I am here this morning to share another day of all of my eats. I talked about my purpose for showing what and how I eat in my Stop the Food Shaming post and it is my hope that these posts educate you and give you some easy, quick ideas in the kitchen. This What I Ate Wednesday looks a little different as I have a new challenge on my plate.
No Sugar Challenge
I joined some friends of mine from the gym for 5 days of no sugar. After making way too many batches of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and indulging in butterfingers and snickers over Halloween, I needed this. The more sugar I eat, the more sugar I crave- it is a vicous cycle.
Yesterday I finished day 2 of absolutely no sugar. I have tried these challenges before and I have never been able to do it so the fact that I have made it two days is HUGE. I have to check every label and look for those pesky names that disguise sugar. I thought this was the perfect time to show you what I am eating- it sure is not sugar. I am allowing myself to have natural sugars that are found in fruit.
#WIAW
I started my day with two eggs and one third of an avocado. I have found my body does best when I do protein and a healthy fat in the morning and this is my favorite combination. I like my eggs a little crispy. Of course I had a cup of coffee while eating breakfast… and one on the way to the gym.
After teaching my class I refueled with oatmeal. I cooked my oatmeal before I left the house, added almond butter and cinnamon, then topped it with half an apple.
That meal held me over through running errands and the grocery store. By the time we got home at around 1:00pm we were all ready for lunch. I got lunch ready for the kids while eating a handful of peanuts and snacking on the other half of my apple from this morning.
Once they were eating lunch, I fixed lunch for myself: leftover pork loin, sautéed red pepper and a left over baked potato with butter. This lunch was delicious and left me satisfied.
It was a nap day for everyone in our house, including me. Of course, once I woke up from my nap around 4pm there was no way I was going to be able to make it until dinner. I snacked on another handful of nuts and drank a lemon La Croix. Then I grabbed 1/2 of another apple and had a hardboiled egg.
Having a snack in the afternoon keeps me from taking unnecessary bites as I am cooking dinner. I had several ideas in mind for dinner tonight, but had to change my plans because of my “no sugar” rule. I found this recipe for Lemon Garlic Chicken Pasta on Pinterest and made it my own and it did not disappoint. I doubled the tomatoes and cooked the first half down. I cooked the chicken in onion and garlic and roasted a red pepper and added it to the chicken. It barely needed any of the extra olive oil and lemon. It was so delicious and everyone in my house gave it a thumbs up.
Of course I always want something sweet after I put the kids to bed and relax and I saved half of my apple from my afternoon snack for this reason. I cut it up, placed it in the microwave and added some cinnamon and pecans. Oh my word! This was so amazing! I of course also enjoyed my usual cup of hot tea while sitting by the fire and watching Friday Night Lights.
It was a great day of eating for me. I feel proud with how well I have avoided the sugar. After looking at my day, I did not eat as many veggies as I should have- that is where I always struggle. Please also know that I do not include all of my water when I do this. Besides my coffee in the morning and maybe one La Croix, I drink water all day.
I love learning more about foods and what they do for my body. Of course sharing them with you, so you can live your best left makes me even happier.
Your turn- tell me!
What was something new and exciting you have eaten lately?
Have you ever tried to cut out sugar?
Way to go!!!! I’m so proud of you for sticking with it. Accountability is the key. I probably wouldn’t be succeeding if we didn’t all have each other. It’s been eye opening to learn what all contains sugar. Keep up the great work!!!
Impressive! I don’t eat a lot of sugar, but I know I couldn’t completely cut it out.
And your pasta looks yummy. Would you be willing to share your version of the recipe? I went to the original and it doesn’t look as good.
I’ve been trying really hard for the last year or so to cut sugar. It’s really hard isn’t it? Sometimes I just really want it after a hard workout especially.
I’m curious about this-are you just cutting out added sugar? Apples, though healthy, are comprised of mainly carbohydrates in the form of sugar.
Yes, added sugar in those 56 forms. It may seem like I ate a lot of apples, but I actually only had two whole apples and that was my only fruit for the day- not too much in my opinion. Plus, I feel like no one ever became unhealthy from eating too much fruit or natural sugar.
Kudos to you for cutting out sugar altogether. Although I don’t eat a lot of sweets, there are some days when I just crave a small sweet something.
I’ve been pretty low sugar the last few days. My newest treat has been mixing protein powder with non fat Greek yogurt and a spoonful of peanut butter. Just enough sweet to satisfy my sweet tooth and enough protein and fat to fill me up. Now I just need to figure out a good protein powder to buy once I use up all of my random sample packets I have LOL.
I am all about natural fruit sugars. Your snacks looked great especially the one with the hard boiled egg (wink wink)! Great job cutting out sugars!