When we make the decision to start eating more healthily, very often we believe that we can no longer indulge our sweet tooth, and that we have to completely veer away from “guilty” snacking.
Well, this really doesn’t need to be the case. Providing you make a few tweaks and changes, you can create some very healthy and nutritious snacks that you can always have on hand. And that’s the key: being prepared and having healthier options available, so you aren’t tempted to head over to the less healthy treats that you may be used to.
When it comes to sweet things, I’m not going to tell you that honey and dates, etc., are “natural sugar” and therefore acceptable to eat with abandon. Sugar is sugar as far as our insulin response is concerned. What these types of ingredients do offer that just a spoonful of sugar won’t, is a few additional nutrients. This means that the calories aren’t as “empty” – but please don’t interpret this as a reason to guzzle them down!
There is one sugar substitute, however, that can be a good option when used correctly. This is stevia - a crystaline substance derived from a leaf. It is intensely sweet. The good news is that it has zero effect on blood sugar, as it isn’t absorbed. Use it in much smaller quantities than you would sugar, as too much makes its flavour turn oddly bitter.
When it comes to sweet treats and desserts, it is very much possible to recreate many of your favourites, just by using different ingredients to achieve the same textures and flavours. This final chapter aims to show you that it’s not all doom and gloom – healthy eating and indulgence can go together.
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