So my previous post was in fact a little tease. No, I am not giving away cookies, but they were the star of yesterday’s blind tasting 
Now let’s rewind a bit to what prompted this whole thing…
Back in September, I received a whole loot of stevia products from NuNaturals to try. NuNatural’s stevia products are 100% natural, gluten free, and do not contain aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, HFCS, sugar or any other artificial sweeteners or colors.
I know stevia is still somewhat controversial, with most European countries, Hong Kong and Singapore banning its use in food (source: wikipedia). On the other hand, many argue that it’s 100% natural and perfectly safe for consumption – even better for you than the over processed sugar that spikes up your blood sugar levels and it contains no calories! I normally wouldn’t seek it out, but free samples was all I needed to give it a go 
I’ve been using the pure liquid clear stevia drops in my morning coffee ever since receiving the samples. I switched from splenda to sugar to then agave nectar earlier in the year, so my taste buds adapted to a “different” kind of sweet in my coffee. I think if you’re used to sugar in your coffee, stevia may taste funky to you. You may be able to get used to it if saving a few calories every morning is worth it to you, or just not bother 
For me, this was an easy switch.
Until Sunday this was the only product I taste tested, so it was time to put the NuStevia Sweetener Stevia Baking Blend to use!
This baking blend has 15 calories/tablespoon (1/3 of regular sugar) and provides 3 grams of fiber. You’re supposed to substitute it one-to-one in baking recipes so that’s what I did. I followed this recipe for cranberry white chocolate oatmeal cookies, splitting it in half (using brown sugar in one and the Stevia baking blend in the other). The texture of the baking blend was very powdery. My friend Tiffany helped me with baking and we knew immediately the textures would be different… and it was definitely the case!
The batch with brown sugar…
The batch with the NuStevia baking blend…
Side by side:
Ok, so they looked different but how did they taste? We had 3 boys try them + me and Tiffany (they boys did not know what was different about the cookies). Adam said he could not tell the cookies apart; Gary agreed. Kyle said he tasted the difference but couldn’t decide which one he’d prefer. I pressed him for an answer to pick just one but he really couldn’t; he liked both! That’s good news for stevia Tiffany and I both found the batch with brown sugar superior in taste (although I think that they are uglier). I found the stevia cookies to be a bit “off,” almost bitter. The cookies with stevia were also a bit more dry while the brown sugar kept the cookies nice and moist. The boys were clearly fooled though! So there you have it, that’s 3 neutrals against 2 pro-”real sugar.” [I should note that the textural and moisture difference could be due to the molasses that's in brown sugar.]
And now it’s giveaway time!! NuNaturals offered to send FOUR winners NuStevia white stevia powder packets and the pure liquid vanilla stevia.
If you would like to try these stevia products, here are the giveaway rules:
1) Leave a comment on this post!
2) If you have a blog, let others know about the giveaway and link back to this post. If you don’t have a blog, tell someone about this giveaway and let me know that you’ve done so (after they enter the giveaway by commenting). *This earns you 2 bonus points*
3) If you have a blog, add Healthy and Sane to your blogroll (if I’m already on your blogroll, let me know – it counts!). If you don’t, shoot me an email and give me some feedback on my blog. *This also earns you 2 bonus points*
The giveaway will go through 5pm EST on November 30. I will announce the four winners that night. Good luck! 
How do you feel about Stevia? Love it or hate it?
i adore steiva!!! but i have not yet tried nunaturals! all the blogosphere seems to be in love with it though!
thanks for hosting the giveaway!
You are already on my blogroll! I would love to win some of this to sample!
I would love to try nustevia! I have heard so much about it and I wonder if it’s worth the hype! The cookie comparison is awesome. lol.
i would love to try it. sugar makes my tummy hurt!
emily
I’d love some NuNaturals! I love stevia – I use it all the time in my coffee and greek yogurt =)
I’m not really an artificial sweeteners fan (other than Diet Coke!), but I’d love to win some so I could try it out.
This looks so fun to try, I’m crossing my fingers I win!
awesome giveaway.
I actually gave away my sample to my close friend (she loves the products) so I only got to try one sample packet to review.
i hope i win!
you’re on my blogroll!
I love that you tested this with a baking experiment, i would LOVE to try NuNaturals stevia, especially reading about it so much in blogs it really intrigues me.
crossing my fingerrrrs
I was a little weary to try stevia, but I recently did and I love it! I would love some more stevia!
i’ve always wanted to try stevia, but it always seems so expensive in comparison to real sugar
i would love to win NuNaturals stevia!
Fun kitchen experiment! It’s interesting how different the cookies are in appearance.
The only form of Stevia I’ve tried is in the Zevia sodas… some of which I like, some of which I’m not a huge fan of. I’d be interesting in trying out the products in this giveaway!
I have always wanted to try Stevia!
Me, me! I have never tried a Stevia product (being in the UK and all), and I would love to try some next week when we’re back!!
Oh, and you are already on my blogroll of course
Will spread the word in tonight’s post!
