Sugar addiction is a very real thing, and in America it is an epidemic. We live in a society that cooks from a box or a can, and we have a food industry that is more concerned with profit margins than wholesome ingredients. There's no wonder why so many people have heart disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes etc. I am from the school of thought that food is the foundation of our wellness. One of the biggest hurdles in my own personal wellness has been overcoming my addiction to sugar.
I grew up in a household where Little Debbie snacks were an acceptable breakfast, and my lunch for school was packed with a peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwich on white bread paired with potato chips and fruit snacks. When it came to dinner, I rarely ever remember eating vegetables that didn't come from a can. To top it off, I remember my mother putting soda in my younger siblings' bottles. Please know that I write this because it defines so many families. I do not write this out of judgement or condemnation. My mother was an angel. All she knew about nutrition was what she had been taught, and she was from a generation that thought PET milk was an acceptable form of nourishment for a baby. My grandmother was also a saint, so I mean no ill will towards this generation. IT IS, however, TIME to WAKE UP and BREAK this SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CYCLE.
When I became an adult, I started my own journey to eat better. I've had challenges along the way, [Insert random pregnancy cravings] but I have always wanted to do what is best for me and my family. My own wellness is extremely important to me. I lost my mother when I was 25. Since then, I've made it my life's mission to live the healthiest life I possibly can. I do it for me. I do it because I don't want to end up like my mom and die in my 50s. AND I do it because IT WASN'T fair for me to lose my mom, and I don't want my husband and children to feel the same way I did.
#1. Do your own research. There is nothing more powerful than knowledge. Now, when you're searching, please use reliable sources. Pinterest is a great avenue for finding information, but ALWAYS check sources. Do NOT take every cute picture graphic to heart and make it your nutrition bible. People are spammy, scammy, and uninformed [insert miracle weight-loss scam here]. Here are a few thought provoking, mind changing... "CHECK YO' HEART" articles that I found:
The Sweet Danger of Sugar
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar
11 Reasons Why Too Much Sugar Is Bad for You
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/too-much-sugar#section12
9 Reasons To Avoid Sugar
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-reasons-to-avoid-sugar#section5
#2. Ditch the processed garbage and artificial sweeteners at the grocery store. Think about the shelf life of the food. I saw once where someone had posted the quote, "the longer the shelf-life, the shorter yours will be." Process foods are usually packed full of unnecessary sugars and additives. You need to retrain your body and teach your body what real food really tastes like. You'll also be presently surprised by how much you save by not buying all the junk.
Staples of my fridge, freezer, and pantry:
- Fresh veggies (get crazy and find a Farmer's Market on a Saturday, but if that doesn't work with your schedule, a lot of grocery stores try to stock local produce) Local produce not only helps local farmers, it's fresher and contains more nutrients. Local farmers can offer a vine ripe fruit; whereas, the other stuff was picked green and may have even been sprayed with an array of chemicals to keep it from rotting.
- Fresh seasonal or frozen fruit
- Pasture-raised meats, wild caught seafood
- Olive oil (I try my best to research the brand because an alarming amount of olive oil is adulterated with canola and other oils), coconut oil, lard, butter, and a collection of frozen bacon grease
- Homemade Almond Milk/ Good quality dairy products
#3 Create a routine! I found the most helpful thing was to eat some of the same meals over and over. I know this sounds boring, but it works at first. It takes the guesswork out of meal planning. Find 5 meals that you know you will enjoy and rotate through them for a few weeks.
Easy meal ideas:
- Boiled eggs for breakfast. You can make them the night before or prep them for a few days. They are nutrient dense and delicious with a little salsa. (I'm a Texas gal if you can't tell)
- Any meat paired with steamed veggies. I really like sautéed shrimp and steamed veggies.
- Soup! Make it with a good bone broth. Add in all the meat and veggies you want. Soup is so versatile and always makes for great leftovers.
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