NEW YORK TIMES 7-DAY SUGAR CHALLENGE: DAY 3
The New York Times issued a 7-Day Sugar Challenge and I’m thrilled to participate! Each day I’ll share a tip and an easy recipe from my new book, Half the Sugar, All the Love, to get you started on your way to cooking with less added sugar. If you’ve already got a copy of Half the Sugar, All the Love, you’re ahead of the game! If not, grab your copy HERE.
There is a common misconception that fruit contains sugar so it should be limited. Check out the comments on this recent post from the Globe and Mail about Half the Sugar, All the Love for a taste of how people get confused between added sugar and naturally occurring sugar. Sugar found in fruits and vegetables does not count toward your daily added sugar limit. In fact, studies suggest that children are not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables. So rather than cutting out fruits from your diet, you should be increasing consumption! Fiber is the difference between added sugar, like honey, and the naturally occurring sugar you’d find in an orange, for example. A large orange has 17 grams of sugar, but it comes naturally packaged with about 5 grams of fiber, plus vitamins and minerals. When sugar is accompanied with fiber, digestion and absorption of the naturally occurring sugar is slower so that your body can process the sugar in a healthier way.
Day 3: Eat Fruit!
For Day 3 of The New York Times 7-Day Sugar Challenge, your goal is to eat more fruit. With less added sugar in your diet, you’ll begin to notice that fruit will satisfy your cravings for something sweet. And the fiber it contains will also help you feel full, leading you to eat less.
Berries are a top pick for sweetening naturally. Strawberry Cream Pops from Half the Sugar, All the Love are an easy and delicious place to start. They’re also yummy prepared with a trio of berries: blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
Looking for easy recipes to eat more fruit? Try these:
Half the Sugar, All the Love is packed with over 100 recipes to enjoy your favorite foods in a healthier way. The secret is using fiber-rich fruits and vegetables to sweeten instead of added sugar. It’s available wherever books are sold.
