Yesterday’s article on putting things off ’til one day had me take the bull by the horns and decide to quit sugar and start eating more naturally and more wholesomely. I am not going to do Atkins, or Paleo or the 5:2 diet… In fact, I have just decided that I am going to impose a significantly reduced sugar diet, and more clean eating regime on myself and see how my whole family responds. And in my truest form, I didn’t have one final binge day nor a final chocolate treat. I just got straight to it and started preparing the food we are going to eat for the week. I have decided to use a book I bought a few years ago to kick me off into this new eating style, Sarah Wilson’s I Quit Sugar. It has great, natural looking recipes that offer sweeter replacements and no sugar options too.
Now let me start by saying, after my first shopping trip to buy the ingredients for the wholesome foods we are going to eat this week, that quitting sugar might not be all that cheap. I stocked up on a whole host of items that will no doubt be more filling than starchy white bread or pasta, making unsweetened homemade toasted muesli based on coconut flakes, a variety of nuts and coconut oil; ginger biscuits made from almond meal; chick pea bombs (chickpeas rolled in Garam Masala and roasted), chia pudding, and preparing the house for a range of very healthy meals. And I scored some terrific bargains on vegetables by buying up big on the seasonal produce like sweet potatoes, pumpkin and zucchinis.
And now I just need to adjust my lifestyle to include more exercise and allow the time to prepare the meals.
Why am I telling you all this you might be asking? To keep me honest is why. I want to spend weeks, even months eating clean and sugar free so I am setting up an environment around me to get the support of my friends. In fact I am hoping I’ll find some of you who might like to keep me company in “quitting sugar” and eating clean. I want to get a little fitter and healthier by the time Spring comes around, and a lot healthier by Christmas. And we all know the best way to do it is by modifying one’s diet and adding some healthy exercise.
I’ve already prepared a number of items for the coming week… from the I Quit Sugar recipes. Enjoy the pictures below:
The first item I have prepared is the coconut muesli that is to be served with natural Greek yoghurt, and having tasted it, everyone in my family has declared they would like to cast aside their Weet Bix and join me in this muesli. And given that it is so expensive to make, we’ll all be keeping to the small portion sizes recommended.
The second item I have prepared is the I Quit Sugar simple biscuit recipe, made with some powdered ginger and Stevia for sweetening. I had never come across Stevia before today, but I am impressed to see there is a natural non-sugar product that behaves the same way as sugar but without leaving behind high blood-glucose levels.
And so today I ask you… is there anyone willing to help me stay honest and give up sugar too?
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.
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