Would you like to eat less refined sugar, but are you a big dessert fan? These ingredients have a naturally sweet taste and ensure that you can continue to eat sweet desserts, but without the refined sugars.
Before we get into the ingredients you can use, let's briefly explain the difference between refined sugar and natural sugar. As you might have guessed from the names, refined sugar is added to a product, while natural sugar is naturally present in a product. Refined sugar can therefore be found in processed products, such as cookies and fast food, which means that this form of sugar often has more impact on your health than natural sugars, which you often find in vegetables and fruit. It is good to know that refined sugar and natural sugar are processed in the same way by your body and it is therefore wise not to consume too much natural sugar, especially if you are trying to lose weight. That being said now let's show you the ingredients with which you can replace the refined sugar in your desserts!
Coconut chips have a naturally sweet taste, so you don't have to use sugar. When you use larger pieces, you benefit more, because then the taste is slightly stronger. You can also roast them to give them a more nutty taste – great when you combine them with nuts for your yogurt, for example. They are also delicious in muffins and other baked goods, for example. Enjoy!
One of our favorites to create a naturally sweet taste:cinnamon! Cinnamon gives every food a more dessert-like character. Do you feel like a sweet snack? Then cut a banal into slices, sprinkle some cinnamon on top and freeze them for a while. The frozen banana has a creamy consistency and is therefore a perfect substitute for ice cream if you are trying to eat less sugar.
Cardamom is a hugely underrated ingredient. It can greatly enrich the taste of baked goods, such as muffins or cereal bars. It is also very tasty in combination with nut butter or sprinkled over pear or apple. A delicious recipe for a healthy dessert? Warm your apple or pear slices in a baking dish with some coconut oil and then sprinkle some nut butter with a hint of cardamom on top… It's like Christmas!
Does vanilla always remind you of delicious desserts such as ice cream and cake? With just a few drops of vanilla extract, you can convince your taste buds that you're eating dessert, even if you aren't. For example, add it to your smoothie, coffee or yogurt to get a sweet taste without having to use sugar. You can also use it in baking and even in bread. In short:vanilla extract is a real must-have in the kitchen!
Not only can frozen banana satisfy your sweet cravings, frozen strawberries can also give you the feels of a delicious dessert. If you want to eat less sugar, these are ideal as a dessert on their own. Also combined with nuts and unsweetened coconut chips, they are delicious as a snack, especially since this combination of proteins and fibers also ensures that you are less likely to crave sweets. You can of course also grind the frozen strawberries and sprinkle the powder over baked goods or homemade energy bars – enjoy…
What if you want to eat less sugar, but love chocolate? Then try using raw cacao nibs! They are delicious on their own, but you can also use them in desserts. How about cookies with these cocoa nibs, for example? Or a delicious banana bread? After all, nothing beats a hidden dose of cocoa…
Eating too much sugar can make you lose focus and feel fatigued. That is why it is best to choose foods from which you burn the energy you absorb slowly, such as dates. For example, fill a date with a little crunchy nut butter and some cocoa nibs and you'll almost feel like you're eating a Snickers bar. But of course without the sugar!
Oatmeal is a grain that is full of fiber and is also ideal for baking. If you grind oats, you can also make flour from them, which you can use to bake delicious muffins and pancakes. Advantage:you don't need sugar for it! You can also make energy bites and granola with oat flakes, which you can use, for example, to process fruit and nuts, or use the flour for brownies and other delicious baked goods. Enough choice!
We already talked about nut butter, but peanut butter is also a great ingredient to create sweetness and a nutty taste that reminds you of desserts anyway. Just stir some peanut butter into yogurt or oatmeal and it not only tastes better, but you also feel full for longer. Peanut butter contains a lot of healthy fats, so that you are less likely to suffer from cravings again. You can also make no-bake peanut butter cookies as a real dessert, for which you again don't need sugar. We know!
Read also:Less sugar:7 questions and answers
