sugar alternatives? RE: turbinado
I've been a vegan for many years, but the kind of vegan who eats refined sugar (so maybe in your mind I was not a true vegan...). Anyways, I have finally decided to give up refined sugar. My reasoning is because it is overprocessed, and because of the effects it has on ones mood and how it just makes you crave more sugar (I find the less processed sugar does not have these effects on myself). I've been trying to find a good alternative. In some cases maple syrup works, but not for things like baking. I've been doing a lot of research, and what I'm finding is that I should be using Turbinado sugar.
My questions are:
How do I take my recipes and alter them to include the turbinado instead of the refined sugar? (I've read that you can't just sub one cup for another)
Is turbinado sugar my best bet for a baking substitute? Is there something else out there that is better, and that I can easily use instead of refined sugar? Is there a healthier alternative?
Any other thoughts or suggestions on turbinado sugar or sugar substitutes would be appreciated.
Maybe this isn't very helpful but I've been meaning to try out stevia (it's zero-calorie and comes from a plant). I recently got a $1 coupon for Truvia at Safeway so I plan on buying it this month or next.
You can use turbinado (raw) sugar just as you would any other crystal sugar. I use it for everything. Also, you can look into Florida Crystals, or another unprocessed sugar.
Tastewise, I'd go for turbinado or raw sugar, which is as SDB says totally one-for-one substitution. I've tried stevia powder and it gives me that same odd aftertaste as artificial sweetners.
personally i've switched to using raw powdered stevia. You are able to substitute it one for one I believe and it doesn't have any funky flavors. Although I can see where it wouldn't work well in some recipes, like creaming "butter" in baking for instances.
I'm not sure what amount of processing you're trying to avoid. Turbinado sugar is quite processed, but the molasses is left in. It'd work fine. If you're making a recipe for which you wanted a white granular sugar, beet sugar is equivalently processed and is vegan.
Side Note: I've never heard of vegans making a distinction about the levels of processing. In terms of cane sugar, there's the question of whether it was processed with bone char. No organic cane sugar is processed that way and is vegan. Trader Joe's has a decently priced organic granulated sugar.
Throw some bananas or dates into whatever you're cooking, and you'll be set.
My little secret for staying sugar-free ;)
thanks a lot for all of the comments! I have read that you cannot sub turbinado 1 for 1, but since a few people have said you can I guess I'll give it a try. Also, where can I get beet sugar if I decide I want to try that too? Can I get it at most health food stores?
At my hfs, beet sugar is individually packaged bags from bulk.
thanks a lot for all of the comments! I have read that you cannot sub turbinado 1 for 1, but since a few people have said you can I guess I'll give it a try. Also, where can I get beet sugar if I decide I want to try that too? Can I get it at most health food stores?
I see you live in Canada. Ask around, beet sugar may be more readily available there than you think. Here in Spain it's usually the only option we've got, unless labelled "cane sugar." 90% of our supermarkets sell only beet sugar. Someone in your supermarket, or on their website, probably has that info.
In Spanish they say "azucar de caña" (cane sugar) on the label but when it just says "azucar blanquilla" (dim. form of "white sugar") it is beet. There may be some sort of distinction like that, there.
Now this got me thinking....is Splenda actually vegan? I never even thought to check, and it's all we've used in our house for issues with diabetes issues in the boy's family, and trying to control weight....
Now this got me thinking....is Splenda actually vegan? I never even thought to check, and it's all we've used in our house for issues with diabetes issues in the boy's family, and trying to control weight....
its vegan but its extremely bad for you. I would honestly switch to something else!
http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/splenda.aspx
that has some info on splenda, I also read it is a biproduct of formaldehyde :o
personally i would vote for either stevia or honey. I know honey isn't vegan but there is good research out there that suggests its okay for diabetics. Whatever you choose for the love of all no splenda that stuff will turn you into a human pickle (and not the tasty kind either :-D)
http://www.hyscience.com/archives/2005/08/whats_the_best.php
thats a link for an article on stevia. Oh and its usually cheaper than splenda or very closely priced. I got a big bag of it for like.... 8 dollars? I dunno might have been less i really didn't pay attention.
:o
Dear god, I'm tossing the bag I have tonight.
Thanks for the info, that's a little terrifying.