I Quit Sugar

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.