August 2

Day two of a sugar-free month and the verdict is:  not too bad.

I had some fun shopping at Trader Joe's today, reading labels and finding a nice selection of packaged, convenient food that also appears to be wholesome-- and a lot of fresh produce, meat and cheese, too.  Because the surest way to eat well is just to eat real food, after all.

Thanks to feedback from friends and observations made in my two days of label reading, I am clarifying my personal rules.


Not at all:  Foods with any added sugar (by any name) in the first 5 ingredients.

Avoid when possible: Sugar or one of its friends as the last or second-to-last ingredient...alright if absolutely necessary.  Also, foods with artificial sweeteners because those aren't so great for us either.

Good to go:  Foods that come by their sugars naturally-- fruit, juice, honey, etc--  and packaged foods with no added sugar, by any name in the ingredient list.

Today's menu:

Light Whole grain English muffin with peanut-cashew butter and frozen raspberries on top

Iced coffee with cream (no sugar!)

Sushi from Trader Joes-- veggie tempura with brown rice.

Thai flank steak, grilled zuchini, corn on the cob, strawberries, salad. Passed on the cake for dessert.

Fruit juice popsicle, almonds and apricots for a snack.

Add to this a run this morning and gardening this afternoon and its been a good day.  Only a couple of cravings for a bit of licorice. :)   We can do this!