Choosing a diet low in fat is a concern for everyone: Choosing one low in sugars is also important for people who have low calorie needs. Sugars include white sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, corn syrup, honey and molasses: these supply calories and little else nutritionally.
To avoid getting too many calories from sugar, try to limit your added sugars to 6 teaspoons a day if you eat about 1,600 calories, 12 teaspoons at 2,200 calories, or 18 teaspoons at 2,800 calories. These amounts are intended to be averages over time.11
Added sugars are in foods like candy and soft drinks, as well as jams, and sugars you add at the table. Some added sugars are also in foods from the food groups such as fruit canned in heavy syrup and chocolate milk.16