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No Added Sugar Challenge - What I learned and tips, tricks, and ideas

No Added Sugar Challenge: What I Learned + Tips, Tricks, & Ideas

written by Parita 16 Comments

I decided to try a No Added Sugar Challenge during the month of August.  And while I didn’t stick to it 100% of the time, I still learned quite a few things that will surely impact how much sugar I consume going forward.

No Added Sugar Challenge

WHAT I LEARNED

1. If you’re serious about removing added sugars from your diet, you have to read labels.  And you also have to learn to recognize the over 50 names used for sugar on said labels.

2. Before going on a no added sugar challenge, get rid of any and all sugary treats lurking in your kitchen/pantry.

3. The first week is the hardest, especially if you have a big sweet tooth to start with.  Trust me, it gets better after that.  Towards the end of the month, even fruit tasted sweeter than usual to me.

4. If you find that in the middle of your challenge you want to eat a little dessert because you’re with awesome people who also enjoy sweet things, that’s ok.  I mean, yes, it’s technically cheating, but if it’s something you won’t have the opportunity to try again, just have a few bites and then get back to it.  No big deal.

5. Setting a very specific goal kept me on track.  So while I wanted to eliminate as much added sugar as possible, my ultimate goal was to stop eating handfuls of chocolate chips after every meal.  And that is something I was 100% able to achieve!  Yes, I slipped up and ate a little dessert.  However, I kept my hand out of the chocolate chip bag, and that was a huge personal win!  AND I stopped craving after dinner sweets altogether.  Still working on lunch.

TIPS, TRICKS, & IDEAS

1. A tiny bit raw, unfiltered honey, when absolutely necessary, goes a long way.  Personally, when I used honey, it was more of an enhancer than a sweetener.  I know, I know…another cheat.  But if you use honey in it’s most natural form, it’s ok.  I mean, it’s practically a health food.  No?  Don’t judge!

Raw organic honey

2. I noticed that drinking water + fresh lemon/lime juice kept the sugar cravings away.  Possibly because I’m not a tart and sweet person, so the idea of eating something sweet after drinking lemon/lime water was a huge turn off.

Lemons and limes

3. Sparkling water also did the trick!  Not sure why but drinking a glass after dinner made my cravings disappear.

4. Fruit is an obvious good for your swap.  I love frozen grapes, fresh berries, apples, nectarines, fresh cherries, etc.

5. Speaking of fruit, one of my all time favorite pairings is a Granny Smith apple + peanut butter.  Super filling and just so good!

Apple and peanut butter

6. Dates also pair nicely with peanut butter.  You only need 1/2 teaspoon of PB per date, AND if you use your imagination when biting into the date, it almost tastes like a fudgy brownie.  Almost.

7. Mocha banana froyo is an all time favorite of mine.  All you need is a frozen banana, cocoa powder (1/2 teaspoon), instant coffee powder (1 teaspoon), almond milk (2-3 tablespoons), and a small blender/food processor.  Again, it almost tastes like real froyo!

8. Frozen berries when blended together with a drizzle of honey turn into a delicious sorbet like frozen treat.  So good!

Mixed berry sorbet

GOING FORWARD

Going forward my big goal is to practice mindful moderation when it comes to sweets.  Dessert will always be a part of my life.  Life is waaaay too short to skip out on dessert.  However, eating a handful of chocolate chips after lunch when grapes will do is just not acceptable.  Sure, every now and then, it’s fine.  But not on a daily basis.  Same goes for alcohol.  A glass of wine with a delicious meal is a beautiful thing.  But anything more than that, and it’s just too much and not necessary (for me).  And finally, going forward I’m going to continue reading those nutrition labels because if there’s one thing I learned it’s that sugar is literally everywhere!

Wish me luck!

Have you tried giving up sugar?  What food would be the hardest for you to cut out?  What are your favorite no added sugar snacks?

Written on September 2, 2015 Related:Health, Nutrition

RPM donuts in Chicago, IL

No Added Sugar Challenge – A Progress Report

written by Parita 6 Comments

It’s been 20 days since I started my no added sugar challenge.  And believe it or not, I’ve managed to tame (not eliminate completely!) my sweet tooth. 

The first few days were obviously the hardest, but I avoided the added sugars.  Then came Chicago.  I didn’t drink any alcohol, I didn’t drink any sugary drinks in the morning, but I did have dessert at RPM (there is no way anyone can resist the donuts!).  And then I had a few bites of the chocolate tart at Osteria Via Stato. 

But you know what, I don’t feel guilty, and I certainly don’t regret my decisions.  And here’s why.  A big reason why I love dessert is because eating it is always a special experience.  One you share with other people.  These were conscious decisions, not emotional ones.   NBD!  And really, the donuts at RPM are truly little bites of fluffy heaven! 

RPM donuts

A recycled picture…but you get the point!

Other than those few bites of dessert, the only other added sugar I’ve been consuming every now and then is honey.  When I was in Chicago, I ate oatmeal for breakfast every morning, but because it was completely plain, I had to sweeten it with a tiny amount of honey to make it palatable.  Also, I make my own salad dressings now, and I need to add a little bit of honey to balance the acid from the vinegar. 

Again, I don’t think of my use of honey as a weakness.  It beats the sugary muffin or store bought dressing alternative.  Am I right?

Other than that, I’ve stuck with the rest of the challenge.  Promise!  How you ask?  Lots of willpower and fruit.  I usually eat a piece of fruit with my lunch.  And I’ve been avoiding the after dinner no added sugar treats.  If I really want something sweet, I’ll make some banana fro-yo (one frozen banana, a little almond milk, and a little instant coffee all blended together). 

Fruit

Apples, berries, and grapes are my favorites!

Once the challenge is officially over, I’ll share more tips and tricks along with the benefits I’ve experienced. 

And for anyone who thinks my little challenge doesn’t count, I beg to differ!  I avoided 95% of the desserts available to me in Chicago (cookies, bars, M&MS!, etc.) without having to think twice.  And I’ve gone from staring at the bag of chocolate chips sitting in our fridge, to forgetting about it altogether (until right about now).  WHO AM I?!?!

More to come…

What’s your favorite no added sugar treat?

Written on August 21, 2015 Related:Health, Nutrition

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