Get your cozy sweaters and your favorite mug out: it’s Pumpkin Spice season–and after that? Spicy chais, nutty butter toffee, and delicious caramel drinks for the winter holidays. While your mouth is watering, you can’t help but pause and envision your dreaded scale. How will you stave off the extra pounds that come with holiday cravings?

Making your drinks with natural syrups and sweeteners is one way to cut calories and maintain calorie control. By making your beverages at home with Skinny Mixes natural syrups, you’re not only saving money but also cutting back empty calories. Natural syrups like Skinny Mixes’ are usually made with stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol, and can have some health benefits while still tasting delicious, making them some of the healthiest natural sweeteners.

You have probably seen dozens of cocktail and Starbucks-knock-off recipes on social media. You may have even bought yourself a shaker and a hand-held milk frother because you were so inspired–but finding the right ingredients is tough. With so many low-calorie sweeteners and syrups on the market, it is hard to know what is the right one for you. Luckily, we ranked the best natural sweeteners, so you do not have to sacrifice flavor for fitness.

The Best Natural Sweeteners

Stevia

If stevia sounds familiar to you, that’s likely because it is. Stevia became popular in natural foods in the United States around the mid-1980s and can be found in packets on tables at diners everywhere–and for good reason.

Stevia comes from the leaves of a plant called ‘Stevia rebaudiana,’ a plant that hails from South America. On the chemical compound level, stevia has several naturally-occurring sweet compounds, such as stevioside and rebaudioside A. What does that mean? It means stevia is naturally very sweet and has essentially no caloric value.

But just because you find it in paper packets at restaurants does not mean that’s the only way to use stevia. Some of the best zero-sugar cocktail recipes are made with Skinny Mixes–our Naturally Sweet Cart Bundle is made with stevia and agave, making our cocktails only thirty calories. In the mood for something sweet? We’re obsessed with a signature Peach Margarita. Want something new? Try our recipe for a Strawberry Key Lime Margarita. All drinks in this bundle are gluten-free, Kosher, easy to store, and dairy-free so everyone can enjoy them.

Monk Fruit

This sugarless sweetener comes from a type of fruit native to Southern China. It’s also known as luo han guo or siraitia grosvenorii, but unless you’re a scientist or perusing an international supermarket, you’ll see it listed as monk fruit extract. There is limited research indicating monk fruit may support blood sugar management. Regardless, it is free of calories and carbs, and also contains antioxidant compounds associated with reducing inflammation. Pretty great, right? And it tastes delicious!

Monk fruit is also keto-friendly, and can be purchased alone, in powder or liquid form.. However, we prefer it pairedwith our favorite flavors. Whether you’ve gone Keto, or are looking to make healthier choices without sacrificing your love of food, our Skinny Syrups line is the way to go. With flavors such as Keto Peanut Butter Cup and Keto Pumpkin Spice, you will forget you’re even changing your diet. These syrups are perfect for protein shakes, baking, coffee, or even a splash in your oatmeal. 

Erythritol

Don’t be intimidated by the name–despite sounding like something Marie Curie discovered, Erythritol is naturally occurring in certain fruits. This is a sugar alcohol that can be available in powder form, and while it tastes like sugar, it has a mild aftertaste so best enjoyed with other ingredients. Another bonus is that it does not spike your blood sugar or insulin levels.

If you’re concerned about that aftertaste, fear not. This natural sugar alternative is the perfect sweetener for your morning (or mid-afternoon–we don’t judge!) coffee. While many brands offer syrups and sweeteners with Erythritol, many people can’t get enough of our Naturally Sweet Coffee Bar Bundle. With decadent flavors such as Cinnamon Dulce and Chocolate Mocha (and more), these syrups are the perfect sugar-free ingredient to tame your strong coffee.

Making changes to your diet can be daunting, but knowing what ingredients to enjoy is just as important as knowing the ones to avoid. Thanks to these natural sweeteners, you don’t have to surrender your love for flavor in exchange for healthier choices.