In this third special sugar-free Simple Swaps series post, I’ll share my favorite natural and organic sugar-free products.
Why? So many products contain unnecessary sugar. While it seems that avoiding sugar altogether is impossible, I like to eliminate it in any food that I can. The amount of sugar we consume can add up quickly, so it’s important to label read to be sure you are not over-consuming. Too much sugar in the diet can cause a host of problems including diabetes, hypoglycemia, weight gain, chronic headaches and other chronic conditions.
Swapping Frugally: Check out this list of my favorite sugar free products and where I find the best deals:
- Vanilla: Read the labels on the vanilla you buy as many contain sugar or corn syrup. I prefer Trader Joe’s Bourbon vanilla as it is sugar-free and affordable.
- Mayonnaise: Be careful with condiments like mayonnaise, as many times they contain added sugar. Trader Joe’s organic mayonnaise does not contain any sugar.
- Fruit Spread: Most organic jellies and jams contain massive amounts of sugar. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s both carry organic fruit spreads that are sweetened with 100% fruit juice and no sugar. You can also make your own simple, stevia-sweetened jam here.
- Cocoa: If you use cocoa in recipes, be sure to pick up a sugar-free kind, like Trader Joe’s unsweetened cocoa.
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a great pick me up snack as it’s packed with protein, however, it can quickly bring you down as it’s often also packed with sugar. Choose a sugar-free kind like Meijer’s Naturals natural peanut butter, Whole Foods unsweetened peanut butter or Trader Joe’s sugar-free peanut butter.
- Coconut cream: I love making whipped coconut in place of whipped cream. I buy the sugar-free heavy coconut cream at Trader Joe’s, add in a few tablespoons of xylitol and whip it up for a fabulous dessert topping or fruit dip.
- Sugar-free chocolate: Giving up sugar doesn’t mean giving up sweets! Trader Joe’s carries a tasty chocolate bar called Simply Lite Dark Chocolate that is sweetened with sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols pass through the system like fiber does, so it does not affect blood sugar.
- Applesauce: Applesauce is another food that is often loaded with sugar. Make your own easy crockpot applesauce sweetened with stevia here.
Have you been cutting back on sugar during this Simple Swap series? I’d love to hear how you are doing!
Be sure to check out the previous sugar-free posts:
These are all great ideas! Get back to as many natural ingredients as possible, right?