Aspartame should have never been used in beverages. I get headaches from it. Can’t chew gum with it in either. They are putting a lot of crap in our foods.
I keep artificial sweetner packs here for any guest who wants to use it, but it is that Stevia stuff. I just don’t like sweet stuff, but for fresh fruit-we weren’t allowed much candy as kids, but there was a small orchard.
I started baking my own bread when my child was a baby-with all natural wholewheat flour, and it makes an excellent trade for a few eggs from a neighbor who has some free range chickens, or for some honey from another neighbor who has some beehives. Barter of goods and services is becoming more common here, and I see that as something positive.