If sugar=evil, what do you use instead?

[Diggum]

Having come across a number of articles about how awful sugar is (even honey apparently ) does anyone have good alternatives?

DH and I are trying to go as sugar-free as possible but we do like something sweet on occasion and I'm happy to bake.

I don't really like the idea of artificial sweeteners but are they okay or not?

Has anyone any recipes involving fruit-based sugar alternatives that are still yummy?

Many thanks,
Panicked Sweetie Fan.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Sugar (in moderation) is not evil.

HTH

[LizzieMacQueen]

I have used Canderel to bake with and it wasn't nice. There's a bitter aftertaste that is difficult to disguise. I'll only use proper sugar - unrefined sometimes as that feels better somehow - and proper butter too.

Everything in moderation.

[Ridingthegravytrain]

I make a really stodgy banana bread cut out the sugar and add 2 extra bananas

I do the same with fruit cake no sugar lots more sultanas

But then again sugar is sugar so your body will react the same way from fruit or normal sugar

Agree with pp sugar isn't bad in moderation. I'd rather that than a manufactured alternative

[Diggum]

Okay, maybe "evil" was a touch melodramatic!

But I'm a big fan of real butter and I hate the thought of having "real" sugar snatched from my grubby hands.

Stodgy banana bread sounds good though.

I suppose just baking stuff myself is always a good option as at least I can see how much I'm getting then.

I should add, for the sake of full disclosure, that I'm eating a chocolate chip cookie right now. So I clearly wasn't spooked enough.

[Snowstorm]

Great timing this post - have been thinking about sugar. Am a novice porridge maker - have been experimenting with saucepan vs. microwave and pure milk or half milk and half water but only like the taste if around 1 tablespoon of sugar is mixed into it. I never add sugar to anything though and have been wondering if there's a healthier alternative, bearing in mind I don't like honey or maple syrup or syrup (and don't fancy sultanas in it).

[Diggum]

I add grated apple and cinnamon to mine actually, but I do usually add a splodge of honey. I think it might be nice without though, if you use sweet eating apples.

[Wolpertinger]

You reduce the amount of sweet things you eat instead of trying to fake it

So fruit instead of chocolate, one biscuit or small slice of normal cake as a treat - treats are treats not every day. I realized I had interpreted 'in moderation' as 'whenever I fancy it' which is not really the same thing at all

Have noticed lots of current books Deliciously Ella I mean you are all honey and dates instead of sugar and treats everywhere. That's not the point of cutting down on sugar at all. Sugar is sugar whether it's refined or came from a bee's arse

So basically much less processed food and trying to get out of the habit that 'I've been at work for 2 hours so I deserve a biscuit maybe 3'.

[SmallGreenBouncyBall]

in essence anything sweet is either artificial, or sugar or tastes weird (stevia).

best to train yourself off too much sugar.

[Diggum]

Sigh, you speak the truth wolpertinger. I'm the queen of the "because I'm worth it" biscuit.

Moderation it is then. Balls.

[MrsCurly]

When you bake use around 1/2 - 2/3 or sugar in the recipe. It's turns out fine.

[MrsBertMacklin]

Not Stevia! I bought some popcorn yesterday without realising it had Stevia in it. It was disgusting.