A balanced diet is a healthy diet.

Balance, by definition, means “not extreme” and is an important component to a healthy lifestyle. Taking a balanced approach to eating and physical activity, making room for indulgences and avoiding anything in excess, are keys to a healthy lifestyle. The Sugar Association supports the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and shares the goal of moving Americans toward healthier dietary patterns.

Defining sugar and balance.

Sugar has a place in a balanced diet by adding flavor and functions that help people enjoy a wide variety of foods. Because of this, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations allow for up to 50 grams or 12 teaspoons of added sugars per day as part of a healthy dietary pattern.

Here are some examples of common foods and their contribution to daily added sugars intake.

Dietitian Toolkit

Dietitian Toolkit

Resources Dietitian Toolkit Sugar in Balance Download our Toolkit As an RD, you understand better than many people how important […]

Learn More 🡢
Sugar Basics

The Basics

Sugar & Health Sugar Basics Sugar is a carbohydrate. Let’s start there. Sugar is a carbohydrate. Carbohydrate: a macronutrient that includes […]

Learn More 🡢
Real Sugar

Real Sugar

Real sugar comes from sugar beet and sugar cane plants grown on farms.

Learn More 🡢
Sugar vs. Sugars

Clearing up Confusion

Sugar? Sugars? Added sugars? Understanding exactly what the differences are can be confusing and even a little bit frustrating, especially when there are a lot of inconsistencies in how these terms are used. To clarify, let’s take a look at some quick definitions and links to what they actually mean.

Learn More 🡢
Sources of Added Sugars

Sources of Added Sugars

Sugar & the Diet Sources of Added Sugars Where are our added sugars coming from? Sugar has benefits that go […]

Learn More 🡢
Sugar in the Context of the Total Diet

Sugar in the Total Diet

Sugar & the Diet Sugar in the Context of the Total Diet Sugar in the Total Diet Putting Added Sugars […]

Learn More 🡢
Sugar Intake Recommendations

Sugar Intake Recommendations

Sugar & the Diet Sugar Intake Recommendations What do the guidelines say? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest a target […]

Learn More 🡢
Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Sugar Intake Recommendations Dietary Guidelines for Americans How much sugar is recommended in a balanced diet? The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines […]

Learn More 🡢
who we are

There's more to sugar.

Sugar beet and sugar cane farmers are growing nature’s oldest sweetener, and our association is growing awareness of and confidence in sugar.

Learn More 🡢
Scroll to Top