Welcome to My Year Without

On January 1, 2008, I made a New Year's resolution to cut out refined sugar for one year. I cut out white refined sugar and corn syrups. My quest to be sugar-free evolved into political interest, public health, and letter writing to food manufacturers. Join me in sugar sleuthing, and learn more about the psychological aspects of sugar addiction, and those who push sugar on us.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

One Fantastic Sugar Website

I just came across a very informative website about sugars. It does not bash sugar, but seems to identify its sources, qualities, risks, uses, and alternatives. While I appreciate websites that totally discredit sugar, this site seems to take a more holistic approach and is non-confrontational. It has an extensive list of sugar substitutes and talks about the benefits of each one and how to use each in cooking. The site seems to have only one agenda, and that is to push organics. Who can argue against using less/no chemicals and pesticides in our foods?

Enjoy this site!

http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/sweet.htm

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Serious Stress

It has been hard to care about my diet, lately. My mom has been hospitalized 3 times in the last month, this last time for open heart surgery. In the face of these things, about the last priority I care about is whether something has sugar in it or not. It seems so petty and unimportant in comparison. Reading a label now just seems so menial. When I really think about it, I know that it is not menial, especially in light of my year ahead. I have to keep my goal. Honestly, though, being at the hospital for so long takes a lot of energy and the last thing I have wanted to do is read every little label in the cafeteria. So, no, I did not ask if the bread on my sandwich was made with sugar. I didn't read the label of the bag of chips I ate. I have not eaten anything that obviously has sugar in it, but I have not been as militant in checking ingredients. My stress level has reached a peak and I don't want to blow up at someone because my sandwich bread was made with sugar. Little pet peeves have turned into gigantic stressors. However, I know that this will pass, that my mom will be discharged from the hospital, and that I will soon be bugging everyone again about ingredients.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Craving Frenzy

I had a gigantic sugar craving yesterday. I went through all my cupboards, the refrigerator, and the freezer to no avail. No sugar-alternative could satisfy my sweet tooth. I looked at Jeff's chocolate chip cookie dough with envy. Why were the cupboards full of dark chocolate covered almonds and chocolate coated pretzels and organic chocolate bars? I knew I wouldn't give in but I felt angry every time I looked at those foods because I wanted them so badly. Jeff must have heard me running around the kitchen in a frenzy because he yells, "Take a giant bite of cottage cheese!" In my vulnerability I didn't even think about it. I just did as I was told. I took the biggest spoon I have and filled it with organic, non-fat cottage cheese from Trader Joe's. As soon as I had finished it, I instantly felt better. My craving disappeared. It was so weird.