So, for those of you that didn’t know, I am a type 1 diabetic and have been for almost 8 years. It’s a bit of a pain for the foodie lifestyle I like to live, and I’m not always the most sensible when faced with a dessert, but there are a few products that I have found to satisfy my sweet cravings without putting my blood sugars through the roof. You don’t have to be diabetic to enjoy this (the blog and the foods lol) because anything to reduce our sugar intake has to be a good thing right?
Lindt No Sugar Added Chocolate
I became obsessed with this product recently when entering the Lindt shop for a gift, and leaving with the best ‘No sugar added chocolate’ I’d ever tasted. It was on offer for 75p so it would have been rude to say no. They only had the dark chocolate, which was fine for me, but I saw they also do a milk choc after researching. Whatever anyone says, there’s no way you could tell it apart from regular chocolate! I felt that I had discovered a hidden secret here, so of course, I went into the shop the next day to buy more… seems I wasn’t the only one in on the secret as it had all gone (sad face).
Aldi’s (Dominion) Sugar Free Sweet Liquorice
My mum treated me to these knowing my love for liquorice (I also eat pineapple on pizza, sorry). I was a little sceptical after trying sugar free sweets before and being disappointed. But these were the bomb! They are so liquorice-y (a lot of sugar free sweets can have weakened flavours) and satisfied my craving for sweets which is the ultimate aim for a diabetic! They are kinda chewy and get stuck in your teeth so maybe not a publicly-consumed choice.
Hartley’s Sugar Free Jelly
Jelly is such a guilty pleasure of mine, its so fun and tasty and never leaves you feeling heavy. Hartley’s sugar free tastes absolutely just as good as their regular sugar-loaded one and there’s no excuse for not making this change if you’re a fellow jelly lover like me. Enough said.
Hotel Chocolat “More Cocoa Less Sugar”
After working at Hotel Chocolat for 5 months or so, I now understand their “More Cocoa, Less Sugar” mantra. Where most chocolatiers fill their products with sugar and a low cocoa content (making you addicted), HC up their cocoa content in order for it to be the main ingredient, rather than sugar. Therefore, they’re already the better company to get your chocolate from if you’re cutting down your sugar intake. HC does actually do a (practically) sugar-free chocolate which is their 100% cocoa solids chocolate. Although this sounds like the best option for a diabetic, it is VERY bitter so be careful, this blog is about sweet alternatives and really, this isn’t one. I would suggest working your way up, I am on 85% and enjoy that. HC has also created their own ‘super-milk’ which is a milk chocolate with a high % cocoa but less sugar than their house grade dark chocolate. After telling my boss about my Lindt excursion (he wasn’t happy), I was recommended the super milk and it is delish!!!
The Skinny Food Co
So, when discussing this blog idea with my best friend and fellow type 1 diabetic Chloe (she copied my diabetes because she’s that obsessed with me), she told me about The Skinny Food Co. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of them before. After scrolling through their Instagram and exhausting their website I am addicted before I’ve even tried any of their products! They started out in 2018 and were inspired by diabetic family members who missed out on certain foods that we all love (I know the pain). They have since created a body of products that are virtually zero calorie and low sugar, including sweet and savoury sauces, protein cakes, baking mixes, spreads, and so much more. A lot is sold out online so I’m taking that as a good sign, but I’ll have to report back when I’ve tried it all.
Out for tea with Lucy 