Are you a sugar addict? I am.
In 2005 I vowed to quit and began
writing about life without sweets.
This site contains a forum,
product reviews, my journal,
educational Sugar Challenges,
and the Stop Being Sweet ebook.

Had Any Sugar This Morning?

February 18, 2012 • Comments (0)

Posted on 02/18/12 • Comment

Ban Sugar from Schools!

February 17, 2012 • Comments (0)

If parents want to have the freedom to exercise their personal responsibility in making choices about how much sugar their children eat, then parents can feed their kids sweets in the morning and refill them with sweets when the children arrive home after school.

We don’t let kids chew gum in school. We also don’t let them curse, fight, or surf the web during class because it distracts and disrupts the education process. People understand and agree on that. Those rules were made to help teachers and students do their jobs better.

I’ve never heard someone say that preventing children from chewing gum or picking fights in school was an infringement on their personal freedom. So why do people get upset about the idea of banning sweets from schools? Because people don’t consider sugar to be that unhealthy, let alone addictive. If parents knew beyond a doubt that sugary foods were substantially impairing their child’s abilities then they’d be all for banning the stuff from schools. They might even stop purchasing sweets for home consumption. Yet plenty of people think sugar is a major food group that is okay to consume in moderation just like cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol (all banned from schools).

Why do we continue to eat something when we know it’s bad for us? Peer pressure? Availability? Addiction? Brainwashing? Ignorance?

The sugar ban suggestion made it to the municipal level by way of concerned parents and education professionals. The idea that there is an evil politician removing our children’s freedom was spun by PR firms hired by food manufacturing companies. Still, some parents believe the removal of flavored milk from cafeteria menus is a big government attempt to take away our right to choose. These people believe in choice—when it comes to strawberry vs. chocolate, that is.

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 02/17/12 • Comment

Sugar Free Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2012 • Comments (4)

Unsweetened Carob Chip Cookies: Somebody loves me, yes they do!

Gwenn made some sugar free cookies for me today and I just had to share them with you. This is not to brag or anything (nah nah) but instead to show that once you’re off sugary junk—provided you have sweet people in your life—the folks around you will adjust and accept your “strange” behavior. In fact, you might even rub off on them (more on that below).

That’s not to say that a portion of this batch of cookies didn’t have chocolate chips, because they did. However, there are no added sweeteners in the batter for both the unsweetened carob version and the chocolate chip version. Bananas sweeten the batter. I only eat the unsweetened carob chip cookies, which taste very good when you’re off sweets.

As a result of my unsweetness, I can easily count 5-8 friends and family members who have definitely have cut back on their sugar intake. I can list an additional 5-8 folks who at least claim to be avoiding sweets. Everyone knows sugar is bad for them and yet “everyone is doing it,” which makes it that much harder to stop.

Imagine if you cut back on sweets and ten people around you get inspired to do so as well. Now that would be sharing the love!

Posted in My Personal Journal on 02/14/12 • Comment

Valentine’s Sugar Challenge!

February 13, 2012 • Comments (6)

Nothing says, “I love you” like a plate of assorted fruits and veggies. Fruit and vegetable gift baskets not only delight girls but boys are equally in love with them as well. Baskets full of fresh produce symbolize desire and passion—so give your lover a box full of organic food to share while living out your romantic fantasies!

We’ve heard the story above so many times about chocolate that hearing it about anything else seems absurd.

The Challenge

Can you imagine a Valentine’s Day without sugar? OMG! What would happen? How can you show the person you love that you actually care if you don’t give them sugar to eat? How can you administer self love without downing something sweet and chocolaty?

Can you NOT CONFORM and avoid all sugar sweetened junk food on Valentine’s Day? Can you make it through this week without eating the junk food people everywhere seem to be consuming as if it’s the last year candy will be sold on February 14th?

Posted in Sugar Challenge on 02/13/12 • Comment

10 Unsweet Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Sweetie

February 10, 2012 • Comments (0)

In 2009, I posted 10 Sugar-Free Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas. Below are ten new ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts that do not contain sugar!

1. Tickets to See a Show

You know what your partner likes. Buy good seats and go.

2. A Week of Nightly Massages

This is especially nice if you administer the massages when your partner is tired and/or tense. A week of massage beats a store bought box of chocolates any day!

3. Create a New Love Ritual

Admit it, you’ve got some kind of “Friday night television” or “Saturday morning wake up” that you do with your lover. Make up a new ritual like “Sunday afternoon walk” or “Monday morning talk.”

4. Something Utilitarian

If you’re with someone who doesn’t like cutesy things that end up sitting around the house gathering dust, get them something they’ll use. A new tool, hobby supplies, or a discount card at the store they always go to can make your practical person feel appreciated.

5. Go Local

What’s more romantic than community theater? How about a local comedy show? Church potluck? A lecture? There’s something out there that can become an adventure for the two of you.

6. Head to the Beach

If you’re close enough to the coast, go there!

7. Get a Book

Who doesn’t love a good book? Better yet if the book contains a secret note that contains a promise for gift #2.

8. Go to the Movies

Make some kind of snack that has no sugar and head off to the worst movie that’s showing. Doing so will guarantee that you and your partner bond over questioning the terrible plot you just witnessed.

9. Stay in and Watch a Movie

Make dinner with a sugar free dessert. Then stay in, watch a movie, and eat well.

10. Give of Yourself

Spending time with the one you love is a valuable gift. Don’t take it for granted! Block out a significant amount of time together to just do whatever. Making time for the one you love is love.

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 02/10/12 • Comment