How did my honey discovery lead me to sugar-free cooking?

Nowadays I almost never use sugar at home. I don't even remember the last time I bought it. I have a pack of brown sugar at home that is harder than a rock now, and I have to drop it on the floor really hard to crack it.

This doesn't mean that I don't eat anything sweet, though. My favorite sugar alternative these days is raw honey. I use it pretty much in every recipe that asks for sugar. I add it to my porridge, smoothies, or in baking. My other popular options include nut butters, natural maple syrup, bananas and dates. You can also use agave syrup or artificial sweeteners, but I almost never use them. Depending on what you are making, a pinch of cinnamon can also add a nice aromatic sweetness.

I have not always been a fan of honey. I actually even disliked it in the past. But a couple years ago I had a girls weekend in Florida. One day my friend who lives there took us to St. Augustine to explore the beautiful city and enjoy the weather. In the afternoon we wandered to a super cute narrow street filled with little local shops and stands, hidden gardens and beautiful art. One of the stores my friend showed us was a tiny store, Stubbees, selling locally produced organic raw honey. It was delicious and creamy, and also came in few flavors, including my favorite lemon and orange zest. This was really the first honey that I could actually eat right out of the jar. I did end up buying a couple of jars there and since then I've been regularly ordering my honey to be shipped from Florida. And every time I open that box I get excited like a kid on a Christmas day.

My transition to sugar-free cooking at home wasn't intentional to begin with. I just really liked the honey and started adding it everywhere instead of sugar. And then I simply stopped using sugar at home.  I know a lot of people who try to limit their sugar consumption. They often fail, though, because of a belief that eliminating sugar means eliminating anything sweet from your diet. But any complete elimination only intensifies our cravings. Instead, if you are trying to cut down on sugar or completely eliminate it, explore healthy and delicious sugar alternatives out there. Just experiment with different options and chose the one that tastes best to you. You will still be able to satisfy your sweet tooth and add healthy sweetness to your regular breakfast items, drinks, snacks and other dishes. Enjoy your sweet discoveries!