Vanilla Powder
Pure vanilla bean powder is heavenly. It looks like dirt and tastes like ice cream. Try it in plain yogurt and you'll think you're eating a sundae. It's not cheap but you don't need much.You could also buy the beans at most stores and crush them. You could use vanilla extract, but the alcohol in the extract diminishes the sweet effect.
Cinnamon
In oatmeal, cinnamon, with it's subtle sweetness, is a classic. But try adding a dash of it to coffee as it brews. Toss it into the french press or coffee maker and let it infuse into the grinds. You'll likely use far less (if any) sugar.
Coconut Flesh and Flakes
There is nothing so sweet as raw coconut flesh scooped straight from the coconut, but the other way to eat it is adding it to cooked oatmeal. If accessing the fresh flesh is not an option, toss in some flakes. But be sure to get the unsweetened kind or else you're defeating the purpose of this whole retraining exercise!
Almond Milk
Almonds contain minimal sugar, but because of their sweet tasting oil they can trick our taste buds into thinking sugar's present.Add it to tea as well as smoothies and you'll likely use far less sweetener. The only downside to commercial almond milk is most have sugar added.
Coconut Oil
Cook kale (or other greens) in coconut oil and any bitterness is instantly eliminated. Eggs are transported to great heights when scrambled with it. The mind makes such a strong "sweet" association with the scent of coconut, that even when there is no sugar present (like in the coconut oil) the mouth senses "sweet". Look for the pure, virgin kind sold at most health oriented stores.
Cooked Onion
Many savory foods have loads of sugar added-pasta sauce, soup, chile... This is especially true for foods with a tomato base due to tomato's acidity. If you're making tomato-based foods at home, the trick to having them taste great is sauteed onion. More than you think you need! Let them caramelize on the stove top until they're deeply golden, their sugar oozing out...
Apple Sauce
It's an ideal substitute for sugar in muffins as it brings a touch of flavor without overwhelming the goods. If you go this route, you may want to cut back a little on the liquid, and/or add a few minutes to the baking time. Yes, it will be less sweet than the original version, but that's the point! Avoid the unsweetened kind, since apple sauce naturally brings a ton of its own. The homemade version is simple - just chop the apple, add a touch of water, simmer and mash it all up.
Avocado
You can add it to smoothies or use it on a salad. Most store-bought dressings are packed with sugar, but try mixing mashed avocado, a touch of olive oil and some vinegar and you'll have all the sweet you need.
Crushed Berries
Crush some berries, toss them on toast and forget the jam. Add them to yogurt and skip the sugar-packed fruit versions at the store. Frozen berries are great since they bring their own sauce when thawed. If berries aren't around, chopped apple and pear in yogurt works great.
Roast Vegetables
There is (almost) no food that cannot be made extraordinary by roasting (with a touch of olive oil and salt). Eat the roasted vegs at the end of the meal and you will be far less in need of a sweet. The most dessert-like ones: sweet potato, squash, beets and carrots.
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