It is often common practice for people to add honey to their drinks or foods rather than white table sugar as they believe it’s a healthier choice. But is it? Honey is a nutritious, natural sweetener, a concentrated energy source, and an ancient folk remedy for health and healing. Honey is also an active ingredient in beauty and skin-care products.
Nutritionally speaking, raw honey contains very small amounts of a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and disease-fighting antioxidants that, theoretically, make it more healthful than granulated white sugar. But, don’t be fooled. Honey is mostly a combination of glucose and fructose — some of the same sugary substances that make up white sugar (though in varying proportions) — as well as other liquid sweeteners from natural sources, such as agave and maple syrup. Compared with granulated sugar, honey is sweeter, higher in calories, and higher in carbs and total sugars. But, honey is good for you in small doses! It has natural healing properties and can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some ways to use honey to sweeten your day:
- Add a few drops to vinaigrette dressing to sweeten green salad and side dish vegetables.
- Combine with equal parts mustard and just a dab of mayo to make your own honey-mustard sauce for dipping chicken fingers and spreading on sandwiches.
- Whisk honey into whipped cream cheese or ricotta; add grated lemon, orange, grapefruit, or lime zest (peel), or try ground cinnamon or ginger. Spread it on muffins or quick breads, or use as cupcake frosting.
- Drizzle over an open-faced nut butter sandwich.
- Combine with yogurt and fruit in a bowl or blend into smoothies