We eat pretty healthy around here. I cook most of our meals from scratch. We buy a lot of organic food. We don’t drink soda or eat a lot of processed prepackaged stuff. None of us has dietary restrictions or food allergies, which makes things easy, and while our girls can be frustratingly picky sometimes, they also get really excited about things like broccoli, fish, hummus, and bell peppers.
I have a sweet tooth. David does too. And Mila and Margot light up when someone mentions cookies. Plus I looooove baking so I buy flour and sugar in bulk. Nobody complains.
I firmly believe that food–ALL food, as long as it is REAL food–is good. It provides fuel for our bodies and pleasure for our souls. I feel no guilt when I eat dessert, because it is delicious and fun to make and I enjoy it. Of course I am extremely lucky to have good genetics that allow me to eat whatever I want without health issues or excess weight gain. I know many people have to be more careful about what they eat. However, I still believe that, even without the privilege I enjoy, people can enjoy a wide variety of delicious foods, including sweets in moderation.
And there’s my current problem: moderation.
Lately I’ve felt compelled to eat ice cream every night before bed. If not ice cream, cookies or cake or pie or something. I crave treats. They have become a habit for me. I join my girls in snacking on pretzels with cookie butter, sugary cereal, and granola bars all day. When I caught myself sneaking Oreos at 8:30 in the morning, I knew something needed to change.
As of yesterday I will not be eating anything with added sugar for a month. I’m still eating everything else I usually do–dairy, gluten, fruit, etc. I just want to eliminate all the extra sugar. It’s not good for me, it’s not necessary, and I don’t like how addicted I have become.
David and the girls are not joining me, which makes things a little tricky because there are still sugary foods in the house. I was shocked, actually, by how many sugary snacks and things we have. And I should have photographed them before I started this sugar fast, because throwing away a stray chocolate chip just about killed me.
I bought myself some sugar-free peanut butter and have tried to cut the sugar out of a few recipes I use a lot. (Buttermilk pancakes were fairly successful. Oatmeal muffins were less so.) But even after just one day I am fighting some serious cravings. Doesn’t help that there’s one more chocolate covered strawberry from Shari’s Berries staring at me every time I open the fridge.
(Dear David, Please eat that thing. I only have so much willpower and I can’t stand the thought of throwing it away. Love, Jen)
I’m nervous and I’m not loving it so far, but I know this is going to be good for me. I’ll keep you updated on how things go. And if you have any tips or words of encouragement, I am all ears. Because I am drooling just thinking about the three packages of red velvet Oreos in the pantry.
I need all the help I can get.
So I just wrote a hugely long comment and it disappeared–did it arrive via email or something?
Nope. It got lost. 🙁 I figure if I can make it through the week (and attending two parties!) I'll be good. I hope. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, I was trying to say that I've been doing this in February, and the first few days were hard, but after that it was much easier. Blah blah blah.
Good luck! I did no sugar, no flour, no dairy for 6 weeks last summer and it was hard, but I felt amazing.
It was nice meeting you at the Galentine's Day event!
I don't know if I have the willpower to cut out sweets AND cheese. You are a stronger woman than I am. And it was good to meet you too!
Oh you are a much better woman than I am. I went without for a week once, just to see if I could, and I was so amazed to see how much food has sugar in it. Even virtually all bacon! You go, girl.
I KNOW. I've heard that Whole Foods has sugar-free bacon, so I'm checking there soon. It's appalling, though. The organic chicken broth I used to buy has sugar in it! ARGH!
Also I have a serious crush on your backsplash. And counters. And you, in general… but you knew that already. 😉
I've done this a few times, and yes, the first two weeks suuuuuuck. But honestly, after that it is not terrible (and I was cutting out all sugar, most carbohydrates (which turn to sugar in your blood stream), and all fruit (ditto blood stream thing)). You can do it, and you may find that fruit will become your "sweet tooth" craving filler instead of 18 spoonfuls of Nutella….wait, am I the only one that does that? Blast.
xox
Yeah, I'm not sure I could get rid of all forms of sugar. If I can have a fruit smoothie a couple times a week, I may survive this whole things. Good to know someone else has lived to tell the tale!
My wife has been sugar free for a year and a half. And it has made all the difference for her. Better skin, sleep, mood, brain activity, digestion. If you need some good recipes to get you through check out "powerfully pregnant" on Amazon.
Awesome! Thanks for the suggestion. And kudos to her. That's a serious commitment that I'm not sure I'm ready to make…but if it yields such good results? Well, we'll have to see how it goes.
I do no sugar treats every now and then! But you know how sugar makes me (migraines, tired all the time…) I feel better when I don't eat sugary treats! I still put sugar in bread recipes but it isn't a sugar bread so I think that is ok! I think all things are ok in moderation! You can do it! I am starting my no sugar this week too! You will be amazed at how much better you will feel!
I hope it makes a difference for me. If nothing else, I just need to change my habits. Dessert does not need to be an every day, every meal thing! Thanks for the support, dear!
I hate sugar!
I love sugar….