Connecticut Green Living

The following article by the author first appeared on Examiner.com June 15, 2016 Well, I made it - seven days without sugar ... sort of. Let's say I gave up 90 percent of the sugar I was consuming. That's an A- by any measure. I gave up donuts, cookies, ice cream, even dried creamer in my coffee; plus, I felt weird putting Splenda, a sugar substitute, in my joe. I did use some honey. But mainly, I swapped out natural substitutes such as vanilla or cinnamon for a kick. I feel terrific! I am still waking up every morning with an ache in my mouth (bone spur following extraction) but I feel lighter - which I hope proves true when I go get my annual physical Tuesday. Point to make: I felt eager to book the physical because I am anxious to step on the doctor's scale. The United States Food and Drug Administration states in "How Sweet It Is: All About Sugar Substitutes" that there are five sugar substitutes: Newtame (relatively new), Equal, Sweet 'n Low, Swe...

The following article by the author originally appeared on Examiner.com, June 13, 2016 Today I was told I look thinner. This came an hour after I told a source, "If I sound grumpy, it's because I am giving up sugar for a week." He laughed. The truth is, I'm amazed by how empowering it feels to get a handle on my  sugar addiction . I've eaten more fruit in the past few days than I ate the entire previous three weeks. I just tasted some Raisin Nut Bran and it seemed too sweet for me. I am feeling weak, though, and am not sure why this is. Perhaps, getting used to new eating habits I also need to become more educated. U.S. supermarkets chockful of processed foods are not on my hot list this week, and yet, this is what I can afford. Thankfully, it's summer and I can get apples fairly cheaply. My beloved peaches are cheaper, and watermelon can be bought in smaller slices if I can't afford the whole fruit. People who are pinching pennies often find their w...

This article originally ran on June 12, 2016 on Examiner.com. Today was a sad day following the news from Orlando. But I did try to maintain a sugarfree diet, eating an orange, low fat Swiss cheese, air popped popcorn, and a peach. However, after watching the news, the urge to eat some of those hidden shortbread cookies became overpowering. I ate three. The connection between emotions and sugar addiction cannot be underestimated. As children, we're given a lollipop at the doctor for good behavior; chocolate bunnies at Easter; advent calendars with chocolate behind each window at Christmas. Parents who packed their children a healthful lunch were often ridiculed, as I remember. My own mother strived to keep my brother and I on track, but single, working moms can only do so much. Who doesn't remember emptying a pillow case of Halloween candy and chomping on it all night? We have a real obesity problem in this country. I'm not obese, but I understand the impulse to eat...

The following article by the author originally appeared on Examiner.com June 11, 2016 I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't glad I'm more than halfway through this self-inflicted sugary deprivation week . I'd also be a liar if I said I had given up all  sugar this week - but it's really not my fault. I have realized more than ever that in America, land of the processed food obsession, it's really tough to find enough to eat sometimes if one wants to go sugar-free. For example, I'm on a tight budget. I was craving a breakfast sandwich. I looked at the labels and it just appeared nothing was sugar-free. I had no choice but to break my own ban in the guise of a sausage/egg/cheese/English muffin sandwich. (You don't want me passing out, do you?) I also decided I could buy some bread, after all, if it touts "no high fructose corn syrup" and 21 whole grains per serving, and is low in fat (also no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.) I see it...

The following lightly edited article was originally published by the author on Examiner.com, June 9, 2016 Today is day two of my " Seven Days Without Sugar Challenge " and so far, it's about as hard as I thought it would be. First, full disclosure - because I was unable to get to the store yesterday, I had to eat what I had on hand. I put cookies and candy far away, but unfortunately, that still left some sugary-filled items such as processed rice and chips. However, I did avoid cereal, didn't add powdered cream or sugar to my coffee, no sweets, and no bread. My consumption yesterday included two packets of Justin's almond butter and an apple; air-popped popcorn in sea salt and oil, adding balsamic vinegar and olive oil to some of it; a banana; an orange; coffee with vanilla (the extract) and cinnamon as needed; plain Earl Grey tea; and then...a packet of red beans and rice, sugar in the package! My favorite can of Petit Pois peas - sugar included!! I want t...

The following lightly edited article was originally published by the author on Examiner.com, June 8, 2016 Quitting smoking is a terribly difficult challenge. This writer tried in the eighties, only to resume the nasty habit in the mid-nineties. But eventually, it was mind over matter, and I quit in three days (smoking fewer and fewer cigs each day) in 2008. If only giving up sugar were that easy! Here in the US, refined sugar is in everything from spaghetti sauce to "healthy" breakfast cereals and bars. Fruit juice is one of the biggest culprits, with more per average serving than in many candy bars. The only way to really avoid juice sugar is to juice the fruit (or vegetables) yourself. Nevertheless, I'm taking on what I've coined the "No Sugar for Seven Days Challenge" and implore my readers to follow suit. Whether our motivation is losing weight, setting a good example for our kids or, in my case, stopping constant cavities and other dental woes, ...