Even if you didn't get your name on the original post, if you were "refined sugar-free" from Monday till Sunday leave a comment telling everyone you did it, and how great you feel (or how much you want a chocolate sunday!!) and we will make the drawing Monday morning and post the winner.
Good Luck
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Glycemic Index
This is a really basic article that tells you about glycemic index and breaks down each sweetener.
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/blog/healthy-sugar-alternatives.php
What I learned:
-I am going to try unevaporated cane juice and Barley Malt Syrup
-No more turbinado (it's just too high on the index and is partially refined)
-I think Xylitol is fine to use
Here is a little chart to help when cooking basic recipes and swapping out refined for natural sweeteners.
Sweetener Substitution Ratio Reduce Liquid??
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/blog/healthy-sugar-alternatives.php
What I learned:
-I am going to try unevaporated cane juice and Barley Malt Syrup
-No more turbinado (it's just too high on the index and is partially refined)
-I think Xylitol is fine to use
Here is a little chart to help when cooking basic recipes and swapping out refined for natural sweeteners.
Sweetener Substitution Ratio Reduce Liquid??
| Maple syrup | 3/4 cup for each 1 cup sugar | Reduce by 3 tablespoons |
| Honey | 3/4 cup for each 1 cup sugar | Reduce by 1/4 cup |
| Barley malt or rice syrup | 3/4 cup for each 1 cup sugar | Reduce by 1/4 cup |
| Molasses | 1 1/4 cups for each 1 cup sugar | Reduce by 5 tablespoons for each cup used |
Monday, January 24, 2011
Ice Cream In January
My oven is out of commission until Wednesday so I had to get creative so my son had a treat at my in-laws house on Sunday night. Make this once and you will love it!
Chocolate Ice Cream
2 cans of evaporated milk (I used 2%, but you can use Fat-Free if you want a lighter treat)
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
6 Tblsp of Agave Syrup
Whisk together about 1/3 can of milk with the other two ingredients until smooth and there is no lumps. Add the rest of the milk and combine well. Put in your ice cream maker and follow the directions.
Makes 5-1 cup servings or 10-1/2 cup servings.
This would be fantastic with brownies. Chocolate Jackpot!
Chocolate Ice Cream
2 cans of evaporated milk (I used 2%, but you can use Fat-Free if you want a lighter treat)
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
6 Tblsp of Agave Syrup
Whisk together about 1/3 can of milk with the other two ingredients until smooth and there is no lumps. Add the rest of the milk and combine well. Put in your ice cream maker and follow the directions.
Makes 5-1 cup servings or 10-1/2 cup servings.
This would be fantastic with brownies. Chocolate Jackpot!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
OK Let's Get Started!!
Ok we have had a few people wonder how the heck they can get started on this crazy healthy lifestyle change, so I decided I will put in my two cents to see if I can help you win The Giveaway
1. Go through all your food cupboards: Get rid of anything that has sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup etc. listed on the ingredients. Some natural products may have many grams of sugar but if it comes naturally form fruit than that is fine. Disclaimer: Don't go crazy throwing out bread or crackers etc with a minimal amount of sugar as the 10th ingredient! We aren't trying to break your budget or drive you mad!!
2. Cut out all soda entirely including diet. Drink only 100% fruit juices and Herbal Teas with honey chilled as a substitute. A pitcher of water in the fridge with lemons or oranges ready to fill your water bottle helps me fight off the urge to drive-thru McDonalds for my old $1 fix.
2. Go shopping for some basics:
Large jar of Raw Agave syrup (Sprouts),
Pure maple syrup ( I have found this cheapest at Costco in bulk)
Honey
Natural Peanut Butter
Fruit sweetened Jams
Unsweetened Dried Fruit
Fruit Juice Sweetened Yogurt (Cascade from Sprouts or Mountain High from Fry's or Greek with Honey)
Natural Apple Sauce
Fresh and Frozen Fruit for smoothies (and a good protein powder if you like that as a breakfast substitute)
3. Log onto our blog to make some sweet recipes.
4. Just eat normally and substitute these sweeteners when needed. You will be surprised how easy it is once you have made that commitment.
Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast: Oatmeal with apple sauce and maple syrup, whole grain pancakes/French toast with fruit syrup (frozen fruit blended with agave or maple syrup), Fresh fruit and yogurt protein shake, eggs and toast with fruit jelly
Snacks: Nuts and dried fruit, honey popcorn, crackers apples and cheese, apples dipped in PB
Lunch: Salad with nuts and veggies with vinaigrette dressing, Amy's low fat Bean and cheese burritos (from Costco), a quick PBJ sandwich,
Dinner: Normal dinners with tons of veggies, whole grains, roasted sweet potatoes (Yummy)
Dessert/Snack: Frozen yogurt Popsicle, banana bread with chocolate drizzle, fruit cobbler, cookies etc.
The bottom line: YOU CAN DO IT!
