Sugar
Sugar is a horse that I sometimes ride at Sunnybrook Stables. This post is not dedicated to her. It is about something that I associate with much more frequently than my once-a-week ride.
Sugar is a replacement swear-word that I sometimes remember to use when in the company of young, supposedly innocent ears. Again, it’s not the subject of this post, though I could benefit from a swear-cleanse.
Sugar is not the affectionate term I use to refer to my incredible husband. He’s ‘honey.’ As a vegan I am not supposed to consume honey, so it’s an odd choice. But it sticks, no pun intended.
Sugar is a word in the title of many books I’ve read on slavery and the slave trade. But it’s not my focus here.
No, what sugar really adds up to is my enemy.
To save myself, I tried to get off sugar last year, replacing my breakfast cereal (which was, in fact, rather low in sugar comparatively at 2 grams per serving) with plain oatmeal (the really fibrous kind) that I’d eat with half a banana. That didn’t last more than a few months.
Following that failed attempt I found myself stuck on an even more sugary cereal, oatmeal squares, at 7 grams of sugar per serving. It is recommended that we don’t eat anything over 5 grams of sugar per serving.
Apparently I did not conduct my sugar reduction in the right way. I made myself crave it even more.
This is all very weird coming from a vegan who does not eat dessert. Well, I do admit to a liking for fake ice cream – that’s soy and coconut to you unaccustomed non-vegans. I am able to contain that craving by only having it on special occasions. Note to my mom: stop buying it, please. Thursdays aren’t that special.
So, how is a sugar demon to be slayed?
After this current box of oatmeal squares is finished, I swear I’ll stop.
Tune in later to see if sugar wins.
Post-sugar script: There’s an app for it: See this Guardian article.
Themocracy
Don’t fight sugar, embrace it. It’s impossible to avoid.
If only life were so simple!
It is recommended to mix plain oatmeal with the breakfast cereal. Although plain oatmeal is basically tasteless, I could somehow manage to finish my breakfast.