Just because you and your family are staying away from
excess sugar consumption doesn't mean that you have to miss
all of the fun! Here are a few suggestions so that you can still
enjoy life and have things that "everyone else has".
1. "
Buy back" your child's Halloween candy from trick or treating
and use the money to get them a special toy instead. Your
child can still go trick or treating with his or her friends and
even enjoy collecting all of the candy, but instead of eating it,
they use it to get something else that will last (hopefully) and
won't harm them.
2. Try using a small (and I mean small)
amount of stevia (from chrysanthemums!) to
sweeten foods and in baking .
3. If the stevia is not a hit
(it can be a little bitter) try these natural sweeteners such as
agave (from cactus) or real maple sugar which lave a lower
glycemic index and therefore won't spike the blood sugar as
much.
4. If you are craving sugar, it could be a sign that
you are not eating enough protein. So for example if you are
wanting a cookie, eat a piece of chicken (natural , free range)
first instead. Then if you still want the cookie, have a small
piece instead of the whole thing.
4. Eating a whole piece of
fresh fruit is preferable to dried fruit or juice as it contains less
sugar and more fiber which slows the absorption of the sugar
into your bloodstream.
5. Watch for emotional eating.
Tune into your body and see if you are trying to stuff an
uncomfortable emotion such as anger, sadness, stress, or
tension. Ask yourself what would REALLY help you to feel
better, (a long run? a talk? a hug?) the long term goal of great
health and energy, or the fleeting satisfaction of that treat?
6. Hydrate well with good pure (not tap) water instead of
soda pop. Sodas are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup
which is implicated in developing diabetes and drinking 1 can
per day can pack 15 pounds of fat onto your body per year!
7. Avoid artificial sweeteners. Studies have shown that
aside from their unknown and possibly dangerous effects on
the body, people who use these products don't ever lose
weight!
8. Associate yourselves with others who share
your good nutritional views. Have healthy food potlucks, insist
your children's schools teach nutrition and stock healthy
alternatives to candy and soda pop. Be a role model of a
healthy lifestyle for your children. Create community with
others with a shared value of health.
Find out more....
