Is like a day without… You can fill in the blank. For me, it changes daily. Could be love, sun, laughter, a deep breath, a satisfying night’s sleep, a pleasant dream, a warm breeze.
I’ve spent almost half my life, maybe more, taking care of what and how I eat. Avoiding processed foods, red meat, refined flours and sugars, chemicals and soft drinks. Some would say, how boring! But I would say my diet is more exciting, healthy and delicious than most. 
Over the years, I’ve lost my taste for most of the “bad” things, except I do enjoy a sweet now and then, every day to be precise. But whenever I fall off the sugar wagon my addiction slowly creeps in and I, sometimes slowly, sometimes speedily, start eating more and more sugar and will venture closer and closer to my favorite sweet poison: M&M’s peanut chocolate candies. Whenever I find myself with a bag of these little buggers in my hand, I know I need a spiritual adjustment. Or I just need to bake a batch of cookies that I can eat without consequence.
When I first gave up refined sugar, I stayed away from all substitutes until it felt safe to introduce honey and maple syrup into my diet. For whatever reason, my body doesn’t react the same way to these sugars as it does to white sugar. They don’t trigger that compulsion to have more and more and more the way white sugar does. And they don’t leave me in a sugar stupor filled with regret.
Here’s an oatmeal cookie recipe that I adapted from one given to me years ago: Myochi’s Oatmeal Cookie Recipe!
The original had grated ginger and cracked pepper in it, but with those two ingredients the result felt a little two healthy and too much like real food. So I ditched them early on and each time I make them I change up some of the other ingredients as well, depending on what I have on hand.
I always make a lot at one time and then freeze what doesn’t get eaten right away so that they last for a good long time. They are delicious straight out of the oven or the freezer, and a couple each night is just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and keep me away from my favorite poison.
Even sugar addicts love these cookies so when you serve them you might want to keep the secret that they’re also healthy!
Hi N. After a long and ongoing stomach upset I stopped sugar cold turkey–except for very small amounts of honey,maple syrup and agave, and whatever else in ‘in’ things I eat. I’m starting to crave sugar, so thanks for these words. I’m not going to bake oatmeal cookies but I might buy some sugar-free something goodie. 🙂
I’m also trying staying off wheat, but not sure I find that necessary. Most importantly I’m back to meditating (and praying that I can keep it up) it does so much good..
Be well, Good luck with your blog–mine has dwindled away for now, but may (or may not) get back to it.
gt
Gail, good luck with the no-sugar diet. It does get easier. When I first did this I would eat a little bit of fruit-sweetened soy ice cream every night to settle the craving. It worked. I found most of the sugar free goodies over the counter all have maltitol in them, which doesn’t sit well with me, but maybe you’ll have better luck with it. Let me know how it goes. Glad to hear you’re meditating again. That will surely help! Nancy
MMMnnn….good. let’s get a Creemee!!!