Sugar is often hiding in the strangest places. Sure, you can expect it in soda, desserts, or other sweet things like pancake syrup. Somewhere you may not expect it is in your spaghetti sauce, bread, or salad dressing. When removing added sugars from your diet it is important to know some of the common foods it is hiding in and what you can replace it with.

1. Yogurt – Pay close attention to the labels on your yogurt. Even if they claim to be low-fat, most fruit-flavored yogurts have a lot of added sugar. Instead, look for plain Greek yogurt or fruit flavors containing less sugar.
2. Pasta Sauce – Many pasta sauces contain added sugar to give them extra flavor or to help them last longer. A reduced-sugar sauce should be available, or you can try to make a homemade sauce.
3. Cereal – Sugar might not be exactly hiding in your grandkid’s favorite cereal, but it could be in yours. Most granola or cereals, claiming to be a healthier option, contain a lot of sugar. Opt for a low-sugar cereal instead, like Cheerios. Add some fresh fruit for sweetness.
4. Bread – Depending on the bread you eat, you might consume a lot of sugar. Most whole grain or wheat breads contain a lot of sugar to help give them substance. Swap them for rye bread, which typically contains less sugar.
5. Salad Dressing – Pay attention to the labels when picking up your favorite salad dressing. You are making a healthy choice and having a salad; there is no sense in ruining it with extra sugar. Most light dressings contain less sugar.
6. Nut Butter – Nut butter can contain a lot of fatty oils and sugars. While the difference may not be huge, all-natural nut butter will contain less sugar and can help your overall cutback.

Make sure you identify and eliminate extra sugar from your diet.