15 Sugar-Free Blogs

Thanks to the Masters in Public Health blog, here's a compilation of some great blogs. There are so many sugar-free, healthy, gluten-free blogs out there but here is one such list. I like that there is a description about each one along with a link.

Enjoy!

*Stay tuned for an article about how I made a cross country road trip on whole foods only!*

Sugar-Free (Mostly) Once Again!

Jeff and I made a pact. Once we moved from the big city (Washington, D.C. metro area) to Wyoming, we would eat only whole foods.

It was so easy in the big city to walk into the grocery store and load up on convenience foods. Life can be so fast-paced in the city that the convenient food seemed to make the most sense. Though I ate healthfully most of the time, near the end of my stay when I tried sugar I just about gave up healthy eating completely.

For example: frozen pizza, lots of mac N cheese, top ramen and a lot of chocolate (love that opiate-induced feeling in the brain).

When Jeff said that he would like to eat healthfully I about lost my senses. Since I've known him he has sustained himself on mostly these items: hostess cupcakes, chocolate syrup, chocolate ovaltine, pasta and pizza.

On our cross country road trip to Wyoming we made a list. We brainstormed what counted as whole foods and what didn't. What it amounted to is processed food is out of the question including: most breads, crackers, pasta, packaged junk, flavored drinks and sugary stuff.

It's been about two weeks and we are doing it! As a "reward" we treat ourselves to a donut once a month. It's about the worst, most delicious item we could think of that will motivate us to continue eating whole foods.

Recently, we decided to allow chocolate. Not just any chocolate but a high percentage cacao chocolate bar.

That's all I have to report for now.....

How I Got Back on the Sweet Crack

It started innocently.

Sick of being so regimented and craving balance, I decided to try dark chocolate, and I don't mean 55% cacao. I'm talking about the 85-90% cacao.

It was wonderful! A square of it here and there, shared with my husband, was the delirium I wanted. To share in the exotic bliss of chocolate, lightly sweetened with sugar.

But one square at each sitting became, "Oh, two squares is okay," which became, "Well since we're sharing it we might as well eat the whole thing," which then became me eating entire bars of chocolate, ALONE.

From there, since I was already selling my soul to the white devil, why did it matter if it was just chocolate? Why not a little taste of an Oreo? After all, after quitting sugar for 3 years surely just one will satisfy.

It did satisfy.

The first time.

The next time I reasoned that if I enjoyed one, why not enjoy two? After all, I'm still totally in control.

I learned that Temptation will tell you anything. ANYTHING. I don't believe Temptation is some spiritual googly monster whispering in our ear. I believe it's basically the "thing" inside of our human nature that always chooses what we most want, with no respect for consequences.

Consequences, ahhhhhh.

Here's where things get interesting.

I had forgotten by this time some of the reasons I initially quit sugar. So upon finishing the most delicious chocolate layer cake I've ever eaten in my life, when I began to panic for no reason, it suddenly occurred to me that in past sugar binges sometimes I would get shaky and panicky.

I loved and hated the reminder. The feeling passed, but then the sugar low began. I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Which reminds me of last weekend when I decided I'd share a bag of Reese's Pieces with Jeff at a movie. I took a handful and the next thing I knew I was lifting my sleepy head off of Jeff's shoulder.

"All it took was a handful of candy!" he whispered to me during The Illusionist.

"What happened?" I asked, confused. I had just been awake watching previews.

"You conked out when you ate these!" he held up the bag of candy and jumped up. I stared at him. The movie was going. He left and came back empty-handed.

"We don't need those. Remember how sleepy you used to get when you ate sugar?" he asked and then we dropped the subject to enjoy the movie.

Panicky, sleepy......

And there's more.

Stay tuned again for another update.

Thanks for reading!

I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!!!

Um, I went back to the white stuff.

One of only three things I've ever regretted in my life.

Things are NOT good.

Eagerly anticipating writing a nice long explanation of what happened. And what I plan to do about it.

Stay tuned. 

Elephant Journal Rocks

Check out my new writing venue!

The Elephant Journal has tons of very interesting articles and people who write them. I'm just as fascinated by the authors as I am by the subject matter. Read on topics covering yoga, organics, consumerism, wellness, children, arts, education, etc.

Look for more of my upcoming articles, and as always, check back here for posts, too.

I apologize for my absence here at My Year Without.......life!

Really Really High Fructose Corn Syrup

I have no idea how many of you are soda drinkers, but even if you don't touch the stuff, we all know people who do. Here's an interesting topic for discussion:

Researchers discover soda beverages have higher than expected amounts of fructose. The typical range of fructose in high fructose corn syrups is approximately 45%-55%. However, researchers recently found as much as 65% fructose in sodas, including Coke and Pepsi.

Gross.

What's the problem and who cares? Too much fructose is linked to serious health issues, including metabolic disorders. Marion Nestle of Food Politics says:

• Fructose: increasing evidence suggests that the metabolism of fructose–which differs from that of glucose–is associated with abnormalities. This means that it is best to reduce intake of fructose from table sugar as well as HFCS. -Click here for full post
  

If you're interested in reading more about the latest on high fructose corn syrup and sodas, go to the following links:

Los Angeles Times article

Food Politics Blog

Sugar-Free, Quick, Easy Zucchini Bread & Stew

This zucchini bread rocks. It comes from one of my favorite naturally sweet recipe books, The All-Natural, Sugar-Free Dessert Cookbook.

I had a giant zucchini that I used half of for my Mish Mash Veggie Stew (see below). The remainder I shredded for bread which I've been craving--I haven't eaten zucchini bread in three years. The shame. It's one of my favorites, too.

Like always, I fudged with the recipe (my version below) but it turned out perfect. It would be easy to substitute applesauce for the eggs to make this vegan. I just love how (happy, non-caged) eggs add fluffiness.


Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread

1 and a half C white whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C veg oil
1/2 C pineapple juice
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 and a half C shredded zucchini

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray regular-sized loaf pan with cooking spray.

In large bowl combine dry ingredients. In medium bowl combine wet. Pour liquid ingredients into dry and stir until just blended. Fold in zucchini. Pour into pan. (I like to drizzle a little leftover juice on top at this point. It makes the crust crispier.) Bake 45-55 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Enjoy!


Mish Mash Vegetable Stew

pot of water
1-2 tblsp dried onions
tblsp of dried vegetable broth or similar
whatever vegetables you have!
broccoli
potatoes
yams
purple onion
kale
cherry tomatoes
garlic
whatever beans or lentils you have!
orange lentils
white beans
mung beans

I boiled the broth, dried onion, lentils and beans (after soaking) for about 30-45 minutes before adding the veggies. Then I let simmer for about 15-20 minutes.




I found this great pretzel at my local grocery. They are so incredibly hard that I can only eat them by soaking them in soups. They are delicious and hearty but I fear they are capable of chipping a tooth if I don't soak first.