Mary-Daisy
Oct 31, 20172 min
Updated: Jul 20, 2019
Challenge: To go Sugar Free
Charity: Diabetes UK
Total £ accrued: £9
Thoughts: It’s been tough but I’ve learnt so much.
Autumn is in full swing, and winter is threatening as the days get colder and darker. The feel good rays of the sun are harder to come by, replaced with a consistent grey and damp atmosphere. It’s no wonder that this time of year we start to crave sugary comfort foods more and more. We need a pick me up, something to make us feel good, and our bodies want that extra layer of fatty deposits that we love to call our “winter coats”.
Instead, this month I have resisted the urge to indulge and harnessed all my will-power to replace the sweet white granules with healthy and naturally occurring substitutes.
If you read my last post, 12 every day foods that contain added sugar, you may have thrown your hands up in despair and thought there’s no way you could do a month without sugar. I did!
But don’t be disheartened, going sugar free can be easy if you know how to use what’s available to you. To save you the headache of coming up with creative meals that are also nutritious and delicious, I have written up a menu for you. Also, if you click on the titles, you will be lead to the full, legit, tried and tested recipes!
Banana Muffins
Crispbreads, Cheese & Salami (check for sugar free)
Coconut Yoghurt with Fruit & Honey
Pancakes with Berries & Maple Syrup
Flatbreads & Smashed Avocado
Veg & Hummus (check for sugar free)
Plantain Chips with Home-made Salsa
Crispy Coconut Curls
Nakd Bars
Munchy Seeds
Pistachio Nuts
Fruit
Baked Sweet Potato with butter & grated Cheddar
Rye Bread with Goats Cheese & Avocado
Pitta with Brie & Avocado
Macaroni Cheese
Pitta Fajitas
Veggie Stir Fried Rice
Halloumi Pitta Burgers
Spaghetti with Olives, Veg & Feta
Vegetable Frittata with Feta
Linda McCartney Sausages, Egg & Chips
Home-Made Berry Ice-Cream
Chocolate, Coconut & Peanut Fudge
Yoghurt with Fruit & Maple Syrup
Watermelon Cake
Success rate: 9 Failures across 6 days
Accidentally on 7 accounts, 2 are “maybes” because I was out for dinner and couldn’t ask the waiters to read through all of their labels
Cost per fail: £1
Money raised for charity: £9
Do I feel any different? The only thing I have noticed was occasionally feeling quite shaky at first and I wondered if that was a symptom of withdrawal. I was surprised to learn that sugar has effects on opioid pathways within the brain, as it does with drugs like heroin and morphine making it pretty addictive.
It is no wonder, then, that sugar is added to nearly everything; to keep us coming back time and time again to buy their products.
Will I carry on? I will definitely reduce my sugar intake and look to substitute with natural sweeteners wherever possible. But I’m really looking forward to a good brownie!
Next Challenge: A Technology Diet!