Sugar Check Blog
Guides for sugar-aware parents
Label-backed breakdowns of popular kids snacks, published nutrition guidance, and practical lunchbox strategies.
Featured
Dye-Free Halloween Candy: What's Clean, What Isn't, and What Changed in 2026
Plain chocolate bars like Kit Kat, Snickers and Tootsie Rolls have no synthetic dyes. Candy corn still has Red 3. Here's the full list, plus the new dye-free M&M's and Skittles.
Healthy Halloween Candy Alternatives for Kids (With the Sugar Math)
Three fun-size bars cover a child's whole daily added sugar limit. Here are lower-sugar candy swaps, non-food treats kids actually pick, and a simple plan for the haul.
Which States Ban Food Dyes in School Food? The 2026 List
West Virginia, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, California and Louisiana have passed laws keeping synthetic dyes like Red 40 out of school food. Here's each law, what it covers, and when it starts.
Corn Flakes Sugar Guide: Kellogg's, Frosted Flakes, and 39 Brands Rated
Kellogg's Corn Flakes carries 2.7g of added sugar. Frosted Flakes carries 6.2g, and some store-brand copies go as high as 15g. We pulled every corn flakes product in our database, plus the glycemic index research most sugar guides skip.
Best Low-Sugar Bars for Kids (2026): Granola, Cereal, and Snack Bars Ranked
Granola bar with least sugar, lowest sugar granola bars, and school-safe options: we ranked bars in our database by added sugar, protein, and fiber, plus label data on popular boxes parents search for.
Best Low-Sugar Cereals for Kids (2026): We Rated 519 Boxes
We pulled added sugar data on every cereal in our database. 52% score Tier E. Here is what actually belongs in your pantry, what to swap, and why 'whole grain' tells you nothing about sugar.
How Much Sugar Should Kids Eat Per Day? The 2026 Science-Backed Guide
AHA, CDC, WHO, and AAP guidelines on daily added sugar limits for children by age, plus how US kids actually compare and what it means for everyday snack choices.
All articles
Are Veggie Straws Healthy? What's Actually in the Bag
Veggie Straws are mostly potato starch and oil, with 0g fiber and 1g protein per ounce. They're low in sugar, but they're a chip, not a vegetable. Here's the label, read honestly.
Healthier Alternatives to Lunchables, Uncrustables, Goldfish and Nutella
Nutella has 21g of sugar in two tablespoons. A Lunchables cracker stacker can carry 660mg of sodium. Here's what's in four lunchbox staples and easy swaps that keep the convenience.
Instant Oatmeal Packets Ranked by Sugar: What's Really in Your Kid's Bowl
Plain Quaker instant oatmeal has 0g added sugar. Maple & Brown Sugar has 12g per packet. Dinosaur Eggs has 11g. Here's the full ranking and how to sweeten plain oats yourself.
Low-Sugar Waffles and Pancakes for Kids: What's in the Freezer Aisle
Plain Eggo waffles have 5g added sugar per two. Kodiak Homestyle Power Waffles have none. The bigger problem is the syrup. Here are the label numbers and easy swaps.
Teddy Grahams vs Goldfish: Which Is the Better Snack for Kids?
Goldfish Cheddar has 0g added sugar. Honey Teddy Grahams have 8g per serving. But Teddy Grahams have far less sodium. Here's the side-by-side and which to pick when.
Best Food Scanner App in 2026: 6 Apps Compared for Parents
Yuka, EWG Healthy Living, Open Food Facts, Fooducate, Bobby Approved, and Fig compared on how they score food, what they cost, and how well they catch added sugar in kids' snacks.
How Much Sugar Is in Goldfish Crackers? Every Flavor Compared
Original Cheddar Goldfish has 0g added sugar and rates Tier B. But Goldfish Colors has three artificial dyes banned in Europe. And Grahams are a different product entirely.
Sugar in Kids' Fruit Snacks: Every Major Brand Compared (2026)
53% of fruit snacks in our database score Tier E. Welch's lawsuits, the jelly bean rule, dental science, and what is actually worth buying for lunchboxes.
Search 4,000+ rated snacks
Every product gets an A-E grade from the Nutrition Facts panel. Filter by age, diet, or category.