Truth!   When I first started my diet, I was forced to read labels.  It took me forever in the grocery store!  From tomato sauce to vanilla (yes, VANILLA!!  totally shocked me!), those pesky manufacturers add sugar to everything it seems.  Since sugar is a strict “NO”, it ruled out about 80% of all items in a grocery store.  Even in Whole Foods or other health stores, there is sugar included.  Sure, it’s “pure cane sugar”, or “organic raw sugar”, but it’s STILL sugar.  Here are some of the culprits and how I’ve still gotten what I wanted without sugar.

Bacon – Yes, of course bacon has sugar.  It’s branded as “honey smoked” etc. but it all has sugar in it.  I was devastated to find no actual honey was used in the curing of bacon.  It sucked.  Who doesn’t like bacon??  You should have heard me give those health stores what for!  Until, by chance, I picked up a “Low Sodium” bacon at a local Vons/Safeway store.  This “Low Sodium” bacon was actually a no sugar bacon!!   Surprise!

Vanilla – All the extracts, and those that state, “Pure vanilla” are not pure.  Well, the ones you see in the grocery stores aren’t, and when you go to the health food stores, you CAN get unsweetened vanilla, but they charge you an arm and a leg for a teeny bottle.  However, I found a site that has it for way cheap, it’s PURE, and super tasty.  http://www.theposter.com/vanillaextracts.html .  Vanilla-Saffron Imports is a great company because not only are their prices the best, they sometimes include free treats like vanilla beans, or saffron.  That reminds me, I need to order. 😉  I get the Madagascar vanilla because I think it’s the best.  Most of the vanilla on store shelves is a Tahitian vanilla, which is okay, but the Madagascar is truly amazing.  Usually, I get the 32oz. bottle for $24.95, but don’t think I’m not tempted to get the gallon jug!  Consider McCormick “pure” vanilla is 2 oz for over $4, whereas at Vanilla-Saffron Imports, you can get 4oz of unsweetened pure Madagascar vanilla for $4.50.  It’s a no-brainer in my opinion.

*Update – Today I was in Smith’s, and they have Kroger “pure vanilla extract” (made with corn syrup!!) for $6.99 for 4oz.

Turkey – For a long time I thought turkeys came in some kind of salt brine until I started reading labels.  Most turkeys I’ve seen in grocery stores (normal & health) include soy, sugar, or some other various stuff that I can’t pronounce, which is certainly NOT on my “can-have” list!  To my joy, I discovered Whole Foods offers Mary’s turkeys, which are fresh, and don’t contain any additives.  They are truly delicious!  Much more so than the frozen.

Tomato sauce – Read the contents, most contain sugar, or the dreaded “natural spices”.  Most manufacturers consider sugar as a “natural spice”.

Spices – Again, I’ve had to read carefully.  Some chile powders contain sugar, as do any “marinade mixes”.  Other spices contain sulfides, which I can’t have either.  For the most part I’ve found that Trader Joe’s has the best price and pretty pure stuff.

Don’t think that making your own spice mixes are difficult!  I do it all the time.  Lemon pepper, taco seasoning, curry and other mixes are simple and they last a long time.  Let me know if you want any of those recipes and I’ll post them.  🙂