Stevia is a good thing

The ongoing Greek Yogurt debate has brought me to Yoplait Greek Yogurt.  I’ve been trying different brands to see who has the best flavor and creaminess.  Yoplait is creamy but it’s really not very sweet.  However, I have found that a couple of drops of stevia will sweeten it right up and make it tolerable.

At first I forgot to check ingredients on the yogurts I was buying and found that some are really good and others not so much.  Now I know why those good ones taste so good – Corn syrup.  Evil corn syrup!  This stuff really isn’t good for you despite what the corn growers of America try to tell you – yes, your body does know the difference.  Corn syrup goes directly to fat, does not pass go and does not collect $200!  It also works on the appetite sensors in your body to make you crave it more (can we say sweet cocaine?)  Just Google corn syrup vs. sugar and you’ll get a multitude of articles about why it’s bad for you – worse than refined sugar.

So why Stevia?  (Have you seen the commercial about the woman who has a new love, a sweet love, it comes from a plant, etc… that’s stevia.)  It does come from a plant that grows right here in Missouri.  Just like sugar, this sweet plant is processed into liquid or crystal form and you can now buy it in health food stores.  I’ve seen a commercial where they show packets of it in restaurants but so far I’ve not found it commercially.  (The woman who complains about her ice tea to sugar ratio being destroyed by the waitress – that’s stevia too.)

So the quest for perfect Greek yogurt is still on going to find one without corn syrup is creamy and is sweet enough without aspartame.  It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.  J