Shawon Davis Photography
Brenda Bennett, popular food blogger Sugar Free Mom, knows what it’s like to struggle with sugar and carb addiction and what it’s like to be doing keto alone without her husband following the diet. She's found freedom in the keto lifestyle and the ability to make recipes the whole family will eat. No need to cook differently for your kids and make separate meals for yourself.
Since 2011, her blog has become the most popular sugar-free source on the web today. She has a devoted following of those looking to simply reduce sugar consumption, many who follow a low carb diet and many who have multiple allergies. Her readers can identify with her as her own children have tree nut, peanut, and soy allergies and she herself has a gluten and dairy intolerance. She is a mom who had to give up sugar, but still wants chocolate working hard to maintain her weight loss. With her 3 children who keep her very busy she strives to balance it all and still provide healthy, homemade meals that don't require too much time in the kitchen.
Her first cookbook, Sugar-Free Mom, Naturally Sweet & Sugar-Free Recipes for the Whole Family was released on December 9, 2014. This book is a wonderful beginners guide to going sugar free with over 100 family friendly recipes.
Her second cookbook, Naturally Keto includes a wide variety of over 125 recipes from breakfast to desserts, many dairy free and nut free, as well as a 4-week meal plan, a beginner’s guide to starting keto, tips on dealing with a reluctant spouse, kitchen essentials, and fool proof fabulous recipes for entertaining a non- low carb crowd.
Naturally Keto features something for everyone, no matter what your taste or dietary need and includes:
- 50 plus Dairy Free Recipes and many with Dairy Free-Options
- 75 Egg-Free Recipes
- Over 115 that are nut free!
NEW BOOK: The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet
This is a program based on the online 6 week Sugar Detox course. It's a whole food detox with customizable meal plan for either low carb or keto. Over 90+ recipes!
Want to know the Sugar Free Courses Available:
4 week Stall Buster Keto Course
A few words from Brenda:
When I first began my sugar-free journey I thought it would be impossible to sustain. How could anyone not have chocolate or cake on their birthday? You see back when I began with removing white sugar in 2004, there weren't many recipes available that were sweetened with natural sugars, let alone any that were sweetened with natural sugar free sweeteners, like Stevia and Swerve ,Sukrin and Monk Fruit. I began creating recipes using natural, less processed sugars like coconut sugar, honey and sucanat. As the years went by, I learned that my body could not tolerate even the natural sugars I was consuming. I always craved more. Stevia became my first choice for a natural sugar free sweetener. I also learned I was gluten sensitive.
When browsing through my Recipe Index, you will notice, recipes created from 2011-2013 were not gluten free but used whole wheat flours. Many were not sugar free but used unprocessed sugars. You will not find any recipes that include using white refined flour or sugar, brown sugar, agave nectar, Splenda or other artificial sweeteners. Here's a post all about why I won't use Splenda: 3 Splenda Myths Busted.
If you'd like the full details of how I became sugar-free, please read My Journey.
All recipes from 2014 and on are now not only sugar free and gluten free, but also low carb. If you're unfamiliar with the difference between Low Carb versus Sugar Free please read this post I wrote about it. All recipes are low carb because I've learned over the last 3 years my body has changed and eating this way makes me feel better than I ever have in the past. Since 2017 I've been doing a very low carb, a Ketogenic diet. If you're unfamiliar what the difference is between the two you can read this post all about it and my 6 Week Keto Results when I first began really counting my macros and testing my blood.
Since 2015 I've really been creating recipes that fall in line with a keto, low carb, high fat, moderate protein approach. Being on a keto diet has truly helped the most with sugar cravings and I plan on continuing for life as I just love this way of eating!
Tidbits About Me:
- Jesus is Number 1 in my Life!
- My family is my main priority.
- My youngest child has a tree nut and peanut allergy.
- My oldest child has a soy and peanut allergy.
- I love cheese!
- I LOVE to exercise, really I really do!
- I am a coffee lover.
- I pray YOU will find help, encouragement, laughter, joy, ideas, direction, fabulous family friendly recipes and most of all HOPE that you too can lead a life free of sugar and LOVE it!
BLESSINGS,
BRENDA
Sugar-Free Mom
PLEASE NOTE DISCLAIMER:
Brenda Bennett is not a doctor. She is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Certified Keto Coach. This blog is her own experience as examples and guidelines for healthy eating, exercise and weight loss strategies. Consult a medical professional before making exercise and dietary changes.
Ken D. Berry, MD/ Medical Reviewer
Ken Berry, MD is a family physician in Camden, Tennessee and is affiliated with Henry County Medical Center. He received his medical degree from University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He is the author of the bestseller Lies My Doctor Told Me which exposes myths and misleading health advice from well-meaning doctors, such as avoiding fat. He also has a very popular youtube channel. Dr. Berry’s own health dramatically improved when he embraced a ketogenic diet. You can also find him on Facebook, and Instagram. Dr.Berry's Website.
