One of the things I enjoy for an indulgence is SUGAR! I am a sweet person! When my husband married me and people asked about what he ate, he said, "She doesn't really cook, she bakes." That's me - cookies, cupcakes, muffins, bars...all are yum, yum, yum!
However, over the past year I have made an effort to use more naturally occurring sugars and limit refined sugars. I have done very well - switching to maple syrup or honey in my morning coffee, using fruit in yogurt, and I've even been adventurous and made some fun treats without refined sugar.
One of the yummy treats I made lately, I discovered from www.100daysofrealfood.com. It is a whole wheat brownie recipe that can be made with honey or maple syrup.
This turned out so YUMMM!
My husband and I were invited to a dinner with friends, and I was asked to bring the dessert. I chose to bring this option, but I made an organic brownie box recipe as well. The dinner guests were adventurous and graciously tried both brownies - and enjoyed them both. I did have the option shown in the picture of adding cut organic strawberries and homemade whipped cream made with organic whipping cream and maple syrup.
The past few weeks I've made an effort to not eat or drink anything with refined sugar. I plan to carry out my "fast" for a few more weeks and see how my body responds. So far, with the changes I had already made in my diet, it hasn't been too difficult to maintain.
For those wondering - what is okay to eat when eliminating "refined sugar" - here is what I chose to focus on in my journey -
1) Maple Syrup - It is a pure form of sugar from nature. Health reports indicate it is good for boosting the immune system, age-proofing the skin, and calming the stomach.
2) Honey - Is also a pure and natural sweetener. It has been researched as a memory booster, relieves seasonal allergies, and can work as an antibiotic.
3) Coconut Palm Sugar - Is also a natural sugar made from sap collected from the coconut plant. It retains many nutrients including zinc, calcium and potassium. It also contains a B vitamin that can act as a mood booster.
But, as in all things, moderation is key. Focusing on consuming fruits, vegetables, and real foods is the most important aspect of creating optimal health. When eliminating something deemed unhealthy from our diets, some tend to gravitate to other unhealthy items as a balancing act. However, I am venturing on a Real Food diet, and dragging my family along with me. We do occassionally eat out and have foods that aren't something we would cook at home, but being flexible in life eliminates a lot less stress and anxiety. The reason to eat real food is to be more healthy, happy, and overall ready to tackle what the world gives us each day - not to create stress and tension.
I hope you become more adventurous in your eating, and try to consume more of what nature brings to help you in your health journey! If you choose to join this journey with me, let me know how it goes!