How to Prepare a Healthy Sweet Snack: Sugars

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The favourite snack, especially for children, is definitely the sweet one. Let’s explore alternatives to refined sugar, to choose healthier products or prepare cakes, biscuits, smoothies, puddings, and drinks at home.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Having a sweet and healthy snack is advisable for everyone, to break up the working or study afternoon and to avoid arriving at dinner time feeling famished. In particular, for children and young people, it is important that the snack is sweet but also, and above all, healthy and of good quality. How are healthy and quality sweets produced? The concept of quality can have two interpretations: the objective and the perceived. Objective quality refers to everything that is indisputable, primarily healthiness (the state of preservation, edibility...), while perceived quality is a subjective concept that everyone interprets according to their own frameworks. Those who are vegan will consider it a quality indicator if the sweets are not made with animal derivatives, those who are environmentalists will look for recyclable packaging or local sourcing, and those who are terrified of additives will deem anything that does not contain them as quality. Perceived quality is also an element that is often manipulated: slogans like "light" or "low calories" are used, alluding to a superior quality of the product, when perhaps such characteristics are due to a greater dilution of the ingredients with water (for example, in low-fat yogurt, where to make it such, low-fat or whole yogurt is often diluted with water). Or a sweet is praised for being preservative-free when in reality the product itself does not require preservatives (such as dry biscuits or ice cream). However, there are certain characteristics that undoubtedly make a sweet particularly healthy and suitable for snacks: healthy sweets are made by moderating any type of sweetener and fat, and especially by avoiding the use of refined sucrose, additives, synthetic sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin), unhealthy fats, and synthetic colourings. Sugar can, for example, be replaced with alternative sweeteners such as malt, honey, maple syrup, stevia, while unhealthy fats can be replaced with seed or olive oil, and colourings can be avoided or replaced with vegetable powders (beetroot, spinach...), spices (turmeric), tea (matcha), activated charcoal, and much more.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width="full" content_placement="middle" gap="10px" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22padding-left%22%3A%2225px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2225px%22%7D%7D"][vc_column width="1/2" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22border-color%22%3A%22%23057a2c%22%7D%7D"][vc_row_inner 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css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22_content_faded%22%2C%22font-family%22%3A%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%2C%22font-weight%22%3A%22700%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2219px%22%2C%22line-height%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22margin-top%22%3A%226px%22%2C%22margin-bottom%22%3A%226px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%220%22%7D%7D"]Organic Barley Malt[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-family%22%3A%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2213px%22%2C%22line-height%22%3A%2218px%22%2C%22margin-bottom%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%220%22%7D%7D"] [/vc_column_text][us_btn label="SEE ON TIBIONA.IT" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Ftibiona.it%2Fmalto-d-orzo-fior-di-loto-400-g-bio.html|title:SEE%20DETAILS|target:_blank" style="4" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-top%22%3A%2212px%22%2C%22position%22%3A%22relative%22%7D%7D"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column 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css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22background-position%22%3A%22center%22%2C%22background-size%22%3A%22cover%22%2C%22background-repeat%22%3A%22no-repeat%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22padding-left%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][us_image image="13867"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="7/12" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22padding-left%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%220px%22%7D%7D"][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22_content_faded%22%7D%7D"]Italian Acacia Honey 500 g BIO[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text 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Let’s Get to Know Sugars

