The crossword solution for the term 'ALTERNATIVE TO EQUAL' is STEVIA, a 6-letter word. Stevia is a natural sweetener that is derived from the leaves of the stevia plant, native to South America. It has been used as a sugar substitute for centuries and is now becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to artificial sweeteners like Equal. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar, so only a small amount is needed to achieve the same level of sweetness. It also has no calories and does not affect blood sugar levels, making it a healthier alternative to sugar.