This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NECTRESSE™Sweetener. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have a huge sweet tooth, and I also have a few health issues that prohibit me from satisfying my craving for sweets very often. Sugar gets us hooked quickly and easily, and before we know it, we're consuming so much sugar that it's easy to start delving into totally unhealthy territory. It doesn't help that so many foods that we eat (foods that most of us would even consider "healthy" and good for us) contain so much processed sugar that it has become all the more difficult to cut down our intake of it.

There are quite a few natural sweeteners out there that claim to be the best alternative to sugar, but when you look at the nutritional information, you are bound to notice a few unnecessary ingredients in some of those as well. I have tried many natural sweeteners, have used a couple for a while, but have always gone back to regular old sugar eventually. I have been thinking a lot about my health lately, and how I can do better in terms of what I put into my body, so when I had the opportunity to try Splenda's new sweetener NECTRESSE™, you better believe I hopped right on board, and I'm glad I did.

NECTRESSE™Sweetener is the only 100% natural sweetener made from fruit (monk fruit extract). It has zero calories can be used in cooking, baking, and to sweeten your morning coffee and tea. I was skeptical about NECTRESSE™ and how it would compare to the sugar that I have become so accustomed to. The day I received my box of NECTRESSE™ packets, I poured one into my morning coffee and it was delicious–and completely surprising. Just one packet of NECTRESSE™ contains the same sweetness of two teaspoons of sugar, so I am able to get the same sweetness I love using a very small amount of this sweetener.

I have always really loved granola. It's great for breakfast over yogurt and makes a great snack on its own that can be munched on throughout the day to give you a little pick-me-up. The only bad thing that can be said about granola is that it can get expensive to keep buying. Making your own granola at home is not only more cost-effective, but you also know every single ingredient that goes into it.

I made peanut butter granola using NECTRESSE™, and here is the recipe:

Peanut Butter Granola Recipe

Serves: 8   Prep Time: 10 minutes   Bake Time: 30 minutes

You Will Need:

• 8 NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener Packets
• 1/2 cup unsweetened natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup crisped rice cereal
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 1/4 cup roasted peanuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
3. Combine NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener, peanut butter, margarine, honey, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, take off heat and add vanilla. Set aside.
4. Mix together oats and rice cereal in a large mixing bowl. Pour peanut mixture over oat mixture, and stir to coat.
5. Pour granola onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 30 minutes or until browned, stirring often. Allow to cool.
6. Mix in cherries and peanuts. Store in an air tight container for up to one week.

Note: Any type of dried fruit or nut can be used in this recipe. Try replacing the dried cherries with dried blueberries or raisins.

Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup serving size · 310 calories · 150 calories from fat · 16g total fat · 2.5g saturated fat · 0mg cholesterol · 180mg sodium · 35g total carbohydrate · 4g dietary fiber · 13g sugars · 7g protein

I also whipped up a strawberry banana shake using NECTRESSE™ that is only 100 calories! I doubled the recipe so my fiance and I could both enjoy a shake together, which was really easy to do, as this recipe is super simple!

Strawberry Banana Shake Recipe

Serves: 1   Prep Time: 5 minutes

You Will Need:

• 1/2 medium banana
• 3 frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 2 NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener Packets
• 1/3 cup ice

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients into a blender. Cover and blend until smooth.

Note: Fresh strawberries can be used in place of frozen ones. Simply adjust the thickness of the shake to your liking with additional ice.

Nutrition Facts: 8 fl. oz. serving size · 100 calories · 0 calories from fat · 0g total fat · 0mg cholesterol · 40mg sodium · 25g total carbohydrate · 2g dietary fiber · 14g sugars · 3g protein

If you're looking for a great all natural sweetener that contains zero calories and is actually effective in giving you that sweet taste you crave, you can get a FREE sample of NECTRESSE™Sweetener, as well as a coupon for $1.00 off any NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener product.

Lisa Ling is the spokesperson for NECTRESSE™ Sweetener. Due to her family history of diabetes, she has always had to be cautious of her sugar intake. Having quite the sweet tooth herself, she has relied on no calorie sweetners but hasn't liked any of the sweeteners she has tried as much as NECTRESSE™. You can check out her video testimonial below: