Cut back on added sugars and calories with these tasty tips and tricks.

Baking and Cooking

Unsweetened applesauce can substitute for some of the sugar in a recipe. You may need less oil, too —adjust the recipe as needed to get the taste and texture you like. Or try using a no-calorie sweetener suitable for cooking and baking.

Desserts and Sweets

Instead of indulging in a traditional sugar-based dessert, enjoy the natural sweetness of fruit. Fresh, frozen and canned (in its own juice or water) are all good choices. Try them baked, grilled, stewed or poached.

Dressings and Sauces

Swap store-bought bottled salad dressings, ketchup, tomato sauce and barbeque sauce — which can have a lot of added sugars — for homemade versions so you can control the amount of sugar added to them.

Snack Mix and Granola

Make your own, without all the added sugars. Combine your favorite nuts and seeds (unsalted or very lightly salted), raisins and dried fruits (unsweetened), rolled oats and whole-grain cereal (non-sugared/non-frosted) — and skip the candy!

Soda/Soft Drinks

Swap sugar-sweetened beverages for plain or sparkling water flavored with mint, citrus, cucumber or a splash of 100% fruit juice.

Tea and Coffee

Cut back on sugars (including honey and agave syrup) gradually until your taste adjusts to less sweetness.  Try adding natural flavors like cinnamon, citrus, mint or nutmeg.