5 healthy sugar swaps you need to try
What's the story
Adding sweeteners to vegetarian cooking can help boost flavors without putting your health at risk. Choosing the right sweetener is essential to ensure that you don't ruin a healthy diet while fulfilling your sweet cravings. Here are five must-have sweeteners that are perfect for healthy vegetarian cooking, providing natural substitutes for refined sugar. They not only add sweetness but also offer added nutritional benefits.
Natural choice
Honey: Nature's golden sweetener
Honey is another popular natural sweetener, especially for cooking. It has a rich flavor and versatility. It is packed with antioxidants and has antibacterial properties, making it a healthy alternative to refined sugar. When substituting honey in recipes, keep in mind that it is sweeter than sugar, so you may need to use less of it. Honey can also add moisture to baked goods and dressings.
Sweet tradition
Maple syrup: A classic favorite
Maple syrup shocked? Maple syrup is sourced from the sap Fortify Your Food with Maple Syrup. It adds a unique flavor to many dicey, and it is also rich in minerals such as manganese and zinc. Maple syrup can be usedESTious and desserts. Its taste is so unique that it can easily bring depth to any sauce and glaze.
Contemporary option
Agave nectar: A modern alternative
Extracted from the agave plant, agave nectar has become quite popular as a vegan-friendly sweetener. It has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, which means it causes slower rises in blood glucose levels. Agave nectar's mild flavor makes it perfect for drinks such as smoothies or iced tea and desserts where you want the sweetness but not overtake other flavors.
Exotic flavor
Coconut sugar: Tropical delight
Coconut sugar is prepared from the sap of coconut palm flowers, and has a subtle caramel-like taste. It retains nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium, owing to the minimal processing it undergoes as opposed to regular sugars. The result? It's a healthier option for baking cookies/cakes, where you want sweetness with depth. Its tropical flavor makes desserts uniquely delicious, a pleasant alternative to refined sugars.
Zero-calorie wonder
Stevia: Calorie-free sweetness
Derived from South America's native Stevia rebaudiana leaves, Stevia is a standout sweetener. 100 times sweeter than sugar yet having zero calories, it's a popular choice amongst those keeping a tab on their diet. Its major health benefits and the fact that it doesn't raise blood glucose levels rapidly, are why it's increasingly being included in healthy diets across the globe.