My original intention was for a large part of this blog to be about food. It's recently begun taking up lots of mental real estate in our family. We have started reading labels, researching what all those ingredients really are and what they mean to our bodies and thinking much more carefully about what we consume. This has resulted in a huge amount of time spent driving to different stores (we used to be able to shop mainly at Walmart), more creative budgeting, trying to make tough decisions about what's most important and, of course, LOTS of time spent in the kitchen preparing food that is better for our bodies.
The past few months, with way too much sickness (we had a stomach bug in our house twice in the space of a month!!) plus my pregnancy exhaustion and just general busyness, we've really struggled to shop, cook and eat the way we'd like to.
And we need to change that now!! We've done several challenges in the past, ranging from a month to 100 days, trying to make a habit of eating healthfully. I'd like to invite you all to join me in a series of monthly challenges. My hope is that really focusing on one change a month will result in a lasting habit without being so overwhelming that we feel like quitting.
Around the first of each month, I plan to post the challenge and a little about why we feel making this change is so important to our health.
Challenge #1: Sweeteners!!!
This one is huge for me. I have always said that I didn't just have one sweet tooth, they were all sweet teeth! I am a true sugar addict and really struggle with moderation. I learned only after giving up sugar (after years of saying I could NEVER do it), that it truly was an addiction. Once it was out of my system, I no longer craved it. Or, if I did crave something sweet, it was easy to satisfy myself with something healthy and small, like a clementine. For me, this one is the hardest. Especially because it's all around us. At Bible study, Sunday school, playdates, coffee with a friend, meetings, sit seems like everywhere we go, there are treats!
It's also one of the ones with the greatest felt effects in my body. My ulcerative colitis is very much triggered by sugar and I feel so much better when I'm not eating it. It's funny because when I'm eating lots of sugar, I don't realize how bad I feel. But once I've detoxed from it and then I eat some, I get a headache, usually feel nauseous, sluggish and just generally icky. Not to mention the damage it does that I don't feel, like increasing my risk of cancer and depressing my immune system.
So, sugar is going for the month of March! And along with it, all artificial sweeteners and refined sweeteners. Honestly, it's much easier for me to specify what we DO use rather than what we DONT. Mainly local honey, pure maple syrup, and occasionally palm (coconut) or maple sugar if we need granulated sweetener. So...
The Rules:
No refined cane sugar including white sugar, raw sugar, brown sugar.
No agave nectar (which is far more refined than we are led to believe)
No artificial sweeteners of any kind, including those in chewing gum, sodas, etc.
No stevia unless you grow it yourself and are using the actual leaves. The white powder sold in the store is highly processed.
No high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup.
It's possible I am forgetting something with the myriad of junk out there. So remember, the main issue is that we want sweeteners that have not been processed or refined until they are toxic to our bodies. A few notes about the sweeteners we use:
Honey: Most of the honey sold in grocery stores is not really honey at all anymore. It's been pasteurized and actually had the pollen removed. Please be sure you are buying real honey. It's best to find raw, local honey. If you can't find raw or feel uncomfortable with it (or with the price!), local pasteurized honey is your best bet.
Maple Syrup: This is NOT pancake syrup. It's 100% pure maple syrup from an actual maple tree. Again, local is best.
Coconut or palm sugar: Honestly, I need to do more research on this, but I've bought an organic brand we've been happy with. We use it very rarely, just when we have a recipe that needs at least some granulated sugar. Honey and syrup seem to meet most of our needs.
I'll end with two of my favorite resources for sweet treats:
http://thenourishingapron.blogspot.com/ The Nourishing Apron: lots of yummy recipes for cookies, cakes and treats without refined sweeteners.
http://deliciouslyorganic.net/homemade-coffee-creamer/ Homemade flavored coffee creamers from Deliciously Organic. Flavored, super sweet coffee was something I never thought I could give up. But these are so yummy, you won't feel one bit deprived.
If you have a question about a particular sweetener or a particular food/recipe that you think you just can't have without sugar, please leave a comment and I'll try to find resources about those things!
Also, please leave a comment if you are planning to join us for the month of March in ridding our bodies of harmful sweeteners.
