Day 17 ~ December NO SUGAR Challenge

Hey there!

Day 17 was a cheat day for sure!
Since the rules are all made up by me as I go, I’m counting a couple tiny cheats as a whole cheat which brings me up to two whole cheats at $10 a cheat, so $20 to the local rescue 🙂

First I tried a teaspoon of maple syrup with my hibiscus tea. Not a bad combo! I was happy with it!

Then I made sugar cookies and had no choice but to taste them, to make sure they were good.
I was not terribly tempted by them, they have sugar sure, and they were tasty, but WHERE IS THE CHOCOLATE?!?

😂

It’s all a waste of a cheat without chocolate.

I only ate a teeny tiny taste bite, plus half a tree. For good measure.
I stashed most in the freezer to bring out for guests 🙂

I don’t decorate the sugar cookies, I’ve tried different recipes for royal icing before but I find it’s either too much sugar, or they use ingredients I don’t or can’t eat. I have used coconut milk powder with some success, but then it’s very coconutty and kinda takes away from the natural deliciousness of the cookie.

I use this recipe from Minimalist Baker, she makes tons of things I can eat and have the ingredients for on hand usually.
Love her! 💕

https://minimalistbaker.com/grain-free-cut-out-sugar-cookies-1-bowl/

This recipe bakes FAST and I remember burning them the first year. 😂
I’ve since figured out a lot about gluten free baking and this batch was perfect! A little crisp, but also soft and tender, perfect sugar cookie!

I know, this probably seems like the opposite of what I should be talking about, but health is all about taking it one day at a time, and small indulgences are fine every now and then, especially when we are careful about what’s in them.

I like using dates as sweetener, as well as maple syrup and honey. Dates make FANTASTIC mock caramel. Truly amazing when I hide a little gooey center to my home made dark chocolates!

Oh chocolate.. I do miss you.

Reduction is key I find. If you’re looking to overhaul your diet, a crash into starving and depriving yourself will send you rebounding right back to old habits.

Start small and eliminate one food, or even one ingredient, have it kicked for a week or maybe a month, then get rid of something else. You know yourself, you know what will work and what won’t. Don’t try too much at once.

I started eliminating food type things over ten years ago, it’s been a long journey!!
I’m extremely proud of myself!
I’ve never had more motivation to permanently reduce my sugar intake, and I really don’t feel like I’m missing a thing!

If you’re trying to change something and it’s too hard, maybe take a step back and see what WOULD work. Say, instead of eliminating sugar altogether, start with cutting soda. That was one of my very first eliminations!

I’ve been soda free since 2010!

Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Solstice is on Tuesday!

Take care!!