Americans eat an average of about 30 teaspoons of sugar a day (this equates to nearly 500 empty calories per day).

“Added sugars” have made the American Heart Association (AHA) blacklist of foods that if eaten in excess contribute to heart disease—our nation’s leading cause of death in men and women.

To prevent heart disease, the AHA prudent guidelines on sugar intake call for an upper limit of no more than 100 calories per day in women (about 6 teaspoons of sugar) and 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons of sugar) in men.

One way to eat less sugar is to find a calorie-free sweetener you like such as Splenda, Equal, Stevia or the new kid on the block: Nectresse. (Splenda is especially good for baking.)

Here’s a New Year’s Gift from me to you!

Check out delicious and yet healthy New Year’s Eve Brownie Bites which are low cholesterol

Celebrate the New Year with dark chocolate and champagne–here’s to a happy and healthy 2013!

• 1/3 cup light margarine (Benecol light)
• ½ cup Splenda sugar blend for baking
• 5 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup flour
• ½ cup egg substitute

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spray a 9” x 9” baking pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl combine margarine, Splenda, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, salt and flours.

By hand, blend together with a wooden spoon.

Add egg substitute and stir until smooth.

Pour brownie batter into baking pan.

Bake for 40 minutes until done.

Cool completely then using small (1”) holiday cookie cutters, cut brownies into festive holiday shapes

Yield: 20 brownie bites

Nutrition information (per brownie):

• Calories: 35,
• fat: 1.5g,
• cholesterol: 0 mg,
• sodium: 40mg,
• fiber: 1g,
• sugar: 2g,
• protein: 1g