Happy New Year!!!
Did you all have a great holiday season and New Year’s celebration? It is 2011! Can you believe it? Time flies…
Many people make their New Year’s resolution to be a healthier person or to lose x amount of pounds. Which are both great resolutions! To aid in these resolutions why not try cutting back on sugar or even going sugar-free? There have been a few people I know who have made this resolution already!
A couple people have asked me for some tips on reducing sugar-intake, so I have compiled a list below.
How to Reduce Your Sugar Consumption
- Don’t go “cold-turkey” if you are used to eating a lot of sugar. Try reducing your sugar-intake in levels. For example, if you drink your tea with 1 teaspoon of sugar daily, try drinking it with 1/2 teaspoon. Slowly reduce this amount until you can completely eliminate sugar from your tea.
- Replace refined sugars with natural sugars like honey, real maple syrup, or real molasses. Then, reduce the amount you use in recipes by halving the sugar-content slowly until you reach a point where you do not need sugar in the recipe.
- If you still want the sweet flavor without the calories, don’t use artificial sugar-substitutes. Try stevia. Click here to learn more about stevia.
- Omit sugar in recipes that don’t really need sugar. Breads, pancakes, and savory recipes don’t really need that extra two Tablespoons of sugar. For example, instead of adding sugar into the pancakes, try topping the pancakes with lots of fresh fruit to get that naturally-sweet flavor.
- Try some of my Recipes. All of them contain no added sugar!
Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:
What are your New Year’s resolutions? Is cutting back on sugar one of them?
Try taking the “sugar-free for a week” challenge that Kayla is hosting at Little Miss Healthify! Can you handle no sugar for a week?
Your Pumpkin Spice Bread looks amazing! I am going to check out your recipes!!! Sugar free rocks!!! 🙂
Haha! Thanks 😉 You are too sweet….
I don’t know if I’d be able to go completely sugar free for a whole week. I respect you so much for that! 🙂
Try it for a day!!! It is a fun challenge 😉 See what you think!
I’m hopping on the sugar-free week wagon! I’ve been experimenting with less and less sugar since I discovered your blog 🙂 I hope you know and feel good about being such an inspiration to loads of people!
This is a great post 🙂 I am starting a 30 day no sugar challenge tomorrow! Thanks
Thanks for the shout out!
I’ve been looking at all the foods in our house and I think eating 100% sugar free this week is going to be harder than I thought! My favorite yogurt, tomato sauce, protein powder and the bread I just made all have some sort of sugar! It’s going to be interesting to live without these foods!
YES
I was doing so good and than the season of cookies showed up.
baking was the only way I knew to salvage my holiday blues
oh well.
I am ready so I always know where to come to get some help!
xoxox
Just jump back on the bandwagon with me! And the loads of other people who are taking the challenge…Maybe I should make a sugar-free support group…hmmmm….
I have handled no sugar for years…the question is can I handle no artificial sweeteners?
Hahahah..thats my rub. Not only stevia. I get dirty. Splenda, diet soda…yuk.
That’s my challenge. So thoughtful of you to post this in light of our little friends making the change!
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I might have to check out this sugar free for a week challenge. I am always up for a challenge.
Do it!!! It is so much fun!!! And extremely challenging for the first time….
really great tips!!I ‘ll keep these in mind- esp when making pancakes- i dont need that sugar!
Alex, you are just such a genius. I almost never eat sugar as is, (with the exception of fruit) but your blog encourages me to eat it even less. Thanks for the tips! You are the best!
Great tips!! I’ve been trying to cut back on my sugar, too. I don’t consider my intake out of control by any means – BUT all of my snacks are on the sweet side. I used to always have hummus & veg or pretzels as a snack, and now I’m more apt to go for yogurt/dates & p.b./banana & p.b., etc. Not saying that’s super sugar-ful, but when all of my snacks look like that, it adds up!
I’ll be keeping these tips in mind 🙂
I always think I don’t eat a lot of sugar…but I just love it in my coffee in the morning…I’ve been slowly switching to stevia, though.
I must admit, I do consume more than I should of the artificial stuff due to my “fizzy water” addiction. 🙁
“fizzy water” ha! You are silly! Have you seen those neat soda makers? While I was in a plane, flipping through the Skymall…I saw it! You can make your own soda water…and then add flavors if you want. But honestly, I love unsweet, unflavored, soda water!
Great tips!! I try my best to watch my sugar, but this year I am going to do better.
Great tips Alex! Thanks. Happy New Year!
I’m amazed your so young!
I’m definitely not sugar-free, but definitely try to reduce the amount I use. OR, like the recipes on my blog, I substitute! It’s amazing what natural goodness just bananas, pumpkin, applesauce and raisins can do!…and chocolate 🙂
I also will usually add a packet of Stevia to baked goods, always to my tea…can’t break that habit yet 😉
Thank you for those great tips! I really, really want to try stevia, but apparently it’s not officially admitted in Germany by now. Grrrrr!!!!!
Happy New Year to you!
You know, taking on this challenge will really put into perspective just how much we consume sugar on a daily basis. I am intrigued and will give it my all to dramatically reduce my sugar intake for a week 🙂
oh! your grain free pumpkin spice bread looks SO delicious 🙂 i keep meaning to try your ULTRA chocolate personal cake!
Great ideas!
I just bought something called Stevia plus today – is that the wrong thing if I wanted to try stevia?? : )
Honestly, I have never used a powdered stevia before. I always use the liquid drops, and they work very well. Stevia plus is just stevia with added fiber…I don’t know exactly what it is like, but it is stevia! The only way to know is by trying it! Tell me how it tastes!