Finding ways to reduce sugar without making everything taste like cardboard is one of the quieter challenges of feeding children. They want sweet. You want less sugar. The negotiation is ongoing.
Stevia is one option that's gained a lot of ground in recent years — and it's worth understanding what it actually is, where it comes from, and why it behaves differently to sugar in the body.
What Is Stevia?
Stevia is a plant-based sweetener derived from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a plant native to South America. It's been used for centuries there to add sweetness to food and drinks — long before it arrived on supermarket shelves in the UK.
The sweet compounds in stevia (called steviol glycosides) are intensely sweet — around 200–300 times sweeter than sugar — which means only a tiny amount is needed.
It's not artificial. It's not sugar. It sits somewhere in between — a natural sweetener that doesn't behave like sugar in the body.
What Happens to Blood Sugar
One of the main reasons stevia gets attention is that it doesn't raise blood glucose levels the way sugar does ᵃ.
Sugar delivers a rapid hit of energy followed by a crash — the familiar pattern of post-snack hyperactivity followed by tiredness or irritability.
Stevia bypasses that entirely. It's non-caloric and has no impact on blood sugar, which makes it a useful option for families trying to reduce the sugar rollercoaster without eliminating sweetness altogether.
For children with diabetes or those where blood sugar management is a concern, stevia offers a way to include sweetness without the glucose impact ᵇ. That said, it's always worth discussing dietary changes with a healthcare professional if diabetes is involved.
The Tooth Question
Sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay. Stevia doesn't.
Research suggests stevia has antimicrobial properties and doesn't contribute to the bacterial growth associated with cavitiesᶜ.
How it tastes
Stevia is sweet, but it doesn't taste exactly like sugar. Some people notice a slight aftertaste — sometimes described as liquorice-like — particularly in larger amounts.
The key is using it sparingly. A little goes a long way, and when balanced with other flavours, most children don't notice the difference. It works well in smoothies, yoghurt, baking and drinks — anywhere you'd normally add sugar.
Getting the balance right takes some experimenting. Too much and the aftertaste becomes noticeable. Just enough and it simply tastes... sweet.
Why We Use It
At 9am Saint, we use a small amount of stevia in POW!DER to achieve a taste children will actually accept — without relying on added sugars.
It took a lot of testing to get the balance right. Sweetness matters for compliance (if they won't drink it, the nutrition doesn't count for much), but we weren't willing to load the product with sugar to get there.
Stevia allowed us to hit that middle ground: sweet enough to work, without the sugar that would undermine the point.
The bigger picture
Stevia isn't magic. It doesn't make a diet healthy on its own, and it's not a free pass to eat unlimited sweet things.
But as a tool for reducing sugar intake — particularly at breakfast, where sugary cereals and drinks can set the tone for the day — it's a useful option. One that's been used for centuries, has a solid safety profile.
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This is general information, not medical advice. If you have questions about your child's health, your GP or a registered healthcare professional is always the right place to start.
References
(a) Anton SD, et al. (2010). Effects of stevia, aspartame, and sucrose on food intake, satiety, and postprandial glucose and insulin levels. Appetite. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20303371/
(b) Goyal SK, et al. (2010). Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) a bio-sweetener: a review. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19961353/
(c) Giacaman RA, et al. (2013). Cariogenic potential of commercial sweeteners in an experimental biofilm caries model on enamel. Archives of Oral Biology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23352828/
(d) American Heart Association. Added Sugars. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/added-sugars
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