A great place to start choosing natural foods is by cutting down on processed sugar. In moving from less processed foods to more whole, natural ingredients, you’ll be taking care of yourself and eating right. It’s so easy and quick that it won’t take away from your busy schedule. We promise it’ll taste delicious too!

The Problem with Processed

Roughly 1 in 10 Americans consume 25% of their calories from processed sugar. What’s wrong with that? Processed sugar has no nutritional value, meaning your body isn’t gaining any benefits from eating it. In fact, excess consumption of processed sugars has been linked to obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. So not only are you not getting any nutritional value, you could be harming your body too.

Honey Saves the Day

Thankfully, Mother Earth provides us with a naturally sweet alternative: honey! Unlike processed sugar, honey has nutrients and enzymes like vitamins A, B, D, K and E. Honey also has a low glycemic index, meaning you won’t experience sugar crashes with this golden treat. Honey by nature is sweeter than sugar, so you can use less of it for the same amount of sweetness!

Not just any honey will do; make sure to choose raw and unfiltered honey. That way, you know that your honey hasn’t been processed and that all the nutrients, vitamins and enzymes remain as the bees intended. Raw means the natural nutrients aren’t burned up with high heat, and unfiltered means that the pollens are left intact. Honey like Nature Nate’s Raw & Unfiltered (bright orange label) has only been lightly strained to remove chunks of wax or leftover bee parts, but the pollens are left in the honey for consumption so that you can still get all the natural benefits. It’s left as natural as possible.

With your raw and unfiltered honey in hand, you can keep your favourite sweet treats and add in nutritional value. Here are some easy places to make the change from processed sugar to natural honey:

Hidden Culprits

Surprisingly, processed sugar sneaks into many prepared foods. Condiments, breads, salad dressings and other foods might be loaded with sugar without you even realizing it! Ketchup, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise and other common condiments are all culprits of hidden processed sugar. While the sugar content may seem minimal, it can add up. (Let’s be honest, who only eats a tablespoon of ketchup with their fries?)

Being aware of the processed sugar hidden in condiments and other prepared foods is the first step in avoiding processed sugar overload. Making your own condiments, dressings and breads at home is the best way to ensure you’re leaving out that processed sugar because at home, you can sub raw honey in for processed sugar. Try these simple recipes for ketchup, BBQ sauce and 2-ingredient grilling sauces. You’ll know exactly what goes in and what stays out!

Sweet Drinks

We love a delicious sweet tea on a hot summer afternoon or an iced mocha to start the day off with a kick. But these beloved drinks can pack in the processed sugar, especially if you’re reaching for a grab and go option. Even the sugar in your morning tea or coffee can add up. But you don’t have to give up on these amazing drinks! Drizzle honey into your tea or coffee instead spooning in sugar. With these 15 drink recipes, you can make all of your favourite sweet drinks at home with no sugar added. Just grab a to-go mug and you’ll be out the door in no time.