Need advice from the Splenda haters

[betheresoon]

My sister just started this WOE with me, but she hates splenda. I don't know what to suggest to her since I like it.

For those of you who don't like it, what do you do? Do you just use Nutrasweet?

I would really like to help her succeed because she is really trying so any suggestions would be appreciated.

There are a few alternative sweeteners on the market...I'd suggest she try Stevia, as it's all natural, first. THEN if she doesn't like that, perhaps have her try the Da Vinci Syrups to use for sweetening /something/ that'll help her kill the sweet tooth occasionally. Like the Italian Sodas, with cream (recipe to follow). They kinda taste like a mini soda 'float'. (Sometimes a packet of sweetener in your coffee or tea tastes better/worse than when cooked in a product). Maybe she just needs a few good recipes.

I would personally swear off all sweets before I would ever recommend Nutrasweet (aspartame) but that is a personal decision and opinion, based upon friends and personal reactions to products with it in it. As well, it can make her stall, and that's not good.

Perhaps she can try a small amount of maltitol or the new sugar alcohol, Erythritol. I just got a package in the mail, and am going to start experimenting with it tonight . /SUPPOSEDLY/ is does NOT have the laxative effect that maltitol does (thank god, I had a bad night eating a mini candy bar with maltitol...ugh)!

If she just can not find ANY substitute that she can tolerate in any form or mixed into stuff..perhaps she can exhibit super human control, and have a mini portion of something with regular sugar...(a recipe idea to follow).

IF she can make it past induction (or if she just has to have something now), in the morning she could have fruit (strawberries, melon or blueberries) if they are unsweetened. I make a Strawberry 'Shake' that I really like. (Recipe to follow)
This is a great breakfast or treat. Just need to account for the carbs if you eat other stuff. After you low carb awhile, that tastes pretty darn sweet and more isn't needed.

Also, one teaspoon of sugar is only 4 carbs. So if she really needs /something/ perhaps she can learn to live with one teaspoon of sugar in her drinks, or sprinkled over a bit of fresh fruit. But it'd have to be a once a day treat...or once a week, if she finds it throws her into a stall.

If she uses a sugar, I would recommend Rapadura Sugar, by Rapunzel Organics. (I find it at my local whole foods market). It is whole organic sugar cane juice, squeezed and dried, then ground fine. It has ALL the nutrients still intact. So you are at least getting some minerals and vitamins with it!!

I also have a recipe from Protein Power that uses real sugar for only 5 carbs each serving, Chocolate Chip Cheesecake cups. (Recipe to follow) Again, perhaps something to save to celebrate post induction or maintenance.

Hope this helps. Again, just personal preferences, based on reading and some personal experiences.

Heather

Italian Soda: recipe is on bottles, btw

1 part syrup ( I love the sugar free vanilla) try 1 Tbs
1 part cream or half and half (1 Tbs)
6 parts soda water (seltzer) (to taste)
add ice.
The cream and ice makes you feel like you are drinking a soda float after the ice cream has melted some Leave out the cream and you have a custom 'soda' of any flavor you can get Sugar Free.

Strawberry Shake

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (0-1 carb)
1/2 cup sliced strawberries (unsweetened) (5.2 carb)
1/2 cup heavy cream (3.3 carb) and 1/2 cup water
One packet of Splenda or Stevia (the ones with 1 carb)
And about one cup ice. Blend well.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecakes

From Protein Power by the Eades

12 (1 3/4 inch) fluted paper cups (liners)
12 cup mini muffin pan
1 large Graham Cracker, finely crushed
1 extra large egg
1/4 cup sugar or Splenda Granular
1/4 teas vanilla extract
1 (8 oz) package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 tbs of mini size, semi sweet choc chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the paper cups in the muffin pan and distribute the crushed graham cracker evenly into the cups. Put all the rest of the ingredients, except the choc chips into a food processor and blend thoroughly - or beat the egg, sugar, and vanilla, then blend in the cheese with a beater. Fold in the chocolate chips and then spoon the blended mixture into the cups. Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are set and the center is still moist. Remove the cheesecakes from the pan, and let cool in the wrappers. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Per Serving: 5 gram carbohydrates (with sugar). About 2 grams carbs if you use Splenda Granular.

They suggest some different flavorings to keep them interesting. Try using fresh lemon juice instead of vanilla extract, and add a bit of lemon or lime zest. Or Sprinkle the tops with toasted coconut for a little crunch, or bury an almond in center of cups, and use almond extract instead of vanilla.

If you want to lower the carbs, but keep decent flavor, try mixing the sugar and splenda half and half (so an 1/8 cup each). I have made them with half Rapadura sugar and half Splenda Granular, and they were super yummy.

Heather

Hope this helps

[RVlady]

How about having your sister try mixing various artificial sweetners to taste? I do not like the packet splenda but find just a tiny bit is tolerable when mixed with other a/s such as steivia, liquid sacharine, xylitol, Erythritol, Dibetasweet, etc. For me personally, I think it is the fillers I do not like.

What is she trying to sweeten? A cup of coffee or tea - or is she baking???? Let us know and perhaps someone can come up with a workaround that she will enjoy.

Have her get on line and read various low carb sites, especially the ones with all the amazing success stories. There is nothing like seeing the before and after pictures for motivation.

[sherrielee]

betheresoon...

when I started going sugar free, none of them tasted good to me either! I think there are just a lot of us that have to "detox" for months before they taste good. I would literally spit out a diet coke before starting this way of eating! I thought it was just terrible.

It took me about 4 months on no sugar to change my tastbuds. Now I love Splenda! She may be in the same boat! It may take her months before they taste right to her!

Sherrie