1. Go through all your food cupboards: Get rid of anything that has sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup etc. listed on the ingredients. Some natural products may have many grams of sugar but if it comes naturally form fruit than that is fine. Disclaimer: Don't go crazy throwing out bread or crackers etc with a minimal amount of sugar as the 10th ingredient! We aren't trying to break your budget or drive you mad!!
2. Cut out all soda entirely including diet. Drink only 100% fruit juices and Herbal Teas with honey chilled as a substitute. A pitcher of water in the fridge with lemons or oranges ready to fill your water bottle helps me fight off the urge to drive-thru McDonalds for my old $1 fix.
2. Go shopping for some basics:
Large jar of Raw Agave syrup (Sprouts),
Pure maple syrup ( I have found this cheapest at Costco in bulk)
Honey
Natural Peanut Butter
Fruit sweetened Jams
Unsweetened Dried Fruit
Fruit Juice Sweetened Yogurt (Cascade from Sprouts or Mountain High from Fry's or Greek with Honey)
Natural Apple Sauce
Fresh and Frozen Fruit for smoothies (and a good protein powder if you like that as a breakfast substitute)
3. Log onto our blog to make some sweet recipes.
4. Just eat normally and substitute these sweeteners when needed. You will be surprised how easy it is once you have made that commitment.
Sample Meal Plan
Breakfast: Oatmeal with apple sauce and maple syrup, whole grain pancakes/French toast with fruit syrup (frozen fruit blended with agave or maple syrup), Fresh fruit and yogurt protein shake, eggs and toast with fruit jelly
Snacks: Nuts and dried fruit, honey popcorn, crackers apples and cheese, apples dipped in PB
Lunch: Salad with nuts and veggies with vinaigrette dressing, Amy's low fat Bean and cheese burritos (from Costco), a quick PBJ sandwich,
Dinner: Normal dinners with tons of veggies, whole grains, roasted sweet potatoes (Yummy)
Dessert/Snack: Frozen yogurt Popsicle, banana bread with chocolate drizzle, fruit cobbler, cookies etc.
The bottom line: YOU CAN DO IT!
Friday, January 21, 2011
GIVEAWAY TIME!
So I think all cool blogs have to have a giveaway. This one will cost you! You have to commit to no sugar for one week. That means no artificial sweetners either. We want you to see is it possible to go cold turkey and survive, actually thrive! Leave a comment on this post before Monday and then if you make it the whole weekm leave another comment next Sunday and we will draw a winner. The winner will receive a $10 gift card to Sprouts so they can stock up on honey and raw Agave. Good Luck!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
More great resources!
It's been a long week, but somehow we are still going strong. There is so much power associated with having control of your body not the other way around. Today I made 50 cake pops and didn't even taste one. My strategy: Be Prepared. I baked a pumpkin pie yesterday so I had something sweet in the fridge ready to go. It worked!
I also can't wait to try this French Toast on my friend's blog, which is another great resource for eating healthy:
http://krashcookingcreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-french-toast.html
Here is the pumpkin pie recipe:
www.thenourishingapron.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkin-pie.html
I also can't wait to try this French Toast on my friend's blog, which is another great resource for eating healthy:
http://krashcookingcreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-french-toast.html
Here is the pumpkin pie recipe:
www.thenourishingapron.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkin-pie.html
Friday, January 14, 2011
This is Amazing Banana Bread!!
I was going to get a picture of this scrumptious bread but it was gone so fast I didn't even get a chance!
I adapted this recipe from the "Biggest Loser Just Dessert Cookbook".
3/4 cup flour (white or wheat)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 very ripe mashed banana
1/4 cup + 2 TB agave nectar
2 TB fruit-juice sweetened vanilla yogurt (cascade from sprouts)
1 lg egg white
2 TB melted butter
Preheat oven to 350 and prepare pans with non-stick spray. Sift together first 4 dry ingredients. In separate bowl whisk ttogether remaining wet ingredients until well combined but do not over mix. Stir in dry ingredients until no flour is visible and ingredients are just combined. Divide batter in 4 mini loaf pans or about 8 muffins tins. Bake 19-22 mins until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack and refrigerate if they are not all gone right away!
I adapted this recipe from the "Biggest Loser Just Dessert Cookbook".
3/4 cup flour (white or wheat)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 very ripe mashed banana
1/4 cup + 2 TB agave nectar
2 TB fruit-juice sweetened vanilla yogurt (cascade from sprouts)
1 lg egg white
2 TB melted butter
Preheat oven to 350 and prepare pans with non-stick spray. Sift together first 4 dry ingredients. In separate bowl whisk ttogether remaining wet ingredients until well combined but do not over mix. Stir in dry ingredients until no flour is visible and ingredients are just combined. Divide batter in 4 mini loaf pans or about 8 muffins tins. Bake 19-22 mins until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack and refrigerate if they are not all gone right away!
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