Discovering 2Flower's cavities triggered a sugar fast in our family. I'm pretty sure sugar was a major contributor to the cavities (combined with it not being brushed off often enough), so we decided to boycott it for a few weeks.
But dental health isn't the real reason we're cutting sugar. I'm learning that modern processed foods in general are a major contributor to carries in our society, and it is nearly impossible to avoid all kinds of processed foods.. We are discovering that there is sugar in nearly everything. EVERYTHING! And we haven't even considered cutting refined flour or rice. I think we would have to stop eating altogether to avoid sugar. But that isn't entirely an option, so we're just trying to eliminate white sugar, brown sugar (we LOVE brown sugar), and high fructose syrup from our diet.
As I read Real Mom's Love to Eat last year, I came to the conclusion that I'm addicted to sugar. I crave it often and eat it in larger quantities than I ever have before in my life. I want it constantly. I mentioned an interest in cutting, or at least reducing, sugar in my diet to Lost Boy a few times, but we were never really committed to it.
Lost Boy noticed that he has been eating more junk food in the past year, and made an effort to cut down by avoiding sugar every Tuesday. But we only remembered his Sugarless Tuesdays once, so that plan wasn't exactly working.
Going on a Sugar Fast will help me deprogram my body and reduce sugar cravings. It will help stabilize my blood sugar (and hopefully, my mood!). Cutting sugar will make Lost Boy think twice about what he eats. He can still have hamburgers, but there is sugar in ketchup. Does he want a hamburger without ketchup?
We're only committed to our sugar fast for two weeks. I hope we'll keep our sugar intake low afterwards, because I know it is good for us and will help us be happier and healthier in the long run.
But Lost Boy really misses his cinnamon rolls, and I'm not interested in oatmeal unless it has brown sugar in it. I'd rather have the sugar that we choose than the sugar we're not aware of.
Good for you for committing to giving up sugar, even if just for a couple weeks. I think it's really important to be aware of the "hidden" ingredients in our food. So many of them will sabotage our efforts to be healthy.
ReplyDeleteWe don't eat anything at all that's processed, except for perhaps protein powder. Not sure if that qualifies as processed. We have a fruit and veggie smoothie for breakfast with the protein powder (Kaelyn loves this!), boiled eggs or yogurt and fruit for snacks, some type of meat or eggs with fruit for lunch, and then a big yummy salad for dinner. We don't drink soda, juices, or milk. Just water.
I notice a huge difference in how I feel when I stray from eating this way. If we go out to dinner and I splurge and have bread or pasta for example, or if we eat at someone else's home. My body feels sluggish and my brain feels foggy. Food is hugely important to overall health. It's sad that so often we don't realize that.
Happy sugar fasting!!!
Once you do cut out sugar though and rely on raw honey (processed honey has the same Glycemic Index as refined sugar) you will love it even more!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, sugar is in everything! You can get ketchup that doesn't have sugar, not even alternative sugars like xylitol, although the ones with xylitol are great, but a little pricey.
Way to go you guys! We need to do one of those too. I crave sweets all too often, epecially popsicles in the heat of the summer! A tip that may help with your oatmeal (or maybe you already have tried it) but really ripe bananas can add the sugar boost you feel your oatmeal needs. Whenever I make oatmeal for Maya I usually put half a ripe banana, raisins, and cinnamon in before microwaving it.
ReplyDeleteI think this is AWESOME! Now if you could just get Hunny to do it as well that would be even better. I am trying but when he gets and eats goodies, it is hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteI liked the oatmeal suggestion. Or we add homemade/unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon. Hunny ate it without adding sugar and I was way impressed. It didn't need any :)
Let us know how the fast goes!