Prepare the Pantry for Spring Detox

Are you with me for a spring detox? If so, it's time to start planning! 

If you want to give up sugar and sweeteners for the month of March, the first step is to start reading labels. Sugar hides behind a long list of names such as dextrose, fructose, glucose, glycerin, maltose, etc. You might not realize products like mayonnaise, salad dressing, ketchup, frozen dinners, boxed grain mixes, and tons of other processed foods contain various types of sugars and sweeteners. It's possible to purchase some of these products without added sugars (I found ketchup made with only fruits and veggies!) but you might have to look a little harder!

Start with the items in your pantry and fridge. Read those labels carefully! If you don't know what an ingredient is, google it! Remember: sugar is sneaky! It makes it's way into almost every processed food! 

A good strategy for avoiding added sugar is to make your own dressings, sauces, and condiments from scratch. Mayo is easy and quick to make in a wide-mouth jar with an immersion blender. Salad dressings are easy, too. If you just don't have the time or energy to make these from scratch, check out a natural food store like Sprouts, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe's for healthy, sugar-free options.

For me, giving up sugar is enough of a change to see noticeable results. Last March, I noticed a marked reduction in joint pain due to reduced inflammation caused by the sugar in my diet. I really didn't expect such a big difference, but it was definitely there. I also lost about 4 pounds. This may not sound like much, but it feels significant to me. I'm hoping to do the same this year, or possibly even better.

30 days is long enough to create a habit. So after a full month of zero added sugar, it is very possible that we will want to continue! Treats like cake, cookies, and muffins will taste ridiculously sweet. Naturally sweet fruits might become our preference, even after the 30 days are over...

SO let's get ready!