consumption where it will still count towards your 5 a day.
- Check sugar levels in purchased products – Compare similar products based on sugar per 100g and switch to lower-sugar alternatives wherever possible.
- Celebrate your sugar savings – Keep track of how much sugar your business has cut out and share the good news with clients, parents, and carers. It’s a great way to show progress and encourage healthier choices.
- Review breakfast club choices – Swap out high-sugar cereals and bread for lower-sugar varieties as a standard practice.
- Choose tinned fruit in juice, not syrup – It’s a simple switch that makes a big difference!
- Use natural sweetness – Reduce the amount of white or brown sugar in recipes and boost sweetness naturally with dried fruits like sultanas, cherries, apricots, mixed dried fruit, honey, or frozen fruit.
- Sneak in veggies for extra nutrition – Adding grated courgette, sweet potato, or carrot to cakes keeps them moist and adds extra vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Try recipes like:
- Chocolate courgette loaf
- Lemon courgette cake
- Banana and carrot bread
Taking the above into account, it’s possible for school caterers can dramatically reduce sugar intake while still serving food that kids love.
Snack-tember: A month of healthier snacking for kids
The BNF are running Snack-tember in 2025 with the aim of to help children and young people (aged 5-16 years) have healthier snacks. Snack-tember will be a month-long initiative replacing the usual healthy eating week which takes place annually every September.
The three key aims for the initiative are:
- Helping kids and teens learn how to choose and make healthier snacks
- Getting 6,000 UK schools to sign up and take part
- Engaging over 1 million young people in making smarter snack choices
How can schools and caterers get involved?
To support schools and catering teams, the BNF will be providing:
- Classroom materials to help teachers educate students on healthy snacking
- Practical tips for school caterers to offer better snack options
- Guidance for parents and carers to encourage healthy choices at home
Schools and caterers can sign up now – this is a fantastic opportunity to change the school food landscape and build lifelong healthy habits for children!
Reducing sugar with smarter menu planning
It’s easy to see how small changes in school catering can have a big impact on children’s health, setting them up for better eating habits now and in the future. From swapping out high-sugar ingredients to making healthier snacks more accessible, every step helps reduce sugar intake while keeping food delicious and nutritious.
One of the most effective ways to manage and reduce sugar in school meals is by using recipe and menu management software. These tools allow school catering teams to analyse sugar content, adjust recipes, and track improvements over time. With on-demand nutritional insights, schools can identify high-sugar items, compare alternative ingredients, and ensure compliance with food standards.
If your school or catering team would like to speak to an expert nutritionist or explore how IndiCater’s recipe and menu manager can help you reduce sugar in your school’s meals, get in touch with our team – we’d be happy to help!
