How Sweet It Is

Back in May I made a commitment, along with Mom and Brian, to give up sugar for the summer. Anything with sugar in it, as well as anything the body processes as sugar - all carbohydrates, including grains, fruit, various high-glycemic vegetables like corn and beets and carrots, and alcohol. It was very challenging, but it had a huge positive impact on my fitness and my energy levels, and my waistline. A few weeks ago I started adding in foods that I have been avoiding, and there are several unexpected changes in my tastes that I have noticed.

First of all, eating anything that is remotely sweet feels extremely indulgent. I can't deny that I decided to start phasing sugars back in when I did because during this time of the year you can't walk into a produce department without being assaulted by the sweet smell of ripe peaches and cantaloupe. I have been gorging myself on grapes, berries, stone fruits and melons, and it has been amazing! Another thing that I never really craved before that I have become addicted to is nut butter. I will eat chunky peanut butter on just about anything now - toast, bananas, oatmeal, or sometimes just by the spoonful. I have also discovered a cocoa-almond butter that is smooth and creamy and just as satisfying.

I also have a much higher tolerance for plain and simple veggies. I don't need much(if any) dressing on my salads anymore, and don't need much seasoning to enjoy broccoli fresh out of the steamer or zucchini straight off the grill. Most of the snacks we made all summer were just chopped bell pepper or cucumbers or jicama, and I find myself craving those tastes and textures now.

As I have again tried foods I denied myself for a few months, there are several things I used to crave that don't do anything for me now. For example, breakfast burritos were a staple in my nuke-it-and-eat-on-the-way-to-work morning routine, and now the potatoes and tortilla just seem bland and unnecessary - I'd much prefer the eggs, sausage, cheese and green chile on its own, even though it's not a commute-friendly dish outside of its handy wrap. I get very full quickly when I eat carbs now, too. I have been trying to eat 1 carb, 1 protein, 1 fat and 1 fruit with breakfast - which is actually quite a lot of food. When I used to be ready for lunch by 11:30, now I don't even think about food until at least 1.

This whole exercise has promoted healthy changes in our habits - but is definitely has not been cheap. Good produce is expensive! We've been going through hearts of romaine lettuce like you would not believe, and every time I stop at a grocery store to get more lettuce I end up shopping for auxiliary vegetables and proteins. It's no wonder that people with fixed incomes are reliant on frozen dinners and processed meals - they're crazy cheap when you compare that to how much it would cost to purchase the whole ingredients to cook similar menus. We are blessed that we live in a community where CSA's are readily available, healthy lifestyles are supported by the local economy, and we can select fresh foods anytime we visit a store.