I would love to give holiday baking a shot with this! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
I have switched to stevia from splenda and I hear this is the best brand! I’d love thc chance to try it for myself. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m curious to try Stevia. Right now I use agave nectar (can’t stand Splenda!) but am always looking for something new.
I’ve been trying different Stevia products trying to find the “best” one. So far, I don’t like PureVia very much, but “Stevia in the Raw” is pretty good in my morning cup of coffee (which is basically the only thing I use coffee for – for baking I usually go with the real stuff. May as well, right?). Anyway, I’d be interested in trying NuNaturals.
Also, I haven’t actually started my blog, but you’re on my blogroll – weird, right?
I love stevia! I use all kinds for EVERYTHING!
Enjoy!
Stevia is a great natural alternative
Those cookies look AWESOME! Stevia seems like agreat substitute for baking…
I’ve never tried stevia products. Your experiment was interesting!
I LOVE Stevia! I haven’t used the NuNaturals brand yet.. would love too though!!!
I have had limited experience with Stevia besides in a SOBE Lifewater drink I had one time. My stomach can’t really tolerate aspartame or xylitol or whatever other fake sugars. So I no longer chew gum (except rarely) and stay away from anything “sugar free” unless it’s “no sugar added,” which is different? I use Splenda sometimes… but generally I just eat real sugar to avoid any complications.
ohhh yay for fun thing to try! I hear about this all the time, but havent had the chance to try!
I’m all out of my stevia packets and dying for more. Love NuNaturals. Thanks for the giveaway!!!!
I had fun with that little experiment. Normally fake sugars and sweeteners make me feel ill, or they taste too sweet for my liking, so by nature I was inclined to prefer the cookies made with brown sugar. While I have to admit that a zero calorie sweetener sounds like a good idea in theory, they’re just too scientifically questionable for me to really stand behind right now.
I’ll stick with my sugar, thanks.
[...] alert: Elina from Healthy and Sane is having an awesome NuNaturals Stevia Products Giveaway! Share and [...]
Not a fan of Stevia at all! It leaves a weird aftertaste for me.
Would love to try the new products! Don’t have a blog yet but will spread the word on a message board I visit!
“I found the stevia cookies to be a bit “off,” almost bitter. The cookies with stevia were also a bit more dry while the brown sugar kept the cookies nice and moist.”
Thank you for saying that. I have the baking blend and yes, I concur.
I love my NuNat in cold things and/or frozen or any of my raw desserts, but the minute I try to put it in coffee or bake with it, things go a little sour/off for me. I am highly sensitive though with tastes.
I am linking you back on my post that will go out tomorrow nite
I would love to try this since I am pretty sure I cant find it here in Israel.
[...] NuNaturals stevia products giveaway [...]
wooooo! I would LOVE to try NuNaturals products! xoxo!
I would love some Nustevia…I want to make those cookies,too!!I may break down and get som Holey Donuts:-) cc
Ohh this looks totally fun to cook with and just enhance things a bit!
you are totally on my blog roll
i really want to try this brand of stevia. stevia is so great in tea and smoothies!
Love stevia and would love to win!
You’re on my b-roll
I would love to try the liquid stevia. I have tried the pure stevia from NuNaturals and it’s AWESOME!
I love using stevia in my tea. I haven’t tried it baking yet.
I love stevia! Especially in tea and lemonade. I would also love to start baking with it more.
i haven’t tried stevia in anything except the soda. would love to try it in baking, interesting experiment you had going on there
you’re on my blogroll!
I would love love to try stevia
Am always on the lookout for a new sugar /sweetener substitute.
Stevia? Love it!
[...] NuNaturals giveaway! I think they’re stevia taste the purest(and this is coming from someone who, from time to time, nibbles on his plant). [...]
I linked this morning http://foodmakesfunfuel.com/2009/11/26/pans-and-pies/
I actually really like stevia! The bitterness doesnt bother me so much as long as i dont use too much of it!
I added you to my blogroll as well=)
These products look great! Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve been wanting to try NuNaturals for a long time, since I’m allergic to splenda and want to bake without sugar!
I have been meaning to try the NuNaturals Stevia, but I am so wary of the flavor! I have been using one, and in food it is fine but in coffee…no esta bueno!
Oh my gosh, amazing giveaway! I currently use agave but would love to try NuNaturals!!
I love your experiment and I would love to enter!
I’ve been wanting to try NuNaturals forever! Thanks!
[...] NuNaturals [...]
I linked back in this post!
You are on my blogroll!
I’d love to try some of the NuNaturals stevia!
Never tried this but have been wanting too!!
What a great giveaway!
[...] you all for entering my NuNaturals stevia products giveaway. I have 4 [...]
Thanks for the giveaway Elina!
[...] thing – the winner of the Waterpik giveaway is #8. I also never received addresses from 2 NuNaturals giveaway winners so I’m redrawing again – #65 and #42 are the new winners (Lauren and Yelena, I [...]
[...] must also – belatedly – thank Elina of Healthy and Sane for hosting a giveaway for NuNaturals Stevia products a while back. I was one of the lucky winners, and have been [...]
Can you tell me where to buy Nustevia in Singapore? Thanks!