Choosing sweeteners...

WHEN CHOOSING SWEETENERS,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER BOTH QUANTITY AND QUALITY!
Stevia is a better choice if mark007 wants to compare with honey.

Honey has a lot of rapid sugars, the chemistry of honey is also very special; not recommended for everyday-use! I always use Brown-rice-malt (sugar made from brown-rice) for tea, pancakes, homemade ricemilk or sometimes for baking.

Maple Syrup (does also contain rapid sugars)! but is a better choice than honey! For baking I use Maple Sugar....it gives you the most wonderful tasty bakery / birthdaycakes etc...

BROWN-RICE-MALT
If you want to enjoy the highest-quality sweeteners available, choose naturally malted whole grain sweeteners such as rice and brown rice malt. Rice malt is made by a slow, enzymatic process, as the whole grains are partially broken down to yield a thick, rich , sweet liquid. Barley malt is also good, but has a stronger taste and a darker colour. Be careful, their quality varies, white rice syrup is made with enzymes and added sugar, often found in Oriental food-stores!
Buy it at your healt-food store, or order a large amount from your grocer. I was used to buy a large bucket for the family household!

Rice malt contains about...
30 percent soluble complex carbohydrates,
45 percent maltose (grain-malt sugar),
3-4 percent glucose,
and 20 percent water.

The glucose is absorbed into the blood almost immediately.
The maltose takes up to one and a half hours to digest, and the complex carbohydrates are gradually digested and released for up to four hours. Unlike other concentrated sweeteners, which ar high in simple sugars, rice malt provides a slow but prolonged source of energy that is calming and soothing.

Another advantage of rice or brown rice malt is that it has many of the B-vitamins and minerals that are found in rice and sprouted barley. Characteristically rich but mild flavored, rice malt complements simple foods, whereas honey, maple syrup and molasses have stronger, often overpowering tastes and effect!

ABOUT CHILDREN AND 'SWEET TOOTH'OR 'SUGAR BLUES'...
Children loves the rice malt, and this is absolutely a smart first choice for your toddler. The first sign of the Sugar blues is usually anxiety or irritability, typically followed by low energy or depression...

Corn-malt contains 25% rapid sugars, but it is still better to give your child sweets or chocholates made from corn-malt than rafined white Sugar or honey!

Children don`t need sweets before they are 5 years old! You can always control what you give a child up to 5 years old! If they get used to mild sweeteners and FOS (fructooligosaccarose) fruitsugar, which also is a very good choice, they don`t need anything else! But, after 3-4 years old, don`t forbid them to
try other peoples cakes, if they are going to a celebration or birthdayparty! You can of course see that they have eaten before to go.... If they are not used to rapid sugars, they will simply not like the strong overpowering sugar-taste. My children where used to say that other peoples cakes lookes soooo good, but the taste was horrible.....they finally preferred my cakes!

Have a nice&sweet day.....
Lillian Tweet