Mrs. HTK, pat yourself on the back for taking the first step in taking back your health from the sugar fairy.
Seriously, this is a subject that I could preach on all day long. It's really sad how American children are being raised in today's modern world...a bowl of Cocoa Puffs for breakfast, a pack of gummy worms on the bus to school, cookies with their lunch, and then when they get home in the afternoon they're greeted with Hostess cupcakes, candy bars or they sit down to yet another bowl of sugar laden breakfast cereals. Kids are being raised over-consuming so many sweet food items and we see it everywhere. Even in church, what do parents use to keep a child quiet during service but a bag of candy, sucker's, or a bag of Fruit Loops. And kids are eating like this because their parents are eating the same way. It's just madness. And our health as a whole is declining. We are living longer but with more health problems due to the diet most American's eat...and lack of adequate exercise.
It's just common sense that we do not need to eat sugary items on a daily basis. Fresh fruit is a far better replacement. And I'm not saying that people should never eat brownies or cookies. Moderation is the key. Save that special dessert or treat for on the weekend when you are more relaxed and can actually enjoy a delicious piece of chocolate mocha cheesecake. It's far more pleasureable then slamming down a Snicker's bar on your 15 minute coffee break at work.
Someone sent me a delicious sounding recipe for a coffee drink made with ice cream. I'll make it this weekend because I only have desserts on Sat. and Sun. AND I keep my portion's under control. I have one piece of that cheesecake, not two or three. And plenty of weeks go by sometimes where I don't even indulge in a single dessert because I'm just not in the mood for it. I am really dedicated to my health and the health of my family whom I cook for. I know, I can't tell my kids not to eat candy bars or chips while I stand there sowing down half of a cake and a bag of Dorito's.
When I make desserts at home they are almost always fruit based, a fruit crisp, or a buckle or a rustic tart. I love those types of sweets. We save cake for special occasion's like birthday's. You know, if you eat cake all the time then it isn't special anymore.
I'm rambling on but I'll just say one more thing and be done. I love to cook so I have a different attitude about food. Food to me is about love and sharing a great tasting meal with family and friends. And somehow eating has become so distorted in this country to the point that food is just something most people shove in their mouths without really giving any thought to what it is, where it came from or if it has any nutrient's. I know, everyone's lives are so busy today rushing here and there and everywhere that people don't take the time to cook a proper healthy meal...or even just make a decent salad for crying out loud that isn't covered with trashy croutons and a pint of sugary dressing. Convienence foods are the norm and this is what kids are being fed today. Anything that can be bought in a box and microwaved. Who gives any thought as to what is actually IN that box and eventually ends up in that child seven days a week.
But I digress...we were talking about sugar addiction. It would be interesting to see if say 20 people on this forum agreed to stop eating all junk and crap foods for 30 days and start eating at least three healthy well-balanced meals a day...how much body fat would they lose???? }(
