COMMENT FROM DEBRA: I agree with you about the affects on the body of the foods you name. However, the reality is that people are eating sweets containing those ingredients. What I am offering on my Sweet Savvy website are healthier alternatives.

I myself have gone through the transition from eating sugar and flour to not eating them. Going "cold turkey" is very difficult both physically and psychologically. By taking the step to natural sweeteners and fruit rather than refined sweeteners, I found I was eating less and less sweets with relatively little effort. Now I eat very few.

There seem to be two points of view about food. One says "you musn't ever eat the 'bad' foods". The other is, "eat a good diet most of the time and an occasional treat won't hurt your body." I like the viewpoint that allows for an occasional treat. And when I have that occasional treat, I'd rather eat one that creates less harm for my body.

In my writing about alternatives to refined white sugar, I know I am writing to a large audience with many different eating habits. And I know these kinds of changes require a step-by-step approach. I'd rather someone make cookies with rice syrup and white flour as a step in the right direction than make sugar cookies with white sugar.

So I'm going to continue to offer my sweetener alternatives, and agree with you too!