Naturally Sweet.

July 19, 2010

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light Pure Fitness.

You know, back in 1940’s and 1950’s America there was probably very little talk about keeping waistlines under control: those were the days of the regular “meat and potatoes” meals (followed by incredibly rich desserts) and all kinds of other goodness that doesn’t fly too much today. As time went on, Americans did indeed begin to talk about waistlines, weight, and overall health. It became clear at some point, decades ago, that maybe we could do a little better for ourselves, health-wise, if we came up with artificial (i.e. NOT REAL, or chemical) sweeteners to use in our food, to save a bunch of calories without sacrificing taste.

So we did. By “we”, I mean the scientists came up with it. And we Americans ate it up, literally, without much regard for the fact that the definition of artificial is (courtesy of the Free Online Dictionary):

1.a. Made by humans; produced rather than natural.
b. Brought about or caused by sociopolitical or other human-generated forces or influences: set up artificial barriers against women and minorities; an artificial economic boom.
2. Made in imitation of something natural; simulated: artificial teeth.
3. Not genuine or natural: an artificial smile.

As a youngster, I never worried about that, much. Most youngsters wouldn’t, though I think today’s kids are very much more savvy than we were!

The first time I remember thinking about the possibility that artificial sweeteners weren’t necessarily the be-all, end-all was when I watched the late, great Gilda Radner perform in character as Rhonda (with the Rhondettes). They sang the catchy tune, “Goodbye Saccharin”, which is a classic, and can be found by clicking here if you’re interested.

Other forms of artificial sweeteners, of course, have appeared on the scene in the last forty years, and every time I turn around I’m hearing bad things about them. It makes me want to avoid them completely–it’s about time I take charge of what foods and drinks I put into my body!–and so these days I’ve been trying to “keep it real”. Great news: natural sweeteners are out there: take honey, for example. That’s a great one. So is molasses. Even some fruit or fruit juice can be used to sweeten up foods, like plain yogurt (which I find icky by itself!). Of course, the one I use is determined by what I’m making at the time, but the options are out there.

When I all but stopped drinking diet soda (and believe me, this is the toughest artificially-sweetened thing I’ve ever tried to ban from my life!), I cranked up my water intake. I add fruit to my water to change up the flavor a little bit, and when use one of my handy-dandy Crystal Light Pure Fitness drink mix packets, I feel good about the fact that it is naturally sweetened with cane sugar, because I’m done with using artificial sweeteners all willy-nilly.

What about you? What kinds of naturally sweetened foods and drinks do you enjoy? Here’s how you can tell me about it, and win:

I’m giving away a $100 Visa gift card as part of this review program, sponsored by Blogher and Crystal Light Pure Fitness. You’ve got three ways to answer; please note that a separate comment must be left for each of them (include your e-mail address, too!):

1. Leave a comment telling me what kinds of naturally sweetened foods and drinks you enjoy.
2. Tweet about this contest and leave a comment with a link to the tweet.
3. Follow this blog publicly with Google Connect, and leave a comment telling me that you just started following. If you already follow, leave me a comment telling me that!

I will be awarding the $100 Visa gift card at the end of this campaign, to a winner chosen using random.org. If I don’t get a response from you within one week of my e-mail to you, I will have to choose another winner.

You also need to get yourself over to the BlogHer.com Crystal Light Pure Fitness exclusive offers page, because there you will find links to the other participating bloggers’ posts (and you can enter THEIR $100 Visa Gift Card giveaways, too!), and you can also enter to win $1000!

Click here for the official rules, and click here to check out Crystal Light Pure Fitness drink mix for yourself!

E0EBC2C8393DAD4423FE9417A308918D

Related Posts

LTYM & The Partnership at Drugfree.org Blog Tour

September 12, 2013

Healthy Choice 100% Naturals Café Steamers: Feedback = More Options!

September 27, 2013

Bamboo Harmonizer Massage At Chicago’s The Peninsula Spa: Ahh-mazing!

October 2, 2013

22 Comments

  • Charity Donovan

    July 19, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    I was so happy when Yoplait came out with Simply Gogurt. My son enjoys those in his lunch and I hated sending all that high fructose corn syrup before. I really like all the Ocean Spray natural juices. I also love all the new Natural Peanut Butters & Jellies that are on the market now.

    charityd AT centurytel DOT net

  • Ri, the Music Savvy Mom

    July 19, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    Yeah, this is a subject I need to be thinking more about…especially the "diet soda banning." Both the hubs and I drink WAY more than we should.

    (Thanks for reminding me! 🙂 )

    Although – unless I'm mistaken, Mexican Coke does still use natural sweeteners, right? And when I'm bad and go for the Real Thing…I do try to pick that one. Sheese, I'm more health conscious than I thought! (Bwahahaha.)

  • Eternal Lizdom

    July 19, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    I avoid artifical sweeteenrs pretty diligently. And I include High Fructose Corn Syrup in that category since it is human made and messed with.

    My fave naturally sweetened stuff? Maple Agave Syrup at Trader Joe's. Perfect in my Cream of Wheat!

  • Michelle

    July 20, 2010 at 5:34 am

    You know I don't do the fake stuff… and unfortunately I've had to add agave to that list (umm sorry Eternal Lizdom – I bought that the day before I discovered the issues with agave) – it is treated by your body and absorbed much like lots of the really bad sweeteners. Such a shame; I had high hopes for it.

    I will use Stevia sometimes. Otherwise, I'm pretty much a honey or sugar gal. I also love sugar in the raw (that one I could eat plain, but I don't).

    And a HUGE second to Simply Go Gurt (which my grocery store does NOT carry but Costco does). It's so hard to avoid HFCS; it's literally EVERYwhere.

  • Megryansmom

    July 21, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    Oh in the summer I just can't get enough fresh fruit! Any fruit will do, watermelon or blueberries and strawberries in my yogurt. Mmmm.

  • Donna Freedman

    July 22, 2010 at 2:18 am

    I make jam from blackberries that I pick for free around the corner from my Seattle apartment. It takes a lot of cane sugar to make the preserves, but the flavor is so intense that a little jam goes a long way on toast, in yogurt or even in oatmeal.
    Right now I'm house-sitting in Anchorage, Alaska. My usual drink with meals is iced tea plus a splash of lemonade — but there aren't any pitchers for me to use. I get around it by making the tea one glass at a time and by mixing a water bottle's worth of Crystal Light lemonade at a time. That way I don't have to go buy a pitcher just for a few weeks' worth of iced tea.
    Also, sometimes when I'm really thirsty I'll just drink the Crystal Light, ice-cold, from the water bottle. I can always make more.
    Incidentally, I use just a little less water than suggested — it's tangier and holds its own when mixed with iced tea.

  • Deb ~ tnshadylady

    July 28, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    I love fruit! oh and honey too. I'll put honey in my coffee and tea and on toast for a naturally sweet treat.