If you’re a caregiver for a senior relative, you probably already know that eating a lot of sugar is bad for your elderly loved one. To help ensure that your loved one can have something sweet without eating too much sugar, the senior care experts at Home Care Assistance Waterloo suggest incorporating these sugar substitutes in your loved one’s diet.
1. Applesauce
One cup of unsweetened applesauce only has 100 calories, as well as plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals, making it a perfect substitute for sugar in when baking. Switch out the white sugar for an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce in recipes to drastically lower the number of calories without sacrificing sweetness. Plus, applesauce offers plenty of moisture to keep cookies gooey and muffins from getting dry.
2. Raw Honey
Raw honey packs a powerful antioxidant punch, fighting allergies, colds, and infections. Raw honey can be used in lieu of sugar in anything from smoothies and tea to salad dressings or oatmeal. And, as honey is sweeter than cane sugar, it will offer a sweeter taste with fewer calories.
3. Rapadura
For a real sugar flavor without heavy processing, consider switching white sugar for rapadura sugar. This unrefined cane sugar is less processed and contains more vitamins and minerals than regular sugar. Rapadura is also a great source of critical nutrients, like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6. Since rapadura is made from sugar, it can also be used for baking and marinades.
4. Reb A
Reb A is a type of sweetener made from the stevia plant and it is the sweetest of all stevia components. Reb A, 200x sweeter than sugar, is sold under Pure Via. Reb A is perfect for seniors who love a little bit of sugar in their morning tea or coffee, blending easily into hot beverages.
5. Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is unrefined, retaining all of its vitamins and minerals, and does not make blood sugar fluctuate, though keep in mind: Diabetics should still consult their doctor before incorporating coconut sugar into their diets. Coconut sugar can be used as a one-to-one substitute for white or brown sugar, making it easy to use in the kitchen for baking or for an extra touch of sweetness in drinks.
For other ways to help keep your elderly loved one healthy, turn to Home Care Assistance. As a leading provider of home care, our professional hourly and 24/7 caregivers in Waterloo are dedicated to helping seniors adopt and maintain healthy habits, including physician-recommended diets and exercise routines. For more information about how our senior care services can benefit your elderly loved one, give a Care Manager a call at (519) 954-2111 and schedule a free in-home consultation.