One of our facebook followers, Caroline shares her ideas of how to reduce sugar yet satisfy the sweet cravings.
When you’ve always had a sweet tooth, enjoyed chocolate, sweets, desserts and a nice freshly baked cake, it’s hard to read the words ‘reduce your sugar during the menopause’ and actually act upon it.
But when I started with the peri-menopause and discussed all the symptoms with my older sisters, I realised that if my hormones were changing so radically, I needed to make changes too.
So, the challenge began of reducing my sugar intake, but this meant breaking habits spanning 40 years! Research and planning were needed if I was going to do this properly. I quickly realised if I substituted all the refined sugar and processed food for fresh natural alternatives, I’d achieve two goals. Firstly, I’d reduce my sugar (main objective) and secondly, I’d obtain some vital vitamins to help me combat some of the symptoms during the menopause.
So here are some simple changes I made to my meals and snacks:
Swopped my muesli breakfast, which I didn’t realise was packed with so much sugar, for eggs. There are so many different options, scrambled, poached, boiled, fried etc. so you don’t really get bored. When I do fancy a change and a little treat, I’ll make my own muesli with overnight oats, add some nuts and raspberries with almond milk – delicious. On the mornings I’m in a rush I’ll make a smoothie the night before, usually with greens and an avocado and this keeps me going until late morning.
Mid-morning coffee no longer includes several chocolate biscuits! Instead a sliced banana and several walnuts is a super combination – healthy and sweet.
I never thought lunch included sugar but buying pre-paid sandwiches does include sugar – check out the food label and every sauce seems to have added sugar. I now prepare my sandwiches at home or I’ll go to a fresh deli and buy I made to order sandwich or salad.
Afternoon snacks, I found a great afternoon pick me up, which is handful of raisins although these are high in sugar, they are quite healthy and I only have several times a week, other days I will opt for an orange or apple.
Sweet after dinner- since I was a child a dessert or piece of chocolate was always on the menu and it’s a habit that’s not going to be broken! But I’ve changed to 85% coco chocolate, taken with several brazil nuts and it’s perfect for me.
Everyone has different taste buds and food preferences, but I hope sharing my changes will trigger some ideas for you to start reducing your sugar, doing so will help those hot flushes, sleepless nights and mood swings we can’t explain.
Good luck with your changes – share your ideas.
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