A couple of the ladies on here use Stevia. I actually found some and I was wondering how it measures up to sugar. I could only find it in the little packets. Could I use this in a recipe? I read somewhere that it is best when combined with another sweetener. I bought it because I remember someone saying that it is actually a natural sweetener rather than a chemical one. Am I right about that?

Oh, and by the way ladies I'm back! (NOt officially starting until Monday- but trying to eat healthy now too) I know it has been awhile but I still recognize many names and see lots of new ones- So Hello!

Hi - I have used Stevia powder as a sweetener in tea. I like it just fine, but the tea masks a lot, so I can't say if it has a peculiar taste or anything. It doesn't taste like cane sugar (nothing does), but I found it pleasant. It should be fine as a sweetener, but you wouldn't want to use it in baked goods unless it was a recipe specifically designed to use Stevia. It lacks the bulk and the carmelizing effect that sugar provides. It is natural - Stevia is the plant's name. However, you would want to make sure that the Stevia you have is not adulterated with something off-plan, since sometimes Stevia is mixed with other things.

I use Stevia in tea. It does have a somewhat bitter taste. For cooking and to put on fruit I like splenda.

Hi, Jen, and welcome back! How's that beautiful little daughter of yours? She looks adorable in that picture.
The magazine, "Real Simple", rated sweeteners in their Nov. issue, from the least to most controversial, and Stevia was at the bottom of the list. It said since it's marketed as a dietary supplement it's not subject to approval by the FDA, but the FDA has no evidence that stevia is harmful, but inadequate evidence that it's safe, so it can't be used as a food additive and hasn't been given GRAS status. They recommend using it with caution. (By the way, Splenda had the top rating.)

FYI - Stevia has been used for decades in most of the rest of the world, and I haven't heard of any side effects, so I don't think that there are any common reactions. Since it's a plant product, I suppose one could theoretically be allergic to it, just like one could be allergic to any other plant. For my part, I hate Splenda - I think it tastes nasty, and some people are sensitive to it.

The side effect I got when I used it was, the sudden impulse to spit out the yogurt I had just put it in....I dunno maybe I used too much or something but BLECH! It really was spit-it-out bad...

Kylee is doing fantastic! She is tall (off the charts) and lean thus far. Hopefully she'll stay that way and not take after her momma! My main reasons for coming back are not only losing weight for me, but adopting a healthier lifestyle so she'll learn how to eat healthy from day one and not have to put her time and energy into losing weight as an adult like I have!