Sugars/Sweeteners : Which type is the least evil?

[pandapandemic]

I realize none are optimal, but at least something is present everywhere except my raw head of broccoli/organic grass fed meat/etc. Also, my mom's birthday is coming up, and I am not so great at baking, so I was at this natural grocery store checking out their gluten free -LOOK AT ME, I AM A HEALTHY-ISH ALTERNATIVE -baked goods section.  

 

Common options are evaporated cane juice sugar, agave, honey, xylitol, date sugar, brown rice syrup, molasses, coconut sugar, etc. etc. etc. At this point, should I just get something with plain ol' sugar, or can damage be controlled?

 

And, if it comes down to chemical sweeteners vs. sugar, would I be correct in thinking just get the natural sugar?

 

 

And, should I look for organic options, or does that matter?

[GFChris]

Would a recipe like this work for your mom's birthday?  It's the Peach Almond Crisp from theclothesmakethegirl.com - it's not complicated to make and it doesn't contain sugars/sweeteners. http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2013/08/09/peach-almond-crisp/  

Are you post-Whole30? This recipe is not Whole30 approved because it's Paleo-ifying a dessert, but it's fine after a Whole30.

[Guest Andria]

I hope this doesn't come off wrong...so please don't take offense, I don't mean any by it. But, this is your second post (not stalking you! Just scanning the new posts in this forum :-)) asking about processed food items. Even though the Whole30 is not meant to be followed to the letter indefinitely, I hope the one thing it would keep people from permanently is processed food ( I don't mean this in the strictest sense of the word, since someone might classify something like yogurt as processed and another would consider it an ok reintro for them). Just because a food is labelled gluten free by no means makes it healthy. For a awhile I had eaten (not during a Whole30) Udi's gluten free bread, but when I decided to scan the ingredients I was appalled by all the "crap" ingredients(ie, soybean oil) listed just to make "bread." In that case, pI felt a good 3-4 ingredient real sourdough bread would have been healthier!

I understand you are not comfortable with baking, I would second GFChris suggestions. It is a pretty simple recipe. If dairy isn't an issue for you and your family serve with good quality Hagen daz or comparable organic ice cream.

To answer your sugar question directly, the best option, IMHO, is the least processed which would be raw honey. A lot of people like molasses for mineral content, but it goes through high heat processing as does maple syrup. For an occasional treat, though I would not stress and get the least processed option available and watch out for those "gluten free" products! :-)