We all know sugar is a nightmare for our bodies. That’s why I’ve decided to do my best to cut back on all simple carbohydrates - both obvious and hidden. I came to this conclusion yesterday after munching on one chocolate chip cookie too many.

It almost felt like I  couldn’t stop eating them. Sugar is addictive, lowers your immune system, has almost zero nutritional value. Do I really need to go on? Refined carbohydrates are not good for us and aren’t even satisfying. Maybe that’s why we tend to go crazy on them.

So why not cut them out entirely? Because - that’s just not my style. Telling myself I can’t have something makes me obsessed with it. Food isn’t about that.  It’s about nourishment and enjoyment.

Here are some action steps for cutting back on simple carbohydrates:

• Read food labels to find ingredients such as “high fructose corn syrup”.  I mean, there’s no reason why sugar needs to be in things like soup!
• Replace high carb favorites with whole grain options. For example, I am making spaghetti bolognese tonight and am serving it with a high fiber pasta.
• Eat lots of fruit. I’ve gotten into the habit of eating dried fruit when I feel a sugar craving kicking in. My body may truly need the sugar - just not in the form of a candy bar or a cookie.
• Strive for nutrient density. I fully believe that if we are getting a high amount of nutrients in our diets,  then our cravings for sugar will subside. Eat foods that are low in calories and high in nutrients, like salads, broth based soups, whole grains, and legumes.

I believe it’s okay to have a cookie. It’s just not okay to have twelve in a sitting.  For me, I am going to try to avoid simple carbohydrates (or cut back on them drastically) until I am sure that I won’t turn into the Cookie Monster when confronted with a fresh baked batch.

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