12 Easy & tasty ways to reduce your sugar intake (RECIPES)

We all love our dulces, but we also all know that sugar isn't the best thing for you. A recent study says that sugar is worse for you than fat. It found that substituting fatty foods for sugar still helped lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If you're looking to reduce your sugar intake, we've made it easy for you: from helpful tips to sugar-free and low-sugar recipes, cutting back on sugar has never been simpler.

Read more ¿Qué más? 5 Latin low-calorie desserts to beat the summer heat

Image via Corbis

Drink Your Cafecito Black

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Photo via chiefsneeze/Instagram

Learning to drink your cafecito black isn't the easiest thing, but it is definitely doable! Start by cutting back little by little. If you have 3 teaspoons of sugar, start by cutting 1/2 a teaspoon back every few days. Soon enough, you'll be sugar-free in the morning!

Sugar-Free Brigadeiros

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Photo via Living Healthy with Chocolate

The Brazilian chocolate truffle is one of the best desserts out there, and this sugar-free version using coconut milk and raw honey is a winner.

Get the recipe.

Start Snacking on Fruits

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Photo via Eating Well

Swapping out your usual sweet snacks and pastelitos for fresh fruit is the easiest way to swap out sugar from your diet. Of course, if you've really got a craving, try broiling mangos (or pineapple) to bring out the fruit's inherent sweetness.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

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Photo via Splenda

By substituting Splenda in place of sugar in this recipe, you won't believe how tasty this rich (and flavorful!) cheesecake truly is. 

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Buy Salsas Without Sugar

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Photo via cookeryschoollondon/Instagram

You'd be amazed by how many salsas and store-bought condiments include added sugar. Why do we need salsa verde with sugar? To keep things on the healthier side, read your labels and always (always!) buy only those that are sugar-free. It's a simple but worthwhile switch.

Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream

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Photos via Elana's Pantry

Sugar-free? Check! Vegan? Check! Sounds too good to be true? Almost! 

Get the recipe.

Eat a Real Breakfast

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Photo via chueymartinez/Instagram

After many years here, it's easy to fall into the sweet breakfast trap: cereal, pancakes, French toast… it's delicious but definitely NOT nutritious. Instead, go back to your roots with a traditional Mexican-style breakfast. Or just any Latin variation on eggs, frijoles and the like.

Fried Plantain Dessert

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Photo via Country Crock

Maduros for dessert never tasted so good as with this yummy recipe. It's not exactly healthy, but it's not that bad either.

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Always Share Your Dessert

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Photo via aliciasdelicias/Instagram

If you're going to indulge in a pan dulce or other favorite dessert (because we know it's hard to stop), then make sure that you always ask for extra forks around the dinner table. Sharing is caring, and is also a good way to cut back on the sugar you'd be otehrwise eating solo.

Mexican Chocolate Avocado Mousse

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Photo via Cook Eat Paleo

Making chocolate mousse with avocados is a genius way to have healthy dessert if we ever heard one. Plus, it's got a little bit of spice!

Get the recipe.

Make it Spicy, Not Sweet

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Photo via irennanananah/Instagram

If you're having a really hard time not using sugar for extra flavor, why not switch things up with spices instead? If you add cayenne, chili, smoked Spanish paprika or other seasonings, you'll be adding a lot to your recipes without the sugar.

Low Carb Dulce de Leche

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Photo via All Day I Dream About Food

Is having a slightly (we do mean slightly) healthier version of your favorite ice cream topping ever a bad thing? Definitely not!

Get the recipe.