Better Homes & Gardens Cut the Sugar includes 100 recipes to help you easily reduce the added sugars in your diet. Recipes include low-sugar desserts, made over condiments (often time a hidden source of added sugar), high protein snacks, and well-balanced main dishes. Filled with valuable information, this issue will help you determine how much sugar should you eat, teach you how to search for hidden sources of sugar on food labels, how to clean out the excess sweets from your pantry, and how to add flavor to recipes without adding sugar. A guide to sugar substitutes answers the question, “Are sugar substitutes OK?”
Better Homes and Gardens
From the Editor
Crush the Sugar Habit • Eating too much added sugar can take a toll on your health, negatively impacting many parts of the body.
Start Smart • Sugary cereals and pastries dominate our breakfast options. But not everyone is up for savory dishes in the a.m. either. Instead, opt for these recipes that reduce sugar but still satisfy a morning sweet tooth.
A Splash of Sweet • Adding creamer to your coffee may seem harmless, but store-bought flavored creamers are chock-full of added sugars and calories. These recipes utilize dates for a sugar-smart way to sweeten your morning brew.
Salad Shake-Up • Salads are thought of as a nutritious choice, but too often they come tossed and drizzled with a sneaky amount of added sugars. For a healthier take, opt for these salads dressed up with nutrient-dense flavor.
Bitter Bites • These desserts prove there’s a better side of bitter. Research shows adding a bitter ingredient to desserts, such as citrus zest, coffee, matcha, or cocoa powder, can help you eat less sugar. And each of these recipes is so rich it squelches a sugar craving in just a bite or two.
Barbecue Redo • From the buns and sauce to the beans and dessert, even our favorite cookout dishes can be unnecessarily sweetened. Enjoy these low-sugar takes on classic barbecue fixings.
Snack Attack • When that afternoon hunger hits, reach for one of these healthy bites. Each contains sweet ingredients but limited added sugars.
In Good Spirits • With these cocktail recipes, a healthy pour isn’t out of the question. Each drink utilizes smart tricks and fresh ingredients to keep the sugar low and the good times high.
Layer the Flavor • It’s not always obvious, but even savory dishes might rely on added sugar to enhance flavor—think sticky-sweet sauces, bottled marinades, and brown sugar-based spice rubs. Instead, layer in intense flavor and bring recipes to life with no-sugar rubs and marinades, plus flavor-packed techniques such as pickling and smoking.
Stir-Fry Makeovers • Stir-fry recipes are a delicious way to pack in healthy protein, whole grains, and nutrient-rich veggies in a snap! Unfortunately, the saucy dishes we order from our favorite take-out places can sometimes be loaded with sugar. But with these recipes, you’ll reduce sugar and still get dinner on the table fast.
Get Saucy • Store-bought sauces can contain a deceptive amount of added sugars. Instead, whip up one of these recipes to add bold flavor to any dish.
Roast for the Most • Vegetables, fruits, and even grains transform from blah to delicious with the friendly heat of roasting. The secret? Caramelizing those natural sugars at a high heat in the oven creates roasty, toasty sweet goodness.
Fruit Forward • Dessert doesn’t have to be off the table when you’re crushing the sugar habit. Fruit-centered recipes pack in nutrition and natural sweetness. Go ahead, dig in!
Get Poppin’ • Wholesome fruit and citrus juice yield refreshing flavor. Mix and match your favorite ingredients to create a delicious frozen treat.
Better Half • These smart recipes slash the added sugar by half in these...
