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Sugar-free

We all get to a point over Christmas where we cram the final chocolate caramel in our mouths and vow that that will be the last grain of processed sugar that will ever pass our lips.

Ooooh, warm mince pies? Eh, yes please.

Resolving to embrace a healthy, sugar-free diet is a fairly standard December resolution for many, but it’s not a simple task.

It takes dedication and perseverance, but the new start might be exactly what you and your body are looking for.

If you’re serious about trying a sugar-free diet in the new year, then here are some handy tips to get you started on this life-changing path.

1.  Remember it’s not going to be easy.
Like any big change in your life, a diet overhaul takes some getting used to so don’t expect to embrace the sugar-free life with open arms in your first week!

2. Do NOT go from eating sugar every day to banning it from your life entirely.
 This is a recipe for disaster, so be sure to gradually reduce your sugar intake day-by day – by no longer taking sugar in your tea or coffee, for example.

3. Do NOT replace sugar with sugar substitutes and sweeteners
You’re only going to have to start weaning yourself off those too, so don’t put yourself through it.

4. Familiarise yourself with labels.
You will be shocked by the sheer amount of sugar in the food we eat, so things that you may have deemed healthy in the past will need to be left on the shelf from now on.

5. Include as much protein in your diet as possible.
The protein you obtain from eggs, fish and nuts is extremely satisfying, so filling up on these will reduce your chances of being hit with a sugar craving.

If you truly want to cut down on your sugar intake or exclude it from your diet completely, it’s important to educate yourself on sugary foods, from fruit to fudge cake, be realistic with your goals and remember that a sugar-free life is possible!

And one more thing; if you slip one day and eat an entire chocolate cake, so what? Tomorrow’s a new day!

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If you’re a caffeine fiend, and so many of us quite simply are, then you know that when it comes to coffee certain drinks can end up being more like cake than the delicious beverage.

Trying to cut out excess sugar without abstaining from coffee entirely can therefore be a bit of a challenge.

While plenty of coffee chains (Starbucks, we’re looking at you) tell you how many calories are in their drinks; the sugar breakdown is less than visible.

So, if you’re trying to cut down on the sugar consider branching out and giving one of these orders a try instead of your usual.

The World Health Organisation recommends no more than six teaspoons or 25 grams of sugar to be your daily sugar consumption, these are a few orders that fall within those guidelines.

Skinny latte: 0g

Cappuccino: 10g

Americano: 0g

Latte: 17g

A Starbucks Skinny Peppermint Mocha (festive): 13g

Sadly, this is not on the Irish menu yet but we reckon the fact that it is much lower in sugar than some other seasonal drinks makes an excellent case for the possibility of seeing it next year.

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We all get to a point over Christmas where we cram the final chocolate caramel in our mouths and vow that that will be the last grain of sugar that will ever pass our lips. Ooooh, warm mince pies? Eh, yes please.

Resolving to embrace a healthy, sugar-free diet is as standard a December resolution as resolving to be the best possible person you can be in January, but it’s not a simple task.

It takes dedication and perseverance, but it might be exactly what you and your body are looking for!

If you’re serious about trying a sugar-free diet in the new year, then here are some handy tips to get you started on this life-changing path.

1.  Remember it’s not going to be easy.

Like any big change in your life, it takes some getting used to so don’t expect to embrace the sugar-free life with open arms in your first week!

2. Do NOT go from eating sugar every day to banning it from your life entirely.

 This is a recipe for disaster, so be sure to gradually reduce your sugar intake day-by day by no longer taking sugar in your tea or coffee, for example.

3. Do NOT replace sugar with sugar substitutes and sweeteners

You’re only going to have to start weaning yourself off those too, so don’t put yourself through it!

4. Familiarise yourself with labels.

You will be shocked by the sheer amount of sugar in the food we eat, so things that you may have deemed healthy in the past will need to be left on the shelf from now on!

5. Include as much protein in your diet as possible.

The protein you obtain from eggs, fish and nuts is extremely satisfying, so filling up on these will reduce your chances of being hit with a sugar craving.

If you truly want to cut down on your sugar intake or exclude it from your diet completely, it’s important to educate yourself on sugary foods, from fruit to fudge cake, be realistic with your goals and remember that a sugar-free life is possible!

And one more thing; if you slip one day and eat an entire chocolate cake, so what? Tomorrow’s a new day!

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