Kicking Sugar: A Guide To Quitting The Sweet Stuff

Quitting sugar can be a challenge, but it's not about limitations and restraint – it's about enjoying delicious, nutritious food. It's about freeing yourself from addiction, while still being able to cook up exciting dishes and load up on all those essential nutrients. There are a number of programmes and books available to help you quit sugar, including an eight-week online programme by Sarah Wilson, author of the best-selling book *I Quit Sugar*, which offers support through emails, features, the latest research, message boards and a diet plan.

Learning to cook without sugar

Quitting sugar involves relearning how to cook and bake, as sugar is one of the most common ingredients in recipes. However, you can still eat all your favourite foods, including baked goods, curries and snacks, with a few tweaks to the recipes.

There are a number of resources available to help you quit sugar, including Sarah Wilson's eight-week I Quit Sugar online programme, which offers support through emails, features, research, message boards and a diet plan. Wilson's book, *I Quit Sugar*, also offers tempting recipes for before and after the programme, and tells you what you need to do each week. Davina McCall's book, *5 Weeks to Sugar-Free*, is another option, which is more moderate in that fruit is included.

The I Quit Sugar website also offers a free five-day detox meal plan, which is designed to get you back into the swing of healthy eating. The meal plan is omnivore, gluten-free and Paleo-friendly, with options to suit low FODMAPs and dairy-free needs.

When quitting sugar, it's important to remember that it's not about limitations and restraint – it's about enjoying delicious, nutritious food. Living a no-sugar or low-sugar life is about freeing yourself from addiction, while still whipping up exciting dishes and loading up on all those essential nutrients.

Support from community forums

Quitting sugar can be a challenge, but there are many resources available to help you succeed. One option is to join a community forum, where you can connect with others who are on a similar journey. These forums can provide a wealth of support and guidance as you navigate the process of quitting sugar.

One popular forum is the "I Quit Sugar" community, which offers an eight-week online programme with email support, features, the latest research, message boards, and a diet plan. The programme is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Australian journalist Sarah Wilson, who is on a mission to help people cut down their sugar intake gradually. The book itself offers tempting recipes for before and after the programme, along with weekly guidance. Another option is Davina McCall's book, "5 Weeks to Sugar-Free", which takes a more moderate approach by including fruit.

The "I Quit Sugar" programme recognises that quitting sugar involves relearning how to cook and bake, as sugar is one of the most common ingredients in recipes. They provide meal plans and recipes to help you adjust to new ingredients and ways of preparing food, ensuring that you can still enjoy your favourite dishes. The programme also emphasises that quitting sugar is not about limitations and restraint, but rather about enjoying delicious, nutritious food and freeing yourself from addiction.

Community forums can offer a supportive environment where you can share your experiences, challenges, and successes with others who understand what you're going through. You can gain valuable insights, encouragement, and accountability from those who have been through the process or are currently going through it. Additionally, some forums may provide access to experts such as dietitians, nutritionists, and life coaches, who can offer professional guidance and advice.

Meal plans

Quitting sugar involves relearning how to cook and bake, as sugar is one of the most common ingredients in recipes. However, it's important to remember that quitting sugar is not about limitations and restraint, but about enjoying delicious, nutritious food and freeing yourself from addiction.

There are several meal plans available to help you quit sugar. The I Quit Sugar website offers an eight-week programme with recipes and meal plans, as well as support from dietitians, nutritionists and life coaches. There is also a free five-day detox meal plan available on the same website, which is omnivore, gluten-free and Paleo-friendly.

Sarah Wilson's eight-week I Quit Sugar programme is another option, which offers support through emails, features, the latest research, message boards and a diet plan. Her book, *I Quit Sugar*, provides recipes for before and after the programme and tells you what to do each week.

Davina McCall's book, *5 Weeks to Sugar-Free*, is a more moderate approach that includes fruit.

A sugar detox meal plan, or 'sugar cleanse', involves removing sugar from your diet, reducing sugar cravings, breaking a sugar addiction and improving health. Sugar detoxes should be done for at least a week, and up to a month for the best results. It's important to focus on hydration and incorporating whole foods, as well as cutting out added sugars.

• Breakfast: Plain Greek yoghurt with a handful of nuts
• Lunch: Green salad with grilled chicken and almonds
• Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup
• Peanut Butter-Oat Energy Balls for snacks

Budget-friendly options

Quitting sugar can be a challenge, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options to help you succeed. Here are some tips to get you started:

First and foremost, remember that quitting sugar is not about limitations and restraint. It's about enjoying delicious, nutritious food and freeing yourself from addiction. You can still eat all your favourite foods – with a few tweaks to the recipes. Learning to cook and bake without sugar is an essential part of the process, as it is one of the most common ingredients in recipes. There are plenty of resources available online and in books that can provide you with sugar-free recipes and meal plans.

One budget-friendly option is to follow an online programme like Sarah Wilson's eight-week 'I Quit Sugar' programme. The programme offers support through emails, features, the latest research, message boards and a diet plan. Alternatively, Wilson's book 'I Quit Sugar' is a great budget option, offering tempting recipes and a week-by-week guide. Another book option is Davina McCall's '5 Weeks to Sugar-Free', which takes a more moderate approach by including fruit.

If you're looking for a quick reboot, a free 5-day detox meal plan can help get you back on track. This plan is nutritionally dense and designed to get you back into the swing of healthy eating. It's omnivore, gluten-free and Paleo-friendly, with options to suit low FODMAP and dairy-free needs.

Finally, remember that quitting sugar is a journey, and it's important to be gentle with yourself. There are communities and forums where you can find support from others going through the same process, as well as experts like dietitians, nutritionists and life coaches.

Rebooting after a tough weekend

Quitting sugar can be a challenge, but it's definitely achievable with the right approach and mindset. Here are some tips to help you reboot after a tough weekend and get back on track with your sugar-free diet plan:

First, it's important to understand that quitting sugar is not about limitations and restraint. It's about enjoying delicious, nutritious food and freeing yourself from addiction. You can still eat all your favourite foods, but with a few tweaks to the recipes. Learning to cook and bake without sugar is essential, as it's one of the most common ingredients in recipes. There are plenty of sugar-free alternatives and adjustments you can make to satisfy your sweet tooth while reducing your sugar intake.

To make the transition easier, consider following a structured programme or meal plan. Sarah Wilson's "I Quit Sugar" offers an eight-week online programme with plenty of support, including emails, research, message boards, and a diet plan. Alternatively, her book by the same name provides tempting recipes for before and after the programme, guiding you through each week. Another option is Davina McCall's book, "5 Weeks to Sugar-Free", which takes a more moderate approach by including fruit.

If you're looking for a quick reboot after a tough weekend, a five-day detox meal plan can help you get back on track. This type of plan focuses on nutritionally dense meals with lots of vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats, while minimising processed foods and added sugars. Remember that your body naturally detoxes within 24 hours, and it does it best when supported by a healthy diet.

Finally, don't be too hard on yourself. Quitting sugar is a journey, and it's okay to make adjustments along the way. Seek support from community forums, dietitians, nutritionists, or life coaches if you need additional help. Remember, this is an experiment on yourself, and you can always adjust the recipes and meal plans to suit your needs and preferences.

Frequently asked questions