Will You Join Me for a Sugar Free January?

Kick the new year off on a healthy foot by resetting your sweet tooth with a Sugar Free January 2019!

Last year was my first time attempting a Sugar Free January. You can read all about my experience HERE. In a nutshell, I enjoyed my first SFJ, and I’m doing it again this year! For me, Sugar Free January is a temporary tool to help you reset your taste buds after the holidays.  I feel like the sweet foods creep in starting in November, and the sugar monster comes out to play. The thing about sugar is: the more you eat it, the more you crave it.

What Are the Rules for a Sugar Free January?

The beautiful thing about Sugar Free January is the ability to adapt it to fit your personal needs. There’s no judging about your choices, and no shaming if you make mistakes!

That being said, here are my personal rules for Sugar Free January 2019:

• Cut out all sugar that doesn’t come in a whole food form (AKA white sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, sucanat, stevia, etc.). Basically, only eat things that are naturally sweet such as fruit. Dried fruit is also out since the sugar is more concentrated than what you would naturally get from eating a whole apple or a bunch of grapes.
• The challenge starts on January 2nd and ends on February 1st.

Last year I also tried to cut out refined carbs a few days a week. Since I’m pregnant with our third child, I’m not going to try to cut back on carbs this year. I feel like I’m in greater need of them!

If you want to join in, you can totally make your own rules! 

For example, you may want to cut out only the super processed forms of sugar such as white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, etc. Even if you still consume honey or maple syrup you’ll probably be eating a lot healthier since you’ll have to cook the majority of the food yourself (instead of buying prepackaged cookies, for example). Or you could cut out half of the sugar in every recipe you make. You could also just go sugar free until the weekend. Or, if you already eat a really low sugar diet, you might want to try cutting out the more sugary fruits such as bananas for 30 days. Make this challenge your own!

A word of warning: This is not for the faint of heart.

If you’re going super strict and cutting out honey, maple syrup, and dried fruit, you might have sugar withdrawals. I know I did back when I did my Whole30. But it was so worth it since it showed me how addicted to sugar I was and how it’s in EVERYTHING. Just be prepared for it to be HARD for the first week. It gets better, I promise!

So, are you up for the challenge?

If you’re interested in participating in a Sugar Free January 2019 or if you have any questions, make sure to leave me a comment!

Here are some helpful posts to get you started:

• 50+ Sugar Free Meal Ideas + A Free Sugar Free Meal Plan (I wrote this last year and put a lot of work into it!)
• 10 Tips to Tame Your Sweet Tooth (A post I wrote for Pioneer Woman after my experience with Sugar Free January)
• Lindsay from Pinch of Yum’s master post about Sugar Free January (Lots of great info, and a wonderful community of fellow SFJ followers!)

Here are some sugar free recipes on Buttered Side Up:

SUGAR FREE BREAKFAST IDEAS:

• Savory Dutch Baby Puff Pancake
• Roasted Veggie Breakfast Bowls
• Savory Waffles

SUGAR FREE LUNCH IDEAS:

• Creamy Roasted Garlic Mushroom Soup
• Creamy Potato and Bacon Soup
• Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic Soup
• Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
• Ricotta Avocado Toast
• Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

SUGAR FREE DINNER IDEAS:

• Stuffed Pepper Casserole
• One-Pot Sausage and Veggie Rice
• How to Cook a Roast Beef Dinner
• Caramelized Onion, Bacon, and Arugula Mac & Cheese
• Salmon En Papillote
• Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie
• Creamy Leek, Bacon, and Asparagus Tagliatelle
• Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms
• Chicken Wild Rice Stuffing Casserole
• Ground Beef Gimbap
• Shepherd’s Pie
• Healthier Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

SUGAR FREE SIDES:

• Sour Cream and Dill Mashed Potatoes
• Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese from Scratch

SUGAR FREE SNACKS:

• Guacamole
• How to Make Artisan Sourdough Bread at Home

SUGAR FREE DRINKS:

• How to Make a Sugar Free Matcha Latte
• Energizer Green Smoothie