What's In Your Cup?
We're 10 days into 2011. By now, many of us have made, and broken, our New Year's resolutions. I'm a big believer, though, that it's never too late to start again. If your resolution is to lose weight, or to just eat healthier in general, you may find ways to cut back by learning that many of the unwanted calories we consume come from our drinks. This is true for children, too, whose bottles and sippy cups we may be filling up with non-essential sugars.
A great resource to learn about sugar and calories in drinks is the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC's Rethink Your Drink page contains many surprising facts about what we down from a can or put in our kids' cups. A 12-ounce serving of 100 percent apple juice contains almost 200 calories. A cup (eight ounces) of whole milk has a little more than 200 calories. Considering that a toddler should consume between 1,000 and 1,400 calories a day, three servings of high-calorie drinks a day could easily add up to half their recommended caloric intake.
There are, of course, some lower calorie alternatives. For example, 1 percent milk and skim milk both contain about 100 calories a cup, according to the CDC. Water, even flavored and sparkling, is a great substitute, too. The website also lists some words to look out for on nutritional labels that, when translated, really just mean "sugar," such as high fructose corn syrup, honey and sucrose.
Recognizing that childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., First 5 LA has committed to the goal that all children in Los Angeles County maintain a healthy weight. Later this year, we expect to team up with other First 5 commissions in Southern California to launch an educational and advocacy campaign aimed at sugary beverages. Keep an eye out for more information and ways you can make a difference.
Evelyn V. Martinez Chief Executive Officer
First 5 LA
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