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Maple Syrup

It is obtained by tapping the bark of two particular varieties of maple: the black maple (Acer nigrum) and the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in spring. The tapping yields sap that contains, on average, 2% sugars. This sap is then concentrated in special containers called sugarshacks or cabanes à sucre, to about 1/40 of its original volume. Before being bottled, it undergoes a filtration process, which can vary in depth, based on which it is classified as fancy (more refined), grade A, and grade B (less refined). Its sweetening power can also be observed from its colour: the lighter it is, the more intense it is. A maple tree produces an average of 40 litres of sap per year and must be at least 80 years old to do so. Since by law maple syrup must contain at least 66% sugars, to obtain 1kg of maple syrup, approximately 15/30 litres of fresh sap are needed. Concentration can occur in special boiling vats or through forced concentration of the sap. This is a very genuine product with a sweetening power lower than sucrose (also due to its higher water content, about 33%). It contains potassium, calcium (in significant amounts), iron, and phosphorus (in smaller amounts); there are also traces of B vitamins.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width="full" content_placement="middle" gap="10px" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22padding-left%22%3A%2225px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2225px%22%7D%7D"][vc_column width="1/2" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22border-color%22%3A%22%23057a2c%22%7D%7D"][vc_row_inner css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22min-height%22%3A%22300px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22border-style%22%3A%22solid%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][vc_column_inner width="5/12" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22background-position%22%3A%22center%22%2C%22background-size%22%3A%22cover%22%2C%22background-repeat%22%3A%22no-repeat%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22padding-left%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][us_image image="13870"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="7/12" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22padding-left%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%220%22%7D%7D"][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22_content_faded%22%7D%7D"]Maple Syrup (grade A) 250ml BIO [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-family%22%3A%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2213px%22%2C%22line-height%22%3A%2218px%22%2C%22margin-bottom%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%220%22%7D%7D"] [/vc_column_text][us_btn label="SEE ON TIBIONA.IT" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Ftibiona.it%2Ffarina-tipo-2-di-grano-tenero-1kg-bio.html|title:SEE%20DETAILS|target:_blank" style="4" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-top%22%3A%2212px%22%2C%22position%22%3A%22relative%22%7D%7D"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_row_inner css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22min-height%22%3A%22300px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2220px%22%2C%22border-style%22%3A%22solid%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][vc_column_inner width="5/12" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22background-position%22%3A%22center%22%2C%22background-size%22%3A%22cover%22%2C%22background-repeat%22%3A%22no-repeat%22%2C%22margin-left%22%3A%2215px%22%2C%22padding-left%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][us_image image="13871"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="7/12" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22padding-left%22%3A%2210px%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%220px%22%7D%7D"][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22_content_faded%22%7D%7D"]Organic Agave Syrup Powder 350g[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-family%22%3A%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2213px%22%2C%22line-height%22%3A%2218px%22%2C%22margin-bottom%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%220%22%7D%7D"] [/vc_column_text][us_btn label="SEE ON TIBIONA.IT" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Ftibiona.it%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Fview%2Fid%2F29862%2Fs%2Fsciroppo-d-agave-250ml-bio%2F|title:SEE%20DETAILS|target:_blank" style="4" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-top%22%3A%2212px%22%2C%22position%22%3A%22relative%22%7D%7D"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width="full"][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Agave Syrup

It is extracted from the nectar of the blue agave (Agave tequilana weber), a plant native to Mexico, from which a very famous distillate, tequila, is also obtained. It is a highly soluble sweetener (even in cold water), with a low tendency to crystallise and has a pleasant aroma. The fresh juice contains between 2 and 5% sugars, but by heating it, the enzymes present break down the inulin producing fructose, the main sugar in agave syrup. After this process, the fructose content reaches 70-90%. It is used for sweetening in general, excellent for jellies and jams. Due to the presence of fructose, it adds softness, therefore it is not suitable for making tarts and dry biscuits, while it is excellent for soft cakes or pound cakes. To ensure maximum purity and maximum sweetening power, it undergoes refining, which significantly reduces the content of vitamins and minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron), which would otherwise be abundantly present.

Isomalt

A sweetener derived from beetroot through a hydrogenation process, it has a low glycaemic impact, provides half the calories of common table sugar, and is non-cariogenic. In excessive amounts, it can cause flatulence and diarrhoea like all sugar alcohols, which is why it is recommended not to exceed 25-50g daily. It is often used for sugar cooking (pure or with 5-10g of water per kg of isomalt to make it softer), for decorating showcase preparations or as a substitute for icing sugar (as it does not dissolve).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row height="auto" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22margin-top%22%3A%226px%22%2C%22margin-bottom%22%3A%226px%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%2218px%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%2218px%22%2C%22border-style%22%3A%22solid%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221px%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][vc_column width="1/4" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23f5f5f5%22%2C%22padding-left%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-right%22%3A%220%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22_header_middle_text_hover%22%7D%7D"][us_image image="13875" size="full" align="center" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22border-style%22%3A%22solid%22%2C%22border-left-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-top-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-bottom-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-right-width%22%3A%221%22%2C%22border-color%22%3A%22%23333333%22%7D%7D"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22color%22%3A%22_content_faded%22%7D%7D"]Isomalt[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22font-family%22%3A%22Arial%2C%20Helvetica%2C%20sans-serif%22%2C%22font-size%22%3A%2214px%22%2C%22line-height%22%3A%2218px%22%2C%22margin-bottom%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-top%22%3A%220%22%2C%22padding-bottom%22%3A%220%22%7D%7D"] [/vc_column_text][us_btn label="SEE ON TIBIONA.IT" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Ftibiona.it%2Fisomalto-500g.html|title:SEE%20DETAILS|target:_blank" style="4" css="%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22margin-top%22%3A%2212px%22%2C%22position%22%3A%22relative%22%7D%7D"][/vc_column][/vc_row]