Vegans? Vegetarians?

[ahk]

I have a question--

What is a good substitute for sugar? But not agave--

Thank you.

[nycfem]

Honey? Fruit juice? Fruit juice concentrate? Molasses? Sometimes I sweeten with actual fruit, like I add apple or raisins or dried cranberries. I even sweeten with vinegar. Be creative. There's also the option to do some cognitive reframing, as in, "Why don't I just let sugar go and not replace it with anything?"

Fake sugars kill us but there are Splenda and Stevia for example. They are better than Aspartame but still a menace to society in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by ahk

I have a question--

What is a good substitute for sugar? But not agave--

Thank you.

[easygoingfemme]

There are a variety of options, depending on how you want to use it.
Good liquid options are honey, molasses, maple syrup, brown rice syrup. Easy to swap for things like sweetening your coffee or tea.

Fruit purees are nice, cooked down apples, pears, pureed dates... nice for mixing into things like oats, granola bars, and other baking endeavors.

Baking, you can use the liquid sweeteners, you just need to add a little more of your solid/absorbent flour and what have you to soak it up. Or I like raw sugar/sucanot for baking when I don't want to tinker with texture. The raw sugar still contains some of the vitamins and minerals as well as fiber of the cane and makes the sugar metabolize a little bit better in your body.

[ahk]

Yeah I have been experimenting with all kinds of stuff lately--

Thank you, both, for posting your thoughts-- and ideas.

a.

[veganswitch]

Originally Posted by Angeltoes

Agave is really high calorie. If you can find Xylitol and Sorbitol it's possible to bake with them but I think the the truth is that... slowly perhaps, you have to just adjust yourself to less of a sweet taste. It's not always easy but little by little anyone can adjust. I used to eat much sweeter food but then I decided that's just not the way food was meant to taste. Use fruit or whatever grows naturally to make it taste better.

my friend swears by coconut sugar.

[FemmeTastic]

I was vegetarian from age 12 to 28 and have been vegan now for 3 years Best decision I could ever make. The variety of vegetables, greens, fruits and legumes I've been eating ever since going vegan is incredible. Most of the things I eat now on a daily basis, I never even KNEW of when I was ovo-lacto-vegetarian, because honestly, as long as *it* had cheese in it, I was as happy as it gets. But without the cheese, I have found all sorts of recipes to make my dishes just as delcious, albeit very differently tasting of course.
I have about 25 oz of green smoothie for breakfast every morning, and don't eat any sugar refined or otherwise, unless it naturally occurs in whole fruits and veggies. I don't eat wheat, spelt, or rye. As a vegan that leaves me with limited options when eating out, but I manage. My health has improved significantly and that, to me, is worth it.
I'm primarily vegan for the animals, though. I LOVED the taste of meat, fish and chicken. Disliking any of it was never the reason for quitting it.

[Bel]

Hello all, I've been on a vegan diet most of my life! Here's to plant-based vitality!

[cuspofqueens]

My People!

*hugs all of you* I never in my life thought I would find other people like me....lesbian is one thing, right? And then vegetarian/vegan is something completely different. I'm so glad you all exist and are here!

On a food note: I gave up sugar* 10 days ago and I am craving blueberry muffins. About to go make some and just sub in a mashed banana for the sugar. I love experimenting in the kitchen, but this one has me slightly nervous. Wish me luck!

*I promise I don't hate myself! :P

[Greco]

Living the vegan life style has been the one of the greatest changes in my life...really...began making green smoothies and running and the rest, well...really like night and day, on another planet. I am grateful to those green smoothies, and running.

I will say that the change was for me. One of my grand-nephews who just turned 14yo btw was vegetarian since birth! He does not touch/eat meat, always refused it, so we do eat together when I'm in the City. And I do cook what my other family members eat, chicken, fish, steak again when in the City...interestingly, my eldest sister doesn't eat red meat anymore...so, being an example and not preaching is the best policy for me and for my family.

Yes to those green smoothies!

Greco

[nycfem]

I recently tried jackfruit as a "meat substitute." It gets a lot of hype but *shrug*- it wasn't my thing- looked cool but that's about it!

Speaking of meat substitutes (and yes, yes, I know some people don't subscribe to them at all), I'm back into Primal Strips as a treat (vegan jerky). My favorite is Thai Peanut flavor.

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by nycfem

I recently tried jackfruit as a "meat substitute." It gets a lot of hype but *shrug*- it wasn't my thing- looked cool but that's about it!

Speaking of meat substitutes (and yes, yes, I know some people don't subscribe to them at all), I'm back into Primal Strips as a treat (vegan jerky). My favorite is Thai Peanut flavor.

nyc! I enjoy the Gardein chicken tenders...when I can..spouse loves it when we eat the same thing...so not as often as I would like!

[cuspofqueens]

Have y'all tried the Field Roast Deli Style slices? I'm kind of in love with them; mainly because the grocery store next to my work offers them as a sandwich filling option! I went on a road trip once, stopped at Subway for their veggie sandwich (which is a mockery of a sandwich and never worth the $6 they charge me, I swear), and stuck these slices in to bulk it up.

I do have to figure out more high-protein options beyond fake meats. Those get expensive fast. I am working with a nutritional coach who gave me specific macros to hit, and when I can get 'enough' protein in, my body seems to do what I want (it to do) better and easier.

[Gayandgray]

I've gone back to making smoothies every morning and wow! I can feel the difference already. I add in a scoop of Vegan protein powder and always use kale or spinach.

[Gayandgray]

I tried some Tofurky sausage links and really liked them. And I finally tried the strawberry & rubarb flavor vegan yogurt I been wanting to try. I forget the brand...Noos?? Noosh? It starts with an "N" anyhow.

[Angeltoes]

Originally Posted by ahk

I have a question--

What is a good substitute for sugar? But not agave--

Thank you.

Agave is really high calorie. If you can find Xylitol and Sorbitol it's possible to bake with them but I think the the truth is that... slowly perhaps, you have to just adjust yourself to less of a sweet taste. It's not always easy but little by little anyone can adjust. I used to eat much sweeter food but then I decided that's just not the way food was meant to taste. Use fruit or whatever grows naturally to make it taste better.

[ahk]

What about Sucanat? Has anyone used it--

Also, what about different flours-- quinoa, coconut, spelt--

I have been using spelt for a months now, and I like it-- but I also picked up coconut and quinoa to try. What are your pros/cons about different flours?

[easygoingfemme]

Spelt is nice as an alternative to traditional wheat flour because it still has a natural "gush" about it that helps give a good texture when baking. However, it is a relative of wheat so if you are branching into new flours to avoid gluten, spelt may or may not be a good choice for you.

When you get into flours like rice, quinoa, oat, etc, the missing gluten is generally an issue because without tinkering with them you get crumbly dry baked goods. You generally want to cut those with something like potato flour or xanthan gum which helps bond the flour together same as how gluten acts in wheat flour.

I like Sucanat when I'm baking for someone else who is used to regular white sugar and I want to use a more natural sweetener but keep the texture consistent with what they are used to. You would just substitute it for the amount of white sugar you'd be using in equal portions and everything else in a recipe, if you are using one, would stay the same.