Oh my goodness! Sugar free fudge and chocolates!

In my Christmas stocking this year, I received a small box of chocolates and a piece of chocolate peanut butter fudge - all sugar free! These delicious little treats came from Chocolate Smiles in Cary, North Carolina. (check them out online at www.chocolatesmiles.com) I was so excited that Santa (aka my sister) had included such a thoughtful gift, and I was even more delighted when I later opened up the box and found out how yummy the chocolates and the fudge are! Chocolate smiles indeed! 😄

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

My new obsession is...

Some of my new sugar free obsessions

Election Day Treat

Delicious sugar free cupcake from Yummy Cupcakes in Brentwood (they offer one sugar free flavor on Tuesdays and Saturdays) with an election-themed cupcake topper made by my friend Mandy.

Sugar Free Desserts on Vacation in Walt Disney World

One thing I am constantly amazed by is the utter lack of sugar free dessert options at restaurants.  However, when I took a vacation this past spring to Walt Disney World, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that many of the restaurants there actually had sugar free desserts on their menu.  Click here to read the post about my experience.

Some Things I've Said Goodbye to...

McDonalds' Iced Vanilla Coffee - this use to be my go-to coffee drink on the way to work in the mornings.  But alas, McDonalds does not have a sugar free version, so no more yummy Iced Vanilla Coffees for me.

Candy!  My faves in my previous life included M&Ms, Kit Kats, and Reese's.  Now occasionally I can find sugar free York Peppermint Patties, but that's pretty much it.

Pastries at Starbucks - I love Starbucks because they have great tasting sugar free syrup options for most of their beverages, and delicious bento boxes that provide a low sugar high protein snack.  But I've given up hoping for sugar free options to appear on their pastry shelves.  Those new petites look fabulous, but I'll have to pass!

Macarons - I love Macarons (not to be confused with Macaroons) but it turns out, there doesn't seem to be a way to make good sugar free ones.  The outside part (or the cookie) of a Macaron is made with a lot of powdered sugar, and while there are lots of sugar substitutes out there, I've yet to discover one that is a good sub for powdered sugar in terms of consistency and taste.

Beignets - Oh how I loved beignets from the Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney!  If you're not trying to eat sugar-free yourself, I highly recommend these.  The problem is similar to that of macarons - the powdered sugar really can't be decently substituted.  So even if I figure out a good sugar free recipe for the dough and make them at home, it just won't be the same.

Why is Diet Gingerale so hard to find?

Carbonated beverages in general pose a difficulty when you are eliminating sugar, especially if you are also trying to cut back on caffeine.  Generally, in the afternoon/evening, I try not to have any caffeine.  But when you're out at a restaurant or something like that, the only "sugar-free" option other than water is usually Diet Coke.  Restaurants almost never have Diet 7-Up / Sprite / Sierra Mist.


So pretty much this means just avoiding soda.  Which is OK, but sometimes I just really want a Gingerale or a Sprite!  At least you can find Sprite and 7-Up in a diet version in the grocery store if you want to have them at home.  But where in the world is all of the Diet Gingerale?  Not in West LA, at least not that I can find.

The Ralph's store across from my office NEVER has it.  Neither do any of the three stores in my neighborhood.  Ditto about the two Targets closest to me. 

 Finally, I found it at a third Target, one that is in a different area of town, and stocked up so I don't have to search again anytime soon.