Question on Clean Eating

[andtckrtoo]

I'm slowly converting to clean eating. I've been fighting it for a while, but I'm starting to realize it's importance. My question is on sweetners. What is considered clean? Is raw sugar? Molasses? Honey? What?

 

[rachelg]

Sugar is sugar no matter in what form it comes and should be avoided as much as possible. At least that's what i've learned by reading the South Beach Diet book which is the one I follow. It really teaches you how to eat clean and avoid foods with a high glicimic index.

 

[andtckrtoo]

I do agree with that to a point. I'm trying to get my family to eat healthier as well, and part of that process is to introduce healthy alternative to their snack foods. I can make baked tortilla chips with clean tortillas bought from a health food store that taste better than Tostidos. That's a start. But, they like their sweets. That's why I need to know what is clean so that I can start switching these out as well.

 

[martijean1]

Get a cookbook and learn how to cook with stevia...It's an herbal sweetener that I LOVE!!

MJ in MN

 

[andtckrtoo]

Thanks MJ! I'll do that!

 

[Spinnergirl]

FYI--
If you find that you don't like stevia, you can try splenda.
George Stella and a lot of the low carb cookbooks/shows(not that you're going for low carb)use splenda.

Here's a peanut butter cookie recipe I got from a website:
1 cup splenda
1 egg
1 cup low fat crunchy jif pb
(mix the splenda and egg together and then put in the pb, it will go from a creamy look to a more doughy look--I use my Kitchenaid standmixer).
I use a melonball scoop(not the real small one though) and scoop it onto a cookie sheet--no need to grease the sheet, the oil in the pb does it for you.
Flatten the "scoops" out with your fingers and cook at 425 degrees for 12 min(give or take depending on your oven).
Put on a rack to cool--they're fab!
I know they're not really sweets, but I'll tell you, once you eat one, you're hooked!

Mary

 

[Fit_mommy]

Christine,

You are not alone I can not imagine taking all/most sugar out of my diet either! That's nuts! }( LOL I don't eat a lot of sweets but I DO LOVE LOVE LOVE my coffee and it's GOTTA have sugar in it!
I use Splenda myself. I had been avoiding it as it's so dang expensive compared to regular sugar but now I am afraid I'm hooked on the stuff! At first I wasn't crazy about it but it grew on me so now I'm stuck with it!

 

[andtckrtoo]

Oh Mary - those look good!!! I have read that technically Splenda can be considered clean as it's not processed. Not sure about that, but I will use it as it's such a good alternative. I'm going to try that recipe this weekend! THANKS!!!

 

[andtckrtoo]

Yeah, eliminating it is not in the equation. I kind of hold to the notion of all things in moderation. I just want to be more moderate on my refined sugar intake and I want to eat cleaner.

I'm a splenda fan, too. And I love my coffee as well. So, you're not alone there!

 

[rachelg]

I guess i didnt make myself clear and I appologize fo that. I really wasn't including splenda when I said all sugars. I use splenda even though I really think is not as good as it seems just because it's processed, but it's calorie free or very low in calories I'm not sure. What I really try to stay away from is regular and brown sugar. I might use honey once in a blue moon just because it's natural.

 

[Spinnergirl]

I get what you're saying Rachel and you're right sugar is sugar, splenda is the closest thing that I can get without using REAL sugar. They even have a "baking" splenda", though I have yet to try it.

Let me know how you like the cookies--I've brought them to work and have yet to find someone that hasn't liked them(unless they don't like crunchy peanut butter)

Mary