Sinless Sweets
Dateline: 07/12/99
Chocolate. Taffy. Caramel. Lemon drops. All those delicious tastes of childhood that are bad for our teeth and horrible for our waistlines. Wouldn't it be great to be able to go to a candy store and be able to enjoy candy that was actually good for us?
It sounds impossible but it isn't, thanks to Sinless Sweets. The store, which is located in Old Strathcona at 10411 83 Avenue, is owned and operated by Jason Tymchuk. Jason is living a dream of making a living out of being a kid in a candy store, but with a twist: all the products at Sinless Sweets is low or no-sugar, diabetic and Weight Watcher friendly, and won't promote tooth decay.
I recently asked Jason about how Sinless Sweets came about and the kinds of products he sells: the variety, the sweeteners used, and most importantly, how it tastes.
Paula: What gave you the idea to start Sinless Sweets?
Jason: The idea of Sinless Sweets came to me about two years ago. I was
looking for a business idea that I would enjoy doing. I like Old
Strathcona, so I thought that was a good spot for a business, but what
kind of business? A candy shop appealed to me and since there was only
one in Old Strathcona, it seemed like a good idea. I thought it would
be a good idea to have an edge from your competitors and I saw that no
one was doing diabetic friendly candy, so off I went....
The candy business is a fun business!
Paula: What kinds of candy do you carry?
Jason: I carry 70 different kinds of hard and chewy candy in bulk. I
also carry 6 types of chocolates, 6 types of fruit spreads, 4 types of
candy bars, a peanut butter cup, 10 types of cookies, 4 types of boxed
items such as peanut brittle, 6 types of fruit leathers and two sizes
of boxed chocolates.
Paula: Can you describe what your candy tastes like?
Jason: All my candy tastes just like the sugar made goodies with one
exception, they are just a little less sweet, which in my opinion, is
a bonus! Good candy is good candy, sugar or no sugar.
Paula: What kinds of sweeteners are used in your candy and are there any health concerns customers should be aware of?
Jason: All of my candy is sweetened with modified starches called sugar
alcohols. These are starches are made from corn. They are very safe
and do not have an after taste.(the sugar alcohols in my candies,
called maltitol and HSH, are least likely to cause stomach upset out
of all of the sugar alcohols available on the market) The down side
of these sweeteners is that they may cause stomach upset, but when
consumed moderately, like most candy should, there is rarely a
problem.
A few of my candies do contain some aspartame and some people
are very concerned with it. I have done alot of research on aspartame
and I believe that taken in very moderate amounts there is no problem
with it. But drinking diet pop and eatying fruit spreads with it
should be avoided. To get the same amount of aspartame in my candies
as compared with a 355ml can of diet pop, I estimated that you would
have to eat a large mixing bowl of candy, more that most people eat in
six months and remember that can of pop is consumed in about five
minutes.
Paula: Are your products safe for diabetics? What about people on other kinds of diets?
Jason: All my products are diabetic friendly, which means that in
moderation they are fine, but still the diabetic has to be aware that
the candies are not calorie free.
All of my candy is calorie reduced somewhere between 25-33% less
than the sugar made goodies. This is good news for those people trying
to loose weight, they can still enjoy some candy. All the candy in my
store has the calories listed on them as well as carbohydrate(Atkins
or Protien Power Diet) and fat content. I have had a good response
from people on weight watchers.
Mr. Samosa
Fans of authentic Indian food should be aware that Mr. Samosa, makers of the most famous samosas in Edmonton with the products sold at many stores and events throughout the city, is at a new location: 14981 Stony Plain Road in Jasper Gate Square, only a few blocks from their old location in the Crestwood neighborhood.
Mr. Samosa is now a full scale Indian restaurant where you can enjoy a variety of East Indian cusine such as chicken vindloo, a variety of curries, and tandoori meat dishes. Vegetarians will find a huge selection of meals to choose from, and all vegetarian meals and samosas are prepared in separate pots and dishes from the meat.
In addition to ordering off of the menu, there is a lunch buffet, as well as take out. At the front of the restaurant is the glass display of samosas and other appetizing delicacies like in the old location, where you can come in and take out a box of whatever combination you want. Personally, give me some vegetable samosas, a few tikie patties, and some pakoras and I am very happy!
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