Why Catering Services Should Reduce Sugar Consumption at Sea

As brought up in our last few blog posts, catering services for cargo ships must pay close attention to the composition of meals so that seafarers get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals, while sailing far away from dietary hazards like salt and sugar. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), men should consume less than 150 calories a day from sugar, while women a maximum of 100. To put these numbers into perspective, men and women should not spend more than 5% of their total daily calories on sugar. This means catering services for cargo ships should plan carefully, ensuring no more than 13 teaspoons of sugar for seafarers each day.

Measuring a Seafarer’s Sugar Intake

Many things contain sugar – even the healthiest of food groups. That is why awareness is key. Sugar appears more commonly in food today than in the past, so reading labels has never been more important for catering services. For example, look at the chart below: Unsurprisingly, sports drinks and deserts make up nearly half of this chart. Many are shocked, however, to see fruit drinks play such a major role. Consider the following: As one can see, even fruit contains a lot of sugar. This is why seafarers must make smart decisions all day, otherwise things begin to add up! But that responsibility falls primarily on the shoulders of the on-board catering department.

Why Reduce Sugar On-Board?

Research suggests sugar is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Furthermore, a study in JAMA Internal Medicine found a link between sugar and cardiovascular death, concluding 25% or more calories from sugar a day triples the risk of heart-related fatalities. With these risks in mind, let’s explore ways to reduce sugar consumption at sea.   -  Avoid pre-made sauces: Canned tomato sauce can add up to 11 grams of sugar in only half a cup. Dipping sauces also take away from the nutritional benefits of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy snacks. -  Sleep and exercise: Caffeinated drinks are often full of sugar! So get enough sleep that you do not depend on them to wake up each day. As well, exercise more frequently to beat sugar addiction and sleep soundly at night. -  Favour water: Unbelievably, even fruit smoothies come packed with sugar. Other beverages like hot chocolate and soda can significantly add to one’s sugar intake as well, so look to avoid these the best you can. -  Find alternatives: Replace your favourite desserts with healthier alternatives. For example, some suggest graham crackers provide a nice substitute for Oreos. As well, chocolate bars contain less sugar than many “nutrition bars,” which goes to show the importance of reading labels yet again! -  Cook naturally: By cutting the amount of sweetness in meals, catering services may “reset” seafarers’ taste buds. Once accomplished, all following meals should favour natural sugars from yogurts, fruits, and the like.