Eating Right.
I did something crazy over the weekend. I started a low-sugar, low-carb diet. Diet is probably not the right word because I'm not dieting, per se, I'm just trying to eat better. To know me is to know that I love carbs. Love, love, love. Especially sugary carbs, like donuts. They are fantastic. But here's the thing: I have been feeling slugglish and gross lately, and I know it's because I have been eating way too many carbs throughout the day without much else in between.
One of my favorites to rely on for a quick snack is a granola bar/protein bar/cereal bar/whatever you want to call it bar. I love bars. You can find some with a lot of good ingredients in them. The problem with them: they are loaded with sugar. I just happened upon this article last night about sneaky sugar. It states that women need about 20g of sugar a day, and some of those bars can have 24g-plus in just one bar. That right there makes me not want to eat them anymore, and I don't want to give any to the kids, either, which were a really easy snack (kids need only 12g a sugar at the most! I'm horrified!).
So anyway, cut out the granola bars, the crackers, the bread, carb-y snacks, candy, sweeties, and goodies, and what am I left with? I am a snacker! I need quick options!! Except, really, I don't.
I've stopped myself often in just the past three days- grabbing a cracker, looking aimlessly in the cabinets, snicking one of the kids' cereal squares- and realized just how much I eat and just how much I don't need to. It's crazy the amount of times I've wandered around the kitchen looking for food. I don't need to be eating that much! And what's ended up happening is I grab a few pistachios that have been sitting on the counter or a few grapes, and I go on my way. If you feel like you're eating a lot for no purpose, I encourage you to try cutting something out and see how many times you find yourself looking for that type of food. I bet you'd be surprised.
So what do I eat? I haven't cut out carbs completely- I still think there are good cereals and oatmeal and things like that so I'm starting slow. I've had more fruit each day, eating a banana and an apple (with some kind of nut butter on it!) or a pear, berries, melon, etc. Salad with dinner instead of bread. More beans, more nuts. Yogurt, cheese. I found some crackers that I love that are sweet potato-based. They have flour but that's not the only binding ingredient. It's definitely being creative. The sugar is the harder part because it's in everything, even salad dressing, so we'll have to make some changes as we run out of things. I've had to stop myself from grabbing something many times already.
In the end I'm hoping to feel better and get more energy. I know a lot of people have said that when they cut out carbs and sugar they get both, so I'm hoping to see the results in those areas.
One of my favorites to rely on for a quick snack is a granola bar/protein bar/cereal bar/whatever you want to call it bar. I love bars. You can find some with a lot of good ingredients in them. The problem with them: they are loaded with sugar. I just happened upon this article last night about sneaky sugar. It states that women need about 20g of sugar a day, and some of those bars can have 24g-plus in just one bar. That right there makes me not want to eat them anymore, and I don't want to give any to the kids, either, which were a really easy snack (kids need only 12g a sugar at the most! I'm horrified!).
So anyway, cut out the granola bars, the crackers, the bread, carb-y snacks, candy, sweeties, and goodies, and what am I left with? I am a snacker! I need quick options!! Except, really, I don't.
I've stopped myself often in just the past three days- grabbing a cracker, looking aimlessly in the cabinets, snicking one of the kids' cereal squares- and realized just how much I eat and just how much I don't need to. It's crazy the amount of times I've wandered around the kitchen looking for food. I don't need to be eating that much! And what's ended up happening is I grab a few pistachios that have been sitting on the counter or a few grapes, and I go on my way. If you feel like you're eating a lot for no purpose, I encourage you to try cutting something out and see how many times you find yourself looking for that type of food. I bet you'd be surprised.
This one heard me crack open a nut. She loves pistachios. Can you see the tail wagging?
So what do I eat? I haven't cut out carbs completely- I still think there are good cereals and oatmeal and things like that so I'm starting slow. I've had more fruit each day, eating a banana and an apple (with some kind of nut butter on it!) or a pear, berries, melon, etc. Salad with dinner instead of bread. More beans, more nuts. Yogurt, cheese. I found some crackers that I love that are sweet potato-based. They have flour but that's not the only binding ingredient. It's definitely being creative. The sugar is the harder part because it's in everything, even salad dressing, so we'll have to make some changes as we run out of things. I've had to stop myself from grabbing something many times already.
Are you a carb monster too? Constant snacker? Health-food junkie?
If you have good snack suggestions for me, please share!!
