In case it isn’t already painfully obvious, I have a pretty big sweet tooth…
Always have, and most likely always will. I do my best to keep it in check, but if I had my way then I’m pretty sure most of my meals would end up looking something like this…
Gah. I miss my chocolate pudding oats so.badly 🙁
As it stands, I try to have at least two meals a day that look more like this…
… but I’ll come clean and admit that those usually end up being a lot less satisfying. In fact, most of the time I’ll finish them off only to be left with a subtle feeling that something is still missing – a feeling that continues to linger until I grab a little something sweet and take the edge off…
Whether it’s with a small handful of chocolate, cookies, or fruit, I have to end 99.9% of my meals on a sweet note or I just won’t feel satisfied. It doesn’t even usually take much – sometimes just a few bites – but that sweet note has to be there. I’m not entirely sure why this is, but I’ve stopped trying to fight it.
I’ve done the whole low sugar/no sugar thing in the past, and it just didn’t work for me – I didn’t really notice any positive changes at all. I’m well aware of all the controversy surrounding sugar and it’s effects on the body, but to be completely honest, sometimes I think the whole idea of labelling sugar as being ‘the white Devil’ is a little much – especially when people start giving the sugars in fruit the same bad rap…
Now, I realize that some people may be a little more sensitive to sugar than others, making it make sense for them to limit how much they eat, but is that something that’s necessarily the case for everyone? I’m not entirely sure, especially if [most of] the sugars in question come from healthier sources. I mean, I know plenty of perfectly healthy people whose daily diets usually include a sugar-ladden dessert of some sort, so what’s the big deal?
I know I may be going against the grain here, especially since everyone seems to be watching their sugar intake these days, but I think that as long as you’re eating an overall healthy diet and not suffering any negative effects, then there’s no reason not to enjoy some sweetness on a regular basis. I’m not saying it’s okay to grab a spoon and attack a bag of sugar, but in moderation? I don’t see the big deal; in fact, I think it’s actually part of a truly healthy and balanced diet. I know a lot of professional athletes and fitness competitors cut out sugar in an effort to attain a certain physique, and that there are people with legitimate sensitivities, but seeing as neither really apply to me, I guess I’ll just keep on satisfying my sweet tooth – life’s too short to not be sweet.
. – . – . – .
I’d love to hear your opinions on the whole sugar debate!
Do you watch your sugar intake? Do you notice any differences as a result?
I really don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Sometimes I forget that and overdo it a bit…like last night when I went to get fro-yo. I topped my cheesecake/cake batter/coffee cup (such a good combo) with pb cups, cookie dough, graham crackers, and Oreos…and then I had a stomach ache for TWO HOURS! Ugh…shoot me, please! I used to eat sweets a lot more, but once I started eating cleaner and reaching more for things that were naturally sweet, the less I felt the need to sweeten my meals any more. Sometimes it kinda sucks because I can’t really sit down and enjoy a slice of cake (or a cup of indulgent fro-yo) like everyone else…without consequences (stomach ache, dizziness, etc), but well, I guess there could be worse things, right?
I’m the same way – I need sugar to function! I don’t need a ton of it, but cutting out of my life completely only brings bad things to my life (duh). I have a crazzzzy sweet tooth, and all your beautiful photos are making my stomach grumble and now I need a bedtime snack…thanks Amanda haha. I’ve read a ton of articles on “the white devil” and I’m sure processed sugar (processed anything, in fact) is bad for you, especially in large quantities (again…as is the case with anything), but humans have been consuming some form of sugar for hundreds of years. The worst is when people cut out FRUIT because of sugar fears. I die. Nature produces beautiful sugars for us – honey, maple syrup, cane sugar – so why should we avoid them like the plague?
Another awesome post 🙂 Thanks dear!
I love the honesty in your posts and just overall frankness 🙂 I totally agree with you. A day without something sweet is missing something. I love having even just a small handful of dark chocolate or a chocolately granola bar…something with some sweet in it 🙂
I have such a huge sweet tooth too and the rest of my family doesn’t understand why because they’d rather go for salty snacks. But I’ve gotta have something sweet at every meal/snack. Usually at lunch and dinner I go for fruit but I can’t deny my daily dark chocolate cravings and love for mixing almond butter with real maple syrup! I do avoid more processed sugars, because they don’t make me feel good and white sugar is typically not vegan, but I also avoid artificial sweeteners (besides stevia, which I love too) because they give me headaches. Basically I just go for the healthier, more natural sugars and they make me feel happy and healthy so I’m not so scared of the sugar anymore!
Ah, the old sugar debate! Funny you posted this, because I’m working on a sugar post myself:) Its one of the toughest parts of my recovery I think. Overcoming the “all sugar is bad” mindset. Which I know is ridiculous. I believe a small amount of sugar if healthy in a diet, I mean our bodies need a small amount to stabilize blood sugars. It sort of reminds me of the whole fat fear thing. There are good healthier fats and not so healthy fats to be consumed in moderation, and I believe that should be the same with sugar as well. I think the media just needs something to focus on and seem “bad” to sell more magazines, books, etc. I could be wrong though and of course everyone’s body is different. Some people can’t eat too much protein or carbs, others can. I think overall moderations is the key!
It’s definitely all about moderation and figuring out what works best for us individually. I know that I don’t function well at all if I don’t have enough sugar in my diet, and there’s really no way to get around that. Every time I try to cut it out or cut back, I just end up more unhappy than anything else.
I definitely think it’s different for everyone. I’ve never really paid much attention to my sugar intake, and I think that’s because I’ve never really noticed it was an issue. I with you-I have to end my meals with some kind of sweetness. I think moderation is key!