A stack of holiday chocolate chip cookies tied with a red ribbon in front of jingle bells , candy cane, and a platter of assorted baked treats. Horizontal format with shallow depth of field.

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Man, I love Christmas. The lights, the cheer, the decorations…the dessert. Our favorite seasonal desserts are so much more than sugar – they are part of the Halloween tradition, they often bring us nostalgia, and, you know, they’re delicious. We at GUADS are always advocates of balance, moderation, and knowledge, so if you want to indulge in some of your favorite treats, go for it – AND, we wanted to provide you with some stats as you head into this holiday season!!

Daily Recommended Sugar Intake:

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 36g (roughly 9 teaspoons or 150 calories) of sugar per day for adult men and no more than 25g (roughly 6 teaspoons or 100 calories) of sugar per day for adult women. But here’s where it gets spooky: the average adult in the US consumes around 77g of sugar a day – Yikes!! Excess sugar in your diet puts you at risk for:

  • Cavities/tooth decay
  • Inflammation
  • Overeating
  • Weight gain / increased waist size
  • Skin problems: Acne, skin aging, and wrinkles.
  • Health conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, or Depression…Again, YIKES.

So with that in mind, here is a little overview of some of the most popular Christmas desserts and how much sugar they are packin’:

Favorite Treats – Sugar Count:

  1. 1 slice of Pumpkin Pie – 25 g
  2. 1 slice of Pecan Pie – 30 g
  3. 1 Chocolate Chip Cookie – 10-15 g
  4. 1 Sugar Cookie – 8-13 g
  5. 7 Hershey’s Kisses – 18 g
  6. 25 M&M’s – 14 g
  7. 2 Ferrero Rocher Chocolates – 10 g
  8. 3 Lindt Chocolate Truffles – 14 g
  9. 3 squares of Peppermint Bark – 19 g
  10. 1 oz of Peanut Brittle – 15 g
  11. 1 pouch of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa Mix w/ Marshmallows – 27 g
  12. 1 Large Gingerbread Man – 19 g
  13. Starbucks Grande Peppermint Hot Chocolate- 56 g

Again, we believe it’s important to indulge sometimes and enjoy your favorite treats. However, knowledge is power and knowing how much sugar you are consuming this holiday season is powerful for your health. Now, be safe, get your ugliest Christmas sweater on and…

Happy Holidays!!!

Written by GUADS staff member Kate with contributions from nutritionix.com, walmart.com, and starbucks.com