Five Ways to Eat Naturally with Maple Syrup

It’s no secret that lots of us have a sweet tooth and can’t resist a pudding, biscuit or chocolate bar when tempted. But despite tasting good, eating too many treats that are high in sugar could have an impact on your health and put you at an increased risk of poor health in the future.

So, what if we told you that there was a natural alternative which tastes just as good and is also good for you when eaten in moderation?

Minimally processed natural ingredients from nature, such as maple syrup, can be used as a replacement for highly refined sweeteners, such as caster sugar, or for other liquid sugars such as golden syrup, date or agave.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of food and drinks that you can easily add maple syrup to when looking to enhance their flavour.

Tea and coffee

It’s a topic that divides opinion – do hot drinks like tea and coffee taste better with or without sugar? If you prefer to add that little bit of sweetness to your hot drink, why not try adding a drop of maple syrup instead?

Maple syrup has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is high in essential vitamins and minerals – so it not only tastes good, but it does good for your body, too! It can be used to sweeten your favourite hot drinks as well iced beverages like this vegan iced coffee.

Sauces and marinades

Adding maple syrup to your rubs and marinades is a great way to enhance many of your favourite foods. From BBQ lamb to sticky glazed fish, maple syrup pairs perfectly with a wide range of marinades and can be used to add a subtle splash of sweetness to your cooking.

We’ve found maple syrup to be an especially effective ingredient for BBQs, with its natural sweetness balancing well with the smoky flavours of the grill. Try drizzling some over your meats and vegetables next time you fire up the barbie!

Baking

For those of us who like to indulge in a bit of baking, the sugar intake from home-baked treats can be problematic. Fortunately, you can reduce your sugar intake in cooking and baking by choosing a natural, unrefined alternative.

Maple syrup is well suited to replace and reduce the quantity of sugars you consume, and a little goes a long way while still giving a delicious, sweet taste to your baked creations. Check out our lemon myrtle cheesecake to find out how maple syrup can be used in baking.

Breakfast and brunch

Many of us add a teaspoon-full of sugar to our cereal or porridge in the morning to make it taste that little bit sweeter. Instead, why not choose the natural alternative and drizzle some maple syrup over your breakfast?

It’s no secret that maple syrup works well with pancakes – check out these bacon pancakes for proof! – and the sweetener is also suited to cereals and many hot breakfasts. Rich in riboflavin, maple syrup makes a great addition to your breakfast, setting you up for the day ahead.

Yoghurt

If you’re looking for a healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, try adding maple syrup to natural or Greek yoghurt. You could even make this frozen strawberry, maple and yoghurt bark.

Maple syrup is rich in the mineral manganese, which helps to look after the bones and connective tissue. It’s also a source of copper, which is an important mineral that supports the nervous and immune systems and contributes to iron transport in the body when consumed as part of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.

Not only that, but it’s also a source of potassium, which contributes to healthy muscle function, normal blood pressure and the nervous system, as part of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.

Your guide to replacing refined sugar

The infographic below shows how to substitute processed sweeteners like golden syrup and caster sugar to a natural alternative in pure maple syrup.

So, now you know how to implement natural sugar into your diet, and the health benefits of doing so, why not check out some of our delicious recipes with maple syrup?