Truth about Truvia

Question: I heard there is a new zero calorie sweetener on the market called Truvia. What do you think of Truvia and can you use it when baking?

Answer: Truvia comes from the Stevia plant. More specifically, Truvia is the brand name for the product currently being marketed which comes from Rebiana, arguably the best tasting part of the Stevia leaf. Truvia contains two other ingredients as well - erythritol, a natural sweetener found in certain fruits, and natural flavors, being the other ingredient.

Can you use it in cooking and baking? Technically, yes you can, although it's important to remember that sugar serves as a browning agent and adds structure to foods in addition to contributing to sweetness. Truvia, as the company suggests, is best used when making such items as pudding, pie filling, hot cocoa mix, etc. As for cookies and cakes, I would stick with Splenda. One other important thing to note is the conversion: 1 Tablespoon of sugar is equal to 1 1/4 teaspoons of Truvia (which is the same as 1 1/2 packets).

So, go ahead and make a pie for Christmas dinner with Truvia, then write back to My Personal Dietitian and let us know how it turned out!