I’ve been using it specifically to sweeten warm beverages (bullet coffee, yellow chai), so cannot currently report on how it behaves during baking. (some sugar alcohols don’t hold up well to the oven – there can be issues with things not browning and a cooling sensation in the mouth can also occur depending on what’s being used…)

For sweetening coffee and tea the monkfruit mix is quite pleasing. It’s a sugar alcohol combination product that seems to have no aftertaste or any sort of cooling sensation in the mouth – this product combines erythritol and monkfruit. It’s mildness really stands out, plus the 1:1 ratio which means a teaspoon of monkfruit sweetener sweetens like a teaspoon of sugar. It’s really easy to use as a sugar replacement…

Net carbs (less than 1 carb per teaspoon)

Total carbs per teaspoon = 4g

total carbs 4g – sugar alcohols 4g  = 0 net carbs

Where can I buy Lakanto monkfruit golden sugar replacement?

Whole Foods in the Portland metro area usually offer the golden version and classic (white sugar replacement).

Amazon would be happy to connect you with Lakanto golden monkfruit.

And I would also highly recommend their sugar free maple flavored syrup. Mix it into some heavy whipped cream and whip it into something delicious…

• everyone tolerates sugar alcohols differently – introduce new items into your diet slowly and with an eye toward how your body responds. Iâ€d recommend trying each product individually and confirming your liking before purchasing larger amounts (I am reporting my experiences and preferences, which may not match your own)
• We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Nowadays we are living High Fat Low Carb (HFLC) which allows for a generous-seeming 50 net carbs per day. Granted, if we had not lived keto for months, 50 net carbs in a day would not seem any sort of “easy” – it’s all about context. Anyhow, we’ve been figuring out ways to stay in the HFLC zone while not making every single meal and meal component at home, by hand. (We still make a huge amount of our own food each day and would be happy to share some of our favorite recipes, plus tips and tricks)

One of the many food items I miss about before keto and before low carb are crackers. I loved me some saltines for settling the stomach. Or just enjoying a crunchy snack with or without cheese or other toppings. While pursuing keto macros (30 or less net carbs per day) I did not find any crackers that were viable. For low carb, though, I have actually found a few options that seem worth the carb cost to me.

My favorite low carb cracker option is Organic Sweet Potato crackers from RW Garcia. They’re USDA organic, they’re gluten free, they include flaxseed, sesame and chia. They cost about one net carb per cracker. So, 16 crackers would equal 16 carbs. Even on HFLC I don’t “spend” 16 carbs on crackers. However, 5 to 10 crackers (plus cheese or maybe chicken salad) seems like a pretty great use of those 5 to 10 points.

Net carbs (just under one per cracker)

Total carbs = 18g for 16 crackers/1 oz of crackers

total carbs 18g – fiber 2g = 16g net carbs for 16 crackers

While these might not seem like a great deal or the best use of limited carbs, if you check out other cracker options it turns out these are a pretty good deal for a snack.

Also, they are delicious – a little bit sweet and also salty. I usually eat them without any adornments – so I’m fairly likely to peel off any cheese and enjoy each bit separately.

Where can I get sweet potato crackers?

Your best deal – Costco. It’s a big box with two sacks of crackers within…

Safeway also carries this brand, at least in the pacific northwest area. (smaller boxes)

And Amazon can also connect you with sweet potato crackers.

• We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Happily, there are some options that either don’t contain any sugar (ginger black tea unsweetened) or you can investigate drinks that use a sugar replacement (diet). There are quite a few sugar alcohol sweetened drink options if you’re wanting something flavorful and sugary seeming. The Bai brand makes a number of tasty drink varieties that are low carb thanks to the sugar alcohol erythritol.

Bai offers a line of carbonated soda-like replacements that feature very low net carbs which, using their proprietary sugar alcohol blend (comprised of erythritol and stevia leaf extract), nails the sweetness of soda pop while rather handily masking the sugar alcohol taste. I am saying these soda replacements are so well formulated that someone not on living low carb might enjoy them. The “Bai proprietary sweetener blend” is pretty amazing – in the soda selections you can almost believe it’s just your frenemy sugar.

Of the available Bai black soda flavors I’ve sampled, I most favor Kohala Kola and Colombia Cream.

Net carbs (less than one for a can!)

If you’re tracking your net carbs (total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols), Bai soda is going to make you happy – there’s less than 1 carb for a can!

Total carbs = 10g

total carbs 10g – Erythritol (sugar alcohol) 10g = 0 net carbs

Only 5 calories per can, less than one net carb and full of sparkling sweet flavor – it’s even billed as an antioxidant infusion, featuring caffeine and white tea extract. Could it be claimed to be healthful?

Living low carb can present challenges, but thanks to the Bai black series I’ve been enjoying more soda-like beverages than previously.

Where can I get Bai low carb soda?

My local Fred Meyers has a decent selection – it’s worth noting you have to look for the Bai sodas within the main soda section.

I’ve also purchased it from my local Safeway (in the Portland metro area).

Amazon can also hook you up with Bai black sodas.

And while I have not yet seen Bai soda at Costco, you can get the Bai infused drinks there. (uncarbonated, less sweet, similar macros/low carb)

• everyone tolerates sugar alcohols differently – introduce new items into your diet slowly and with an eye toward how your body responds. I’d recommend trying each product individually and confirming your liking before purchasing larger amounts (I am reporting my experiences and preferences, which may not match your own)
• We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

So there has been a bit of talk over there in the great cold land of Russia about how we here in the US are headed down the path of civil war and toward a seemingly similar fate suffered there in the largest nation on Earth. Here is a link to the story provided to me by the Laughing Daddy himself who them proclaimed himself to be leading the charge to form our new Republic of Cascadia up here in the Northwest. It does sound pretty sweet, as we will have our own Sasquatch militia which sounds pretty formidable in theory doesn’t it?
I think this asshat may end up disappointed when his absurdist propaganda doesn’t quite pan out as predicted. While I’m not even entirely against the idea of distancing myself from many of the wackos of this great land of ours, you can take that map of yours that shows China ruling the Northwest, and bury it right up your frosty snow hole. This isn’t Russia pal, as much infighting as we have over here…we are still united as a majority in the end. We’ve made mistakes, however in case you didn’t notice, we (unlike Russia) are correcting our own mistakes, and have rallied to elect a leader we feel will bring about positive change. I’ve heard rumors you will be getting your KGB “president” back soon eh? Good luck with that.