Question:
From New Jersey, USA:
I have noticed that most sugar-free candies, foods, and desserts contain the same if not more amounts of carbohydrates as regular foods. Wouldn't it then be easier and just as healthy to eat regular foods for snacks rather than searching for a sugar-free look-a-like that is not entirely "free"?
Answer:
This becomes a matter of choice. If all carbohydrates are equal it should make no difference which product you choose. The difference may
come in the amount of product you get as a serving. For instance, 1/4 cup sweetened applesauce vs. 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce. Satiety
then becomes the issue.
The position of the American Dietetic and American Diabetes Associations is that the total amount of carbohydrate, not the source, should be the focus. Sometimes the sugar free items allow a larger serving of the food which is more satisfying to the individual, but the need to only eat sugar free items is no longer considered paramount.
JM
Original posting 16 Nov 97