Healthy Sugar Substitute

My kids have sweet tooths and so do I and my husband. Still we all know how sugar is supposed to be bad for you.
The first thing that you have to do is cut the level of refined sugar that you take on board every day. This means that you must cut right back on sugar rich foods such as cakes, cookies, candies, chocolate, jellies and the like and if you currently ladle sugar all over your breakfast cereal in the morning, stop doing it right now.
In addition, if you take sugar with your tea or coffee, try to wean yourself off sweetening your drinks or if this is something that you cannot imagine doing, try a natural sweetener like stevia or sucanat as alternative.
The first of these natural sweeteners is somewhat controversial in that it is approved by the FDA as a dietary supplement but not as a sweetener. Nevertheless, even though it is a little expensive, the extreme sweetness of stevia means that a little goes an awful long way, so the cost per cup of tea or coffee is probably no different to cost of the sugar you are currently buying.
On the other hand, sucanat is a one-for-one direct replacement for processed sugar and as always, there are plenty of places on the net where you can obtain both of these substances.
The point about having too much sugar in your diet is that not only does all of that instant energy tend to get piled on as fat if it is not used, processed sugar is bad for your immune system and particularly for your skin. Consequently, if you consume too much processed sugar or products made from sugar, it is pretty much a given that you are going to suffer boils and other skin problems.
Of course, this does not necessarily mean that you have to cut all sweet foods from your diet, but what you should do is replace the sweets that you used to use with natural sweet substances wherever possible. For example, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is an essential of any well-balanced diet, and if you want to boost your immune system, then you can replace some of the sweetness that you have lost with the sweetness of fruit.
Furthermore, there are lots of other entirely natural sweet substances that you can use to satisfy your sweet tooth. The sweet syrup that is commercially extracted from Agave comes in three different variations, ranging from a ‘light version' that has little traceable taste of the plant (just sweetness) to the version that carries a noticeable taste of the plant itself.
You then have reliable old standbys like maple syrup as well as less known but entirely natural sweeteners such as barley malt, date sugar, fruit juice concentrate and sorghum syrup.
There is also honey with some varieties such as manuka honey from New Zealand having acknowledged antibacterial qualities as well as being stunningly sweet as well. Indeed, as you can read on the website, the antibacterial qualities of this particular honey are so pronounced that you can even apply it to wounds for its antibacterial qualities!

Suggesting Gifts for a Baby Shower

As implied by my last blog I am now throwing another baby shower for my girlfriend who is expecting in the Spring.   I have sent out some invites and of course I am now being bombarded with calls about what kind of gifts to get her.

As the host or hostess of a baby shower, expect to be plagued by a million questions concerning what to get the expectant mother.

For this reason it is recommended that you set up a gift registry with a local toy, hardware, furniture and/or clothing store. Gift registries can also be set up on some sites on the Internet.

Usually, the expectant mother will directly tell you directly what kind of gifts she we would like or what items she needs to complete her nursery. If the mother is the shy type, you can probably pry a lot of information out of her mother, husband or sisters as to her needs and tastes.

Some people are allergic to things like chocolate and peanuts or react to certain fragrances and perfumes so be sure to ask your expectant mother about that before you start advising others what to buy her.

            Gifts fall into five basic categories:

•           Gifts that pamper mom such as candy and spa products

•           Clothing and products for the care of the baby (such as diapers and soothers)

•           Toys

•           Keepsakes such as picture frames, photo albums and key chain rings

•           Food and alcohol such as bottle of champagne for the happy parents to share after the birth of the baby or a frozen casserole that they can keep in the freezer to enjoy on a busy day

Sometimes the mother-to-be is strapped for cash, in which case you can set up a donation station at the event.

            The following are several fun ways to set up a donation station:

•           A Money Tree – this is a branch or small coniferous tree that is set up near the doorway. As guests leave or come in, they are encouraged to attach paper money to the tree with clothespins.

•           Money Clothesline – a clothesline is strung up in the living room and guests are encouraged to attach paper money so that it dangles like laundry.

•           Diaper pail – the pail is clearly labelled as Mommy Fund and guests are encouraged to step on the pedal and drop money in the bucket.

•           Diaper- the money is collected from guests by an appointed friend and gathered into a diaper, pinned and presented to the mother

•           Money Daisy- Cut a circle of cardboard (with a picture of the mother in the center if you like) and decorate the fringes with dollar bills. Encourage others to make the daisy “bloom”

More discreet methods of collecting money for the expectant mother include:

•           Buying a teddy bear or other stuffed toy that zips up and asking people to stuff it with paper bills

•           Doing the same with a beautiful cushion and calling it the “financial cushion”

•           Collecting the money in an envelope and tucking it under her pillow or in her purse for her to discover later

Of course you can also open a bank account in the mother’s name and then handing her the account book at the end of the party.  Nothing says 'I care for you' like cash!