Eating Smart #SugarFreeSuger

I couldn’t do that is something I hear often when people hear that I have quit sugar. Before I quit sugar it did seem like a ridiculously hard thing to do. It turns out, after the initial week or so, it really isn’t. It’s about playing smart with the food you eat and what you keep around you. This is what I’ve learnt. I’m kinda hoping it will help you out to reduce your intake a little, if not give up all together.  
The first few days I quit, due to my lack of research and planning, there wasn’t a lot I could eat in my house. no problem, I stuck predominately to fresh salads, vegetables, meats and what canned goods I had available. I guess, really, I went cold turkey. I even gave up fruit for the first two weeks before reintroducing it. Not that I eat much any more. It just doesn’t appeal to me. 
Soon it was time for our weekly shop again. I spent well over 2 hours reading labels. I checked everything. I looked for alternatives. I found that even different brands had different levels of sugar for pretty much the same product. Canned tomatoes are ridiculous for fluctuations in sugar levels. But now I have my brand and I stick with it. Watch items that claim to be sugar free and contain ingredients such as Sobitol and Matitol avoid them. They’re on the naughty list too. I just ask if there’s a new ingredient that sounds a bit sugar like {think ‘ose or ‘itol}. 
Some of my favourite meals are curries, stuffed chicken, beef salads and simple chopped vegetables with hummus, sour cream and/or mayonnaise. Favourites with the whole family are Taryn’s sugar free savoury muffins and home made pizza. Again, just keep an eye on the sugar content in the flour, some brands somehow manage to get over 4 grams of sugar per 100 grams in their bread flours. How, I have no idea.
When I am on the road, which I used to be a lot more than I am now, or the rest of the household wants takeaway I eat pizza or chicken twisters from KFC. The regular twister has 1.8 grams per 100 grams of sugar and thus fits my program. Pizza’s can be made fit as well if you’re smart. Stick to traditional tomato or no sauce. Give BBQ sauce a wide birth. Watch your toppings {pineapples, onions etc tend to the sweet side} and you’ll be fine. 
As a lifestyle, sugar free is ridiculously simple when you take steps to set yourself up. Start to research foods and get to know what ‘type’ of food you can eat and which ones don’t fit in. I research my butt off online. I emailed companies that didn’t display nutritional information. I did my homework. I found ways to reintroduce my favourite foods. I made some sugar free friends and picked their brains. The Sweet Poison facebook page is great, David is super quick with responses to questions. Both of David’s books are a must read! And as you know, I am an affiliate for the Sarah Wilson ‘I Quit Sugar’ eBook. I recommend it as well.       
So there you go. Some of the tips and hints I’ve found really work for me. Feel free to email me your questions, if I can’t answer them from experience, I’ll get you the answers. Email me by clicking here. I’m doing well, back on the horse and recommitting to the weight loss side. Say bye bye KFC Twisters and greasy foods. Calories still count, after all, even if they ARE sugar free. Right Taryn!? Heehee.  
 Are you sugar free OR bored with me talking about it? 
  

13 responses to “Eating Smart #SugarFreeSuger”

  1. Well I don't know about everyone else but I'd like to say a great big thank you for harping on about it of late. If I hadn't heard so much about it on your blog I don't think I would ever have learnt what i know now.I just went out and bought Sweet Poison last Wed.Though I must say the first part of the book was a lot like being in a biology/science/chem class the message is getting across loud and clear.Haven't quite finished it yet but it's already seen me walk right past the vanilla slice and refrain from scoffing down Golden GayTimes when hubby offers me one to share. (Even though the cravings are killing me).The hardest part is knowing what to eat and what to steer clear of (since sugar content is so tricksy these days) so I'm hoping it gets a little easier as i go along.Wish there was a sugar free diet plan already written up out there that I could follow, that'd be great.wow this probably should've been an e-mail. Boy do I like to waffle…mmm waffles :)

  2. I really love Taryns muffin recipes. I'm making some pumpkin ones right now!!You'll get no argument from me from talking about eating fresh and natural foods with less sugar:)

  3. Not tired of it by far! Please keep the tips coming! My dad, brother, niece, and I are all diabetics and sugar seems to be in EVERYTHING!Karlene

  4. Definately not tired of your posts on sugar-free eating – I find it very interesting and am even considering doing it myself!

  5. Taryn's pumpkin muffins are the bomb. I'm definitely not sick of reading your sugar free posts – keep 'em coming! xxx

  6. Good for you! Research is key. That's how my switch to vegetarianism was made so easy.

  7. With a 'sweet tooth', being sugar-free is something that I've always put in the 'too hard' basket. In saying that, I have made a conscious effort to not partake of added sugar, so that's a start. Will have to have a read through your previous 'sugar free' posts.

  8. i'm more focused on getting my exercise up and running at the minute – i find it very hard to start and maintain any type of longterm commitment with exercise, so the next two weeks is just focused on exercising everyday, even when i'm knackered – case in point today. 70 mins on the treadie yesterday = rooted today but i still forced myself to do 20 mins.i have been looking into the whole sugarfree thing and i'm tempted but when i've committed to giving up something in the past, it just makes me want it more so for me, it's all about control and making healthy food my main source of consumption and everything else and occasional thing – which by default means i will be drastically cutting down on sugar anyway!xx

  9. Your posts on this aren't boring me at all, in fact they're "getting to me". I know I've said I couldn't give up sugar even though I have cut down, but you're making me rethink this attitude. I should try to do better. I love your picture of the pizza toppings! I'd have to cheat and buy ready a made base or at least ready made dough that just needs rolling out. My wrists and shoulders aren't up to kneading anymore.

  10. Definitely not tired of it. My husband is a borderline diabetic and I do mean right on the border. While I probably won't cut out sugar completely it is nice to have some recipes and tips for limiting it especially for him.

  11. I am not bored, at all. I am ramping up.

  12. Good for you!!!I went sugar free the week before last Christmas (good timing huh!) and stuck at it for two months, but I also cut out grains as well. I have never felt soooo good. My Pms disappeared, my skin was clear. it was great. Sadly a well meaning friend made me some gf (i have coeliacs too) goodies and I felt obliged to partake and that was my undoing. I really must get back to it – I was so much better without sugar in my life.YOU GO GIRL!!!

  13. Not bored at all. In fact I purchased the ebook last week and it was helpful as Sugar Is Poison wasn't as helpful in that regard.I'm dying to know (and I've probably missed those posts!) if you've lost weight and how much less bloated do you feel?Fourth week in and I'm feeling fabulous! A few friends have joined the bandwagon, and they too are amazed at how full they feel now they don't eat sugar.I sure wish I'd found out sooner!xx

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