Oh sugar, you got me wanting you

Couldn't sleep.  Finished a book.   Made some discoveries and realizations.  Blogged about it.  The End.  No, just kidding, keep reading the actual blog post...


Dessert used to be more special.  I remember my dad telling my older siblings not to lose me on the hiking trail because I was the one that was carrying the candy bars that would be doled out at the end of a family hike.  My mom would labor over Thanksgiving pies, and we would only get soda for birthdays and when we were sick.  Now there is sugar at every turn (even sneaking it's way into household staples like pasta sauce and crackers) and we can even feel guilty if we don't give sweet treats as a sign of our affection.

The more I think about this, but more I'm realizing that I enjoy getting non-dessert gifts more than their sugary counterparts. With a household of only two adults it is difficult to consume a whole dessert (and my husband and I are complete opposite on the food spectrum of what we like), and I hate wasting the effort and care put into it when we can't finish it.

But a basket of a few select, beautiful vegetables and fruit? Homemade bread? A lovely flower? Office supplies or stationery in any form? Now THAT I can sink my emotional teeth into and be satisfied.

Now, I certainly won't scoff at a reasonable portion of a delectable treat, but this holiday season I hope we consider non-sweet gifts. There's more than one way to show our love and have the camaraderie that is at the heart of the holidays, without assaulting our bodies with So. Much. Sugar.

On a related note, I just read a fabulously inspiring (and hilarious) book  titled Year of No Sugar by Eve O. Schaub. If I ever write a book it would hope to be at the same level of humor, thought, and prose as this one is written in. She and I speak the same language.  I am compelled to eliminate at least a good portion of the sugar (read added fructose) that I consume.  Good thing I thought of this on, let's see, what day is it?  Oh yeah, HALLOWEEN. But I bought glow sticks for tonight's trunk-or-treat, along with decent chocolate, and I'm more excited by having fun costumes and being with friends than the desserts anyway!

This has nothing to do with the blog post, other than it's 7am on a Saturday and I haven't slept, and the fact that I'm glad we did Star Wars costumes LAST year for Halloween.

Thoughtful Eating

After reading yet another American turned French autobiographical book written in a humorous yet analytical tone, I have decided on a new way to approach my diet.  With three cross-country trips in five weeks this summer I need to take a step back.

The French have a few ways of doing things, gastronomically speaking, that are just foreign to my American upbringing. Everybody knows that French people are generally thin and trim but don't participate in extreme dieting.  Their approach in life is a bit more like the recent Japanese style of organizing: one can have a thoughtfully selected closet, be thankful and mindful of what's in it, and if there are any unused items in there you can thank them for serving their purpose and send them on their way.

Instead of a strict can't-eat-that diet, I'm implementing these three rules before I put food in my mouth:


1. Ask myself if I'm hungry. If I'm not, then I can either eat it later or pass altogether. It will not be the last opportunity to eat, despite what my survival-mode brain says.

2. Ask myself if what I'm choosing is the best option available. Quality and variety are important.

3. Portion out one serving and savor it. I'll be more in tune with my body signals and the memory of the food will be more delicious and last longer.

With these small choices I hope to empower myself with having a healthier relationship with food.