stop eating sweets

How I did it: I forgot about Lent this year and on Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day)  I went to the supermarket and bought 2 litres of chocolate milkshake and 4 rolo yoghurts!
I ended up having to drink nearly all the milkshake and selling the yoghurts to my flatmate haha.

This is because I love giving up something for Lent, it is really satisfying when you acheive something and shows yourself that you can actually do it and get over temptation if you put your mind to it.  Even if it is not done for religious reasons, I still think it is a good thing to do.

I have given up chocolate before, and this is easy, so I decided to give up all sweets. 
I gave/have given up sweets, chocolate, ice cream, pastries, cake and crisps.  Basically anything that is a treat or dessert.

On Pancake day, I sorted out my packlunch for the next day.  Sandwiches, fruit, and yoghurt.  I went to the supermarket and bought lots of fruit, dried fruit, nuts and seeds.  I also bought lots of yoghurt.  I also lots of small lunchboxes and put the nuts and dried fruit in them.

Each day I would make up a lunch box with sandwiches, a banana, a satsuma, a handful of nuts and maybe some cheese or grapes.  I found it was not hard to not eat sweets but and INCONVENIENCE.  The main reason for this is because if I didn't pack my lunch, I would go into Uni and buy a sandwich, fill my water bottle up, and buy a banana, but there was always that something missing from the lunch that people normally provide with something packaged like sweets.  I have found that yoghurt fills this gap nicely, but if you don't have a spoon with you, there is the problem.
Also, whilst shopping in town, it is harder to find a shop that sells fruit.  There are other problems like, which snacks can I eat in the Cinema.  Again, it is an inconvenience rather than you actually wanting it.

Now seeing as though I have gotten over that hurdle, I have given up sugar all together.  I was so suprised after reading all the healthy cereal boxes such as musli or bran flakes with fruit or ready brek , to find sugar listed as a third ingredient.  I am now eating porridge!  Because I can't eat weetabix, cornflakes or shredded wheat without sugar.

It is the same with yoghurt!  I only now eat natural yoghurt with fruit in.  This is not a problem for lunchboxes  because you can buy live yoghurts with no added sugar or even additives!  Plus they are usually from local dairies and are the cheapest!  They just have added fruit.  However, some of the flavours are a little sour.

You can always make a pasta salad for your lunch too.

Lessons & tips: Think of the reasons why you eat sweets.  Like I said before, it is easier, or an inconvience not to.

Stock up on budget nuts, dried fruit and buy a 500ml pot of yoghurt.  Unfortunetly, nuts and dried fruit normally are expensive, but you can get a cheap version.  I think it is because it is a niche market so they charge more, unfairly.

Make sure you pack your lunch the night before (or in the morning if you are lucky enough to get up in time)

Buy fruit from the supermarket, instead of paying 60p for an apple!!! 

Ideas for snacks -
Fruit (Apples, Bananas, Satsumas, Grapes)
Carrots (maybe with a dip)
Nuts - (Cashew Nuts taste like McDonalds and don't require a drink like other nuts)
Dried fruit (Prunes, Raisins, Berries, Figs)

Deserts
Fruit salad with melons, apples, exotic fruit and natural yoghurt or evaporated milk
Plain Popcorn
Flapjack made with honey (If you think that is ok)

Mar 25, 09:48AM PDT | 0 comments | 3 cheers