There are so many different names for sugar that sometimes, even the items we think we are making smart food decisions with actually aren’t that healthy, after all. Some of the so-called healthy foods on the market will simply use different names for sugar or be fat-free but packed with sugar.
As part of a healthy heart lifestyle and keeping your family healthy, limiting the sugar you have in your diet is also essential. Sugar doesn’t add anything to your diet that you need and causes glucose levels to spike and weight gain – without any nutritional value.
So how can you switch out sugar without compromising on taste? Let me show you how!
Drinks
There is a shocking amount of sugar in drinks like orange juice and some smoothies. We know that fizzy drinks are usually packed with sugars, so we avoid them. However, even flavored water can add too much sugar to our diet.
It is important to start reading the labels on all of the drinks you have because even that low-fat coffee drink could be packed with sugar.
Buy Alternatives
There are many types of sweeteners on the market. If you have a sweet tooth, this can be tough because the taste can be different. For those running a confection business or who love to bake for others, look for an erythritol supplier to replace the sugar in your goods.
Keep in mind that anything baked or made with sugar alternatives might not be as sweet as if they had sugar in them, and there might be some adjustments that need to be made.
Desserts
Almost all of us have some level of addiction to sugar – it’s sweet and tasty, and often comfort foods and snack foods are packed with them. One of the things that most of us will eat that can keep us eating sugar is dessert.
If you want to ditch sugar, you’ll probably have to say goodbye to sugar-laden sweet treats and swap for greek yogurt and honey. You can also use many of the sugar alternatives on the market shelves to make desserts healthier while also still being delicious!
Another alternative is fruit. Whole fruits are typically sweet but much better for us than other options and may just help to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sauces
If you love table sauces like tomato ketchup, this one might be tough. Most brands of tomato ketchup are one tablespoon of sauce to 1 teaspoon of sugar – which is a lot! In fact, you will consume more sugar from a few blobs of tomato ketchup than from some brands of ice cream.
Anything sour, like vinegar, or spicy, like mustard, usually has little to no sugars in them. Always check the labels to make sure you’re not accidentally consuming a lot of extra sugar per day.
Whole Foods
Opting for whole foods means that you are enjoying foods that have not been processed or refined and have nothing artificial in them. Grains, veggies, meat on the bone, whole fruits, and more.
However, the majority of people’s diets usually consist of ultra-processed foods like chips, fast foods, fizzy drinks, and more. This is where 90% of one’s sugar intake can come from!
In the end, cooking at home is the best way to cut sugars. Here is a great place to start: How To Start Making Healthy Snacks At Home.