Natural-Sugar Baking with KSH
Bake zucchini bread with a taste of apples the natural-sugar way. No white sugar or flour in this recipe! Got little children who love snacks? You’ll thank yourself for baking them nutritious treats without sending them on sugar highs.
Baking in the KSH (Kitchen Southern Hospitality) cottage has turned into a natural-sugar 2019 journey. There’s a story behind that. Read more about it in the Seven Winter Foods & Banana Bread post. It’s amazing how easily you can become acclimated to desserts not made with white sugar.
Does Sugar Affect Children’s Behavior?
Grandmother to adorable littles, I love to bake special goodies for them. However, I have noticed how quickly eating donuts, candy, and other sugary foods affect their moods. Certain past studies say that’s all a myth, but I do not agree.
Note in the following article how children can become hyperactive after having foods with sugar: The Truth About Sugar. “In my own experience, I know there are some children who are very sensitive to sugar. They really are quite wild after they have sugar,” Kavey says. “But that’s not proof. The literature on it is not conclusive at all.”
The belief that Sugar Causes Hyperactivity in Children
When I researched the belief that sugar causes hyperactivity in children, I found multiple studies of the opinion that sugar does not cause children to become hyper. A tutordoctor.com article about how sugar affects the behavior of children discusses opinions of why this myth still exists. It states, “Most parents will tell you that they can see changes in their child’s behavior just after that Easter egg hunt or while trick or treating, but science is yet to back these claims up.”
Does this mean that you should ignore the changes you observe in your children’s behavior until what you have noticed is backed up with science? No way! If you notice that the behavior in your child changes right after a donut, then use your common sense. Either limit the number of donuts, cut out donuts altogether, or take him/her to a playground to work off the extra energy. In addition, direct your medical concerns about sugar to your child’s pediatrician.
Reduced Attention Spans
That same tutordoctor.com article mentions two studies, one by Yale Researcher Dr. Wesnes. He discovered that children who consumed large volumes of sugar for breakfast experienced reduced attention spans and were not able to focus on even simple tasks. The article also included another study by William Tamborlane who discovered that refined sugar causes a spike in glucose load. “Adrenaline release occurs in children when their blood sugar levels are much higher and this results in some behavioral changes.”
Although every individual may not react the same when consuming sweet treats, there is enough scientific proof that indicates that sugar does affect us. Conduct your own research. Check with your medical practitioner as well as a nutrition expert. Then cook the best nutritious meals and snacks for your family to promote good health.
Sugar Concerns
Besides sugar causing children (or adults) to go hyper-crazy when they eat sweets, there are other concerns to seriously consider:
- cancer cells
- diabetes
- obesity
Is it true that sugar feeds cancer cells?
When I was faced with needing surgery because of cancer, I decided it was time to get better control of my food choices. One reason I’m encouraged to bake with natural sugars is that they contain antioxidants which protect the body. Adelina Espat says, “Sugar feeds every cell in our body – even cancer cells.” See more of her article on the mdanderson.org site, Does Sugar Cause Cancer.
Sugar, Diabetes, and Obesity
Sugar may be directly and independently linked to diabetes according to one particular study. “The findings . . . suggest sugar affects the liver and pancreas in ways that other types of foods or obesity do not.”
Beth W. Orenstein made a statement in an article about diabetes on everyday.com “that it may seem logical to assume that eating too much sugar is the cause of the disease. But of course, it’s not that simple.” In spite of sugar being somehow linked to diabetes,
Orenstein makes a statement that correlates with what I’ve heard from medical professionals before. That is, “If you’re struggling with weight loss, eating fewer foods with added sugar and fat can be a step in the right direction for improving your health and potentially reducing your diabetes risk.”
Obesity, as well as diabetes, can increase the risk of heart failure.
Processed Sugars vs. Natural Sugars
Baking with natural sugars may not be the only answer to cancer cells, diabetes, and obesity. And though I realize that both processed sugars, as well as natural sugars, contain calories, I prefer to go with the more nutritious of the two.
Actually, I’ve been enjoying baking with healthier ingredients. So far, I haven’t missed having desserts made with processed sugar. This zucchini bread recipe is very flavorful. It’s inspired by Shirley Engelhardt’s Zucchini Bread recipe from the Victorious Health Recipes. The first time I made the recipe, I added applesauce and liked the way the bread turned out. Also, I increased the amount of honey.
The recipe makes enough batter for a six-Bundt pan and four-mini-loaf pan. I greased the Bundt pan but not the loaf pan. The bread loaves, however, didn’t stick to the pan. The loaves weren’t quite done in the center and required an additional five minutes of baking, though.
Today was the second time I made the zucchini bread recipe, and I included organic cocoa powder. While the Bundts and loaves were still hot out of the oven, I took one of each to share with some of my cousins who live nearby. They were gracious to be my taste testers and enjoyed the flavor of the honey-baked zucchini bread.
Try it out, and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1-1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup applesauce
- 2 cups grated zucchini
- 3 tsp. vanilla
- 3 large eggs
- 3 cups white whole grain flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 3 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tbsp. organic cocoa powder
Instructions
- Mix oil, honey, applesauce, zucchini, vanilla and eggs together in a large bowl with a hand mixer on low.
- Sift the flour.
- Mix in the flour, soda, baking powder, and cinnamon until well blended.
- Pour into a six-mini-Bundt pan and the rest into a four-mini-loaf pan.
- Grease pans if you need to (Dark-coated pans may not require greasing.).
- Bake at 325 degrees for approximately 25 minutes (My Bundts were ready at 23 minutes, and my loaves were done at about 27 minutes.).
Like this natural sugar dessert? See my totally delicious and fun Gluten-Free Mini Banana Bundt recipe (with a very tasty homemade frosting).
Showing hospitality to family and friends takes on a special meaning when baking with natural and nutritious ingredients. There is joy in giving, even when the gift is a cute little Bundt bread.
Take a moment to look at Shirley Engelhardt’s Victorious Health books offered as a set.
They are delicious
Thank you, Hannah! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!!