Jo Harding/ Recipe Contributor
Jo is the creative food photographer and stylist behind the healthy eating blog, Modern Food Stories. Jo's a testament that once you find the right approach for you, you can overcome chronic illness through the healing power of food. She believes the secret to radiant health starts and ends with a healthy gut so all her recipes are grain, gluten and refined sugar free. Many are also dairy-free.
Lauren Kelly
Lauren is a recipe developer and food blogger. She has written two cookbooks, The Everything Wheat-Free Diet Cookbook and The Greek Yogurt Cookbook. She has an undergraduate degree in Business & Finance and Psychology and my Masters in Nutrition Science. She loves to share her healthy and delicious recipes and follows a low carb, sugar free diet. Lauren lives in NJ with her husband and three boys.
Belinda Bouffioux
Brenda,
I still have not received your e-mail.
Thank you.
Belinda
Brenda
I sent to the email that PayPal has for you when you ordered and it is different from what you have above. I just sent you another email to the aol.com email.
Belinda Bouffioux
Good Morning Brenda,
I'm so excited to have found you website and am looking forward to my new way of life!! I purchased the bundle plan yesterday but was not redirected to the passwords. Please help!!!
Thank you.
Belinda
Brenda
Emailing you right now.
kimberley ruiz
My daughter is 29 years old and has Down syndrome, she had gained 40 lbs in 8 months because of medications. We started eating paleo in 2010 and she lost all the weight, we were having a hard time keeping weight on. So what did I do? I started giving her more carbs, a lot more carbs. They are all paleo friendly, but her mental state took a dramatic downturn. New behaviors developed, more self chatting, rocking, jumping, loss of focus, more autistic like, it was impacting her work and daily life. Have you seen the documentary called " the Magic Pill" on Netflix? They have a young girl with autism that they put on a keto diet and her behaviors modified in a short time. I looked Keto diets up and they are mostly things my daughter doesn't eat or would be too hard for her to chew, most of her teeth don"t match. I really thought that this was going to be impossible to do, and yesterday my neighbor told me about your website. I have a shopping list and we are starting tomorrow morning.
Thank you for sharing your recipes, I literarily went from feeling overwhelmed to relief, I now have the hope that we can do this. We go to the doctor next month and I know that they are going to suggest medicating her again or sending her for testing at the Autism clinic. The doctor we go to specializes in Down syndrome and it just hit me, she never asked what kind of diet Kiki was on.
I will let you know how we are progressing
Thank you again
Brenda
I'm so happy your neighbor told you about my site and I pray my recipes will help your daughter on this journey!
Janet Stapleton
Hello Brenda,
I absolutely love seeing all the recipes you post. One thing that is difficult is that many times I don't have the sweeteners and flavoring ingredients in the recipe. Do you have a "shopping list" of ingredients that you would provide? Since there are so many different products, a list would give me the opportunity to order/purchase all of the frequently used ingredients at one time so I would have them on hand.
Thanks so much for this consideration and I truly appreciate all of your testing and sharing of recipes!!
Brenda
I will work on something.
Janet
Thank you SO much!!
Anita
I was looking for no-carb waffle recipes and came across your site! I'm loving all of your ideas!! But may I say first and formost I really respect that you accknowledge that you put CHRIST FIRST in your life!! God Bless you and your family!
Brenda
Thank you Anita!
Bernie
I'm hooked. I came across your recipe for the 2 minute low carb English muffins and it was delicious (just had it with my spinach salad). I can't wait to get a little more creative by using some of your wonderful looking concoctions. Thank you for all your efforts to bring this very welcome option to us - who don't want sugar and high carbs but do want healthy....
G.E.
HI, I need to find sugar-free icing not containing sugar alcohols.
Debra P.
I am glad that I found you! I am hoping to try a lot of your recipes since I am a diabetic. Just curious what this swerve is all about. Is it better than the stuff you buy in the stores?
Not trying to be nosy but you don't mention a husband so can I assume you are a single mom? Do you work and run your website as well?
Brenda
Here's a post I wrote about Swerve.https://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/what-is-erythritol-a-swerve-give-away/
Leann
Brenda, awesome picture!! Thank you for sharing you, and all your knowledge. When I found you I did a lot of your recipes and have lost 50lbs.
Thanks for all you do for us out here floundering around, you have given me the tools and resources to make it this far, and to continue with all your wonderful recipes. ☺☺☺??
Brenda
That's wonderful news, so happy to have helped on your weightloss journey!
Helen Jackson
I am coeliac so follow a strict gluten-free diet. Can't wait to try some of your gluten-free recipes!
Jennifer
Where do you suggest buying sugar free chocolate? I live in WV and I've never been able to find any.
