Chobani Zero Sugar Yogurts

Have you tried Chobani’s Zero Sugar yogurts? If so, please share your comments to add to our upcoming blog post. 

Small changes can help manage diabetes, but where do you start? Many zero-sugar, less-sugar, and reduced-sugar foods have a strange aftertaste or leave you unsatisfied and wanting to eat more. The more these products proliferate in grocery store aisles, the more hopeless our search becomes. We’d love to hear what works or doesn’t for achieving your diabetes health goals. Let’s help each other out with some valuable insights!

Mr. Divabetic talks to nationally-recognized Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Jill Weisenberger MS, RDN, CDCES, CHWC, FAND about The Beginner’s Guide To What To Eat With Type 2 Diabetes digital download.

Podcast guests include Catherine Schuller, Poet Lorraine Brooks, Patricia Addie-Gentle RD, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst Nicolay, MEd, NDTR, and MamaRose Marie. Hosted by Mr. Divabetic.

With a few simple swaps, you can help live your best life while managing your diabetes. Our experts offer straightforward, simple, and fun swap ideas for drinks, medications, self-care, and fashion. Plus, we share style tips and words of inspiration to help you maintain a healthy habit.

Developing these habits isn’t always easy. Adapting to a new routine can be tricky, and it’s often tempting to want to return to old ways if we don’t see immediate results. One of the biggest mistakes people make when forming a new habit is taking on too much too quickly.  Focus on what’s working in your diabetes self-care plan before overhauling diabetes management. Instead of decluttering the entire house, why not focus on one room or closet? Why not focus on the calories you drink rather than everything you eat?  If you want to eat healthier, try replacing one dessert daily with a piece of fruit rather than cutting out sugar completely. If you’re going to get into hiking, start with a walk at lunchtime. Setting small goals you can achieve will help keep you motivated along the way.


Product Review: Lakanto Sugar-Free Cookie Mix

This week, I’m visiting a Houston friend who adheres to a Keto Diet for health reasons unrelated to diabetes. Keto Diet is generally defined as a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates (sugars) that causes the body to break down fat into molecules called ketones.

I’m not on a Keto Diet, but I’m always curious about what other people eat, so my friend willingly gave me a tour of her pantry. I spotted several Lakanto Sugar-Free Cookie Mix packages on her shelf. She says, “They’re great!” She especially likes the brownie mix. 

Lakanto products contain monk fruit. Monk fruit is a small, melon-like fruit grown in China and gets its name from the Buddhist monks who originally grew it centuries ago. Monk fruit sugar has been given the stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and given the title of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). ‌Monk fruit has zero calories or carbs; it will not raise blood sugar levels.

The Lakanto website claims that in less than 15 minutes, you’ll have freshly baked, sugar-free, keto-friendly cookies! They even offer a frosting recipe using Lakanto Powdered Monkfruit Sweetener.

She made some brownies earlier, so I was able to sample one. I found the brownies brimming with chocolate. They tasted lighter than regular brownies, which is true of every baked good recipe in which you substitute most popular sugar substitutes for sugar. It’s a different taste but not bad.  It doesn’t have the cooling effect or bitter aftertaste of other sugar substitutes. Sadly, I feel these brownies made me hungry for one with sugar.

A quick scan of Amazon reviews for Lankanto Sugar Free Cookie Mix revealed people’s reactions are mixed. While many reviewers wrote, “I had no expectations for these gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, egg-free “sugar cookies” and they were delicious!!! And “They do have a very slight bit of an aftertaste. But they are probably the best keto sugar cookie mix I have tried!” Several other reviews commented, “Disliked the texture and the flavor. Baked according to directions, and the cookies fell apart. They were very sweet and had a weird aftertaste. I personally would not buy again.”

On a side note, another reviewer got creative in her kitchen and came up with an interesting way to enjoy cookie mix, “I haven’t made the first cookie. Instead, I mix some with liquid or cottage cheese and have a dessert I don’t have to feel bad about.”

Erythritol is an ingredient in this Lakanto Monkfruit blend. Erythritol, eaten in excess, may cause diarrhea, stomach cramps/discomfort, headache, bloating, and explosive gas. My friend has not experienced any of the side effects.