Five Ways to Use Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that's ideal for anyone who needs to watch carb intake, but is a little leery of using artificial sweeteners. Because Stevia is so much sweeter than granulated sugar, a little goes a long way. While the product does not work in recipes where sugar is needed to produce a certain texture, it is great when all you need is a dash of flavor. Here are five ways you can use Stevia every day and cut down on your sugar intake.

Homemade Soft Drinks

Save money and cut sugar intake without buying sodas that include one or more artificial sweeteners. Combine a packet of unsweetened soft drink mix with the right amount of carbonated water, then add Stevia to taste. Since you control the amount of sweetener in the beverage, it's easy to make the soda a little tart, or as sweet as you like.

No-Sugar Hot Chocolate

If you want something warm, heat up some fat free milk, stirring in some unsweetened cocoa powder and a little Stevia as you go. You get the taste of the cocoa, but avoid the cholesterol and fat of whole milk, as well as eliminating the simple carbs of table sugar. This is a great treat when the weather is cold or rainy.

Yogurt for Dessert

Enhance plain yogurt with a dash of Stevia and any type of flavoring you like. If chocolate yogurt sounds appealing, stir in some unsweetened cocoa powder. For fruity yogurt, grab a packet of unsweetened soft drink mix (fruit punch or strawberry are great options). Chill the mixture for an hour or so before serving, if you like a thicker consistency.

Cranberry Punch for Parties

All you need is unsweetened cranberry juice, some carbonated water, and Stevia to taste. Between the natural tartness of the cranberry juice and the way Stevia has less of an aftertaste than other alternative sweeteners, people are highly unlikely to realize they are not consuming a drink laced with sugar.

Stevia Smoothies

Quick and easy to make, all you need is a blender and a few basic ingredients: powdered milk, bananas or berries of your choice, some plain yogurt, a little fat free milk, and Stevia powder. Combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth. Once they are evenly blended, toss in some ice cubes and continue blending until the consistency is just the way you like it.

When purchasing Stevia products, make sure to read the label. Some products include trace amounts of artificial sweeteners along with this alternative natural sweetener. For best results, go with powders or liquids that are made with Stevia alone. You'll quickly see that when it comes to sweetness, Stevia needs no help at all.