At the beginning of January, one of the gyms I teach at had a sugar detox challenge. I didn’t add my name to the list because I’ve been on a sugar detox since December 2015! That is what I said when people asked why my name wasn’t up there. Instead I became the go-to person for questions and concerns as people attempted the detox.

The first mistake all the people who couldn’t make it past day one of the detox made, was starting with dread and worry.  Common statements they made include: “What about my (insert sweet treat) with my coffee?” “No Ketchup!” and my favourite, “Winterlicious is going on now, I’ll do it after that’s done.”

It took me years and many failed attempts to finally quit sugar. I was raised by a sugar addict and one of the problems that has come up since I finally gave it up is the relationship with my mother. When most of my life included sharing her delicious home baked cakes and cookies, it’s been a struggle to fill that void. I think she feels there is nothing she can do to please me anymore. (which isn’t true!)

I didn’t quit sugar because I wanted to lose weight, or hurt my mother. I finally quit because I remember how good it felt to have control over a substance that never did anything positive to my spirit or body.  Day after day, I’d realize the total grams of sugar I exceeded and would go to bed full of guilt.

Now I have even more energy and have been accomplishing all my physical goals I set out for myself. I have a higher tolerance for bitter and sour, in fact, I enjoy these flavours. I get the same excitement for an avocado or toasted coconut that I used to for chocolate. If you put your mind to a decision, the outcomes are sometimes better than you expect them to be. Take it day by day and look at it as a way of discovering new tastes for food and life.

Here is a recipe for cookies. There are two versions, one with no sugar at all and one with sweet ingredients. Both are low in sugar and I would suggest the no-sugar one for someone who has completely quit sugar (including fruits) otherwise, you’ll think it tastes like cardboard.  Most people who aren’t sugar addicts, enjoy the subtle sweetness of the other cookie recipe.

No Sugar Oatmeal Cookies

1.5 cups of oatmeal large flakes
1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds
1.5 tablespoon of peanut butter (just peanuts)
2 teaspoons of Chia seeds (In half a cup of water, keep stirring until water reaches a thick consistency)

Add all the dry ingredients into food processor. Then add peanut butter and chia seed mixture. Form into cookie shapes.Turn oven to 350 and bake for 10 minutes, flip sides and bake for another 10 minutes.

Sweeter Oatmeal Cookies

1.5 cups of oatmeal large flakes
1.5 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds

The cookies without chocolate chips are the Sugar Free Cookies

1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds
1 banana
2 teaspoons of Chia seeds (In half a cup of water, keep stirring until water reaches a thick consistency)
1.5 tablespoon of dark chocolate chips

Add all the dry ingredients into food processor (except chocolate chips).Then add banana and Chia seed mixture. Mix in chocolate chips manually. Form into cookie shapes. Turn oven to 350 and bake for 10 minutes, flip sides and bake for another 10 minutes.