During the summer my Bug, Bean and I had lots of fun adventures. One of our designated days, “Thirsty Thursdays,” were comprised of discoveries of beverage varieties. One Thursday would lead us to try some serious concoctions not too far away from our home. “Brain Freeze” is a small roadside business, specializing in handmade liquid masterpieces. I sat and let them order what they wanted, not really paying attention to the details of their desires. As the time passed, others would come to the walk up window ordering everything from sliced fruits to cookie monster ice cream sandwiches, each product more elaborate than the next. Then the side door open. I was signaled to come and retrieve my order. They handed me this….
Yes, my son had ordered this "milkshake." Presented in a mason jar, it was additionally adorned with swirls of cotton candy which served as a confectionary web. Upon further investigation I would find candies amongst the strains of sugar and an actual ice cream sandwich. I cannot decide if this trip was a lapse in judgement or if I’d topped out as dream maker extraordinaire.
When it comes to sugar we have always been very aware of it within our diet. We’ve been diligent in buying products that are low in it and mindful when it is added. But the truth is, sugar is addictive. It is in almost everything we consume and the levels are staggering. In the average jar of tomato sauce we casually pick up for dinners, there is upwards of a whopping 14g of sugar per serving. Even in our fruit, a medium sized banana carries an astounding 14g of sugar. To put this into perspective, the suggested daily intake of sugar for women is 25g/day (100 calories/6 teaspoons), men 37.5g/day (150 calories/9 teaspoons). A 12 oz. can of coke has 39g of sugar alone, 140 calories. A snicker bar has 120 calories in sugar. Fruit juices, health food bars, salad dressings and yogurt, it is almost unavoidable.
Yet, it is totally manageable. A few years ago, I personally “gave up” sugar. During that time, I drank mostly water, unsweetened teas, limited my fruit intake (fruit on the higher end of the glycemic table), and diligently read labels. I started to create my own dressings and sauces, determined to control my daily sugar intake. As a result, I lost weight, had amazingly clear skin and didn't get that dreaded 3pm lull in my energy. As much as I loved my sweet teas, I needed to adjust my diet and adapt to change. I started to learn more about sugar alternatives and substitutions. It honestly didn't take long for my palette to adjust. After about three weeks suddenly things I once savored became extreme and I began to actually taste the essence of the things I was consuming. Coconut sugar, dates, unsweetened applesauce, and bananas took the place of white sugars when needed in recipes. I happen to dislike the after taste of Stevia and found a new kinship in Xyla, a natural sugar derived from 100% hardwood. Over time, I started to slowly add in more of the fruit I’d abandoned. The most important aspect of my change was mindfulness. I was actively aware of what I was ingesting on most days and not going over my sugar limit became second nature. And I should note, that giving up sugar doesn't mean that I won't completely house a slice of cake at your birthday party. It just means that I won't wash it down with a coke:)
Bug and Bean thoroughly enjoyed our adventure at Brain Freeze. After the initial shock wore off, they dug in and ate themselves into an oblivion. However, this excursion ended much differently than I could've ever imagined. On our trek home, they thanked me for the experience, but agreed that this was a one and done situation. As soon as we hit the doors of our home they grabbed these….
And I couldn't have been more impressed. As love is love, sugar is sugar. Refined, added or naturally occurring, they all bare watching. The moral of this post is to enjoy your life. A life that is inclusive of sugar. Yet, I want to encourage you to be mindful of how much and it's source. And in doing so, you will feel an enormous lift, revealing your best selves. Naturally sweet and all.