Every February 14, people celebrate Valentine’s Day by sharing cards, flowers, candy, and homemade treats with family, friends, classmates, and loved ones. While this holiday is known for sweet treats, sugar does more than add sweetness — it plays important roles in flavor, texture, and preservation.

Download and print the illustrated cards below to use as Valentine’s Day cards and share #SweetFacts along with your treats this year!

Sugar helps make bread soft and tender. It absorbs some of the water and slows down the formation of gluten strands. Sugar also feeds the yeast, resulting in a faster rise.

Sugar cuts the acidity of the vinegar in BBQ sauces. It also acts as a preservative, allowing BBQ sauce and many other condiments to last much longer!

In jams & jellies sugar works to preserve the fruit and prevent bacteria growth and spoilage.

Cereals containing fiber and whole grain are hard to swallow without sweetness to mask their bitter tastes.

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