A sugar quitters Christmas

So it's Christmas time. And what do we all associate with Christmas? Aside from the presents and the delight of children's wondrous eyes, the day season is usually filled with lollies, puddings, desserts, dressings, sweet drinks, champagne.... the list goes on. It's a sugar quitters worst nightmare.

My family and I have hired a house down the coast and will enjoy Christmas Day together, plus a few extra days to relax and enjoy each others company. We've divvied up the culinary tasks, so two thirds of what will be served up will be out of my control. And I'm cool with that. In fact I can't even deem my third of the foods sugar free because I don't want to be the Grinch who stole the sugar filled Christmas, so the foods I will be taking will be just the same as another other year - a Raspberry Streusel Cake, some marshmellow imitation  puddings, soft drinks and ciders, a pasta salad drenched in thousand island and mayo dressing and bonbons filled with Lindt choccies.

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So how am I planning to navigate through this sugar filled Christmas maze? It's a question I've been asking myself for a few weeks now. But I'm settled with it. I'm not going to let it freak me out. There will be an abundance of food. Very little of it will be sugar free. However,  I have gone without sugar (or significantly reduced my sugar intake) now for 9 weeks. I've noticed huge changes in my emotional response to things, I'm feeling cleaner, I've lost 3kgs and any sugary foods that I have had hasn't been as enjoyable as it seemed in the past. I feel strong enough to be able to enjoy some sugar filled foods, accept that the days following will be an onslaught of cravings, and be prepared to move on.

I've got a mental list of a few things that I will not touch (eg: soft drink, but I have packed some soda water and Bickford's lime cordial as my treat) and a few things that I'm looking forward to indulging in (aforementioned Lindt balls). 

I've also got myself a copy of Lee Holmes' SuperCharged Foods wrapped up and ready to be opened Christmas morning, as my inspiration for keeping on getting back on the sugar free track. 

Merry Christmas everyone!