Brenda
I buy it at Whole Foods and on Amazon. I like this brand.http://amzn.to/2FGkBqa
Brent & Janet
Hey Brenda, your site is GREAT!! My wife and I have gone low carb (Keto) recently, and your site has me enjoying new recipes on my weekends. I was borderline diabetic in 2011 and with loss of weight and exercise and diet changes, this is no longer the case - however, we know how important "what we eat" is to our overall health. Thank you for taking the time to share your culinary journey - and, provide "food for thought - and food options" that help us improve our health without feeling deprived or punished. God bless and Take care, Brent
Brenda
Thanks for sharing!
Cathy Lewis
Just diagnosed Diabetic...... I have always been borderline diabetic with all the health issues that come with that. I have read so much on the subject. But still so confused about the sugar vs. carb issue. I have tried to just reduce my carbs and NO sugar. I am still trying to figure it out. I love your site it has helped me. Bless you for your help.
Jean
Just ran across your site and am excited to try your recipes. I was very recently diagnosed with diabetes and at age 75, find it very confusing to begin a new life style of cooking and eating the "right" foods. I appreciate the Nutrition Facts that you list - very helpful. Thanks!
Brenda
Thanks Jean and welcome!
Karen Shapiro
Where is the actual recipe for the No Flour, No Sugar Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies?
Brenda
I think you might be looking on the wrong website, I don't have a recipe like that. I have a flourless peanut butter one but not chocolate.
Janel
Branda, I have used a number of your low carb recipes and have been very pleased with them. Tonight I ordered your 1 onth menu plan Easy Low Carb Family Dinners but can't seem to download the material. Please contact me.
Brenda
I will check into this and email you.I just resent the link, please let me know if you need further help.
mark richlin
hi Brenda, my wife has been trying to use cocunut flour with little or no success. she says it does not seem to rise without some sort of levening agent. any tricks you can recommend? she tried to make sticky buns and ended up throwing it all away. thanx mark richlin [email protected]
Brenda
I can't really give a flat answer that will make coconut flour work in every recipe. It is dependent on the liquid ingredients in each recipe. Has she tried any of my recipes with coconut flour? I've got an incredible tasting chocolate chip muffin.
Katy
I am new to your site, almost 70 years old and have been a sugarholic my whole life. Today is day one of making major sugar changes to my diet. Yes, I’m going cold turkey, know I’m going to feel bad for a while and am looking forward to “coming out the other side” feeling soooo much better. Thank you for excellent information, recipes that I can incorporate into these changes and your gift of encouragement.
Katy
Brenda
Thank you so much Katy!
Jen
Hi Brenda,
How can I contact you? I purchased the sugar detox program but have not received my code.
Thank you.
Brenda
I just emailed you.
Richard Rynearson
So I am a Seasonal Park Ranger with a 1 1/2 qt. crock pot. I assume I can just downsize your crock pot recipes by dividing all the ingredient quantities in half? Love your website and your story. Thanks for bringing it to us.
Brenda
Absolutely! Thank you!
Arlene Joannides
I am trying to find a recipe for sugar free sponge toffee or cinder toffee. Can anyone help me?
Melanie
What kind of cake pans for the red velvet cake? Cake i use relgure cake pans.
Melanie
What kind of of cake pans?
Brenda
I used small ramekins that were shallow, quiche ramekins.
Susan H
I bought some coffe flour at Trader Joe's and I haven't seen any recipes that use it. Have you heard of it/Have you ever used it?
Brenda
No I've not used it.
Pat -(Patricia Arata)
I see so many recipes for breads but wonder why no one discusses the low carb breads/tortilla shells already on the market having 5 or 6 carbs each. I'd much rather spend my cooking time on the food than making bread when I can buy a loaf of Aunt Millies or Mission wraps. Is it because you mistrust the labeling? I'm hardly promoting brands but truly am mystified. I can whip together a small pizza using the wraps in no time at all which to me, beats using cauliflower and doing my darnedest to disguise the taste. Please help me understand!
Brenda
Many of packaged items are very processed which often always contains ingredients to keep them on the shelf longer. Might not be a big deal to most people but many who are on a keto diet or very low carb diet, it would effect possible ketosis. If you're not on a keto diet, and just low carb and sugar free these are great alternatives for a busy life. But if you are trying to lose weight and having any trouble doing so, many people go to a strict whole foods, clean eating diet, meaning if it isn't grown in the ground or has a face, they don't eat it because it's too processed.
Dana
Hi I love some of your receipes. I have a question on the zuchinni chips/cucumber chips. How long do they stay chip like? And what are some examples of the containers you use? And lastly since they are still veggies do they need to go in the fridge?
Sorry so many questions I'm brand new at this!! Thank you for being awesome!
Brenda
They don't need to go into the fridge once dehydrated. I would suggest wrapping them in aluminum foil to keep them crisp. Honestly they never last longer then 1-2 days in my house.