Welcome to February everybody! We’re one month closer to warmer weather!
I guess you guys might be wondering about the title of today’s post. Well, it just so happens that I made a commitment of sorts last night just before midnight. I was “trying” to catch up on some blog reading (I hate my late weeks at work…I get so behind!) when I caught Kayla’s latest post over at Little Miss Healthify andΒ I saw that she was gearing up for another Sugar-Free Week. She is dedicating the first seven days of every month to sugar-free eats! Although I’m not a huge sugar addict, I felt like this would be a good chance for me to start taking notice of the added sugar I do have in my diet and challenge myself to find alternatives for those foods. Plus, I’m always up for a good challenge!
So, for the next seven days, consider me a Sugar-Plum Free Fairy chick!
Oh, and just for the record, I did what any self-respecting person would do who just made a vow to go completely sugar-free for a whole week and had one last tofu brownie at 11:55pm before freezing the rest! C’mon, you know you’d do the same!
I don’t usually have any problems making a sugar-free breakfast unless it’s Pancake Sunday or I get a hankering for some Crunchy French Toast, but today I thought I’d sweeten it up a bit (naturally of course) in the name of the first day of my self-challenge!
“Grilled” Banana Bread Oats: (serves 1)
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup oatbran
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese stirred in at the end
As you can see, I repeated the KERF inspired oats from yesterday. I am totally loving the texture and flavor of these WITHOUT adding banana! Plus it let me be more creative with my banana addiction addition! Yeah, that’s what I meant…addition! π
I topped my thick and creamy bowl of oats with grilled banana slices that I just heated in a GREASED skillet over medium heat until brown on each side and then a small handful of walnuts. Ta-da, instant banana bread in a bowl!
During the course of the day, I made sure to check food labels for added sugars before I decided to eat. I’ve never really thought about how easily added sugar can sneak its way into certain foods. It’s really an eye-opener to see that some of my favorite foods have added sugar and I never even realized (i.e. sliced bread, bagel thins, and my jar of chipotle pumpkin salsa).
For dinner tonight, I was tired and really didn’t want to put in much effort so I dug into my freezer and found these:
I bought these Black Bean & Cheese Taquitos from Trader Joe’s months ago, and figured tonight would be the best night to try them out. I love that they’re all natural with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors and they have a great ingredient list!
Ingredients: Tortilla (corn, water, lime), black beans (black beans, water, onion, garlic), mushrooms, jack cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, enzymes), jalapeno peppers, spices. Canola oil used for frying.
I popped these babies in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes to brown up. While I was waiting, I whipped up a guacamole dip with a little twist.
Smoky Chipotle Guacamole:
- 1/2 medium avocado
- 1/2 cup white beans
- 1 medium clove of garlic (finely minced)*
- 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers
- a tiny splash of Liquid Smoke
- juice from 1/2 a lime
- salt & pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mash with a fork until creamy. Top with Mrs. Dash Southwestern Chipotle Seasoning.
*Tip* When mixing fresh garlic into a dip, I dice it finely and then add a pinch of coarse salt and a few drops of olive oil and use the side of my knife blade to grind the garlic into the cutting board. You end up with a garlic paste and no big bits of garlic to surprise you in your dip!
I also heated up 1/2 cup cooked brown rice from yesterday’s dinner mixed with 1/4 cup of all natural salsa. And finally…it was dinnertime!
Mmm, mmm, mmm! It felt like I had hopped in the car and driven to the nearest Mexican restaurant…minus the oil laden dishes and hints of MSG! π
All in all I think Sugar-Free Week is off to a good start! Just don’t remind me that the end of this week falls on Superbowl Sunday! Quick, I need sugar-free dessert ideas!
Do you think you eat too much sugar? Could you commit to seven days without it?
I’ve never tried grilling my bananas!!! You are so inspiring! I know what’s going to be in my breakfast bowl tomorrow! π
I am one of those weirdos who totally loves the random surprise big chunks of garlic in things… I eat raw cloves of garlic for fun. π
Raw?! Girl, you are hardcore without a doubt! Wow!
mmm I love garlic in my guac! <3 Hooray for sugar free! I'm always trying to cut added sugars (and ban fake sugars!) b/c I'm trying to keep my cells and skin oh-so-happy and young! <3
Keep it up girl!
Definitely! The cleaner I eat, the better I feel! And I hate the fake sugar stuff!
Gah! I might be commiting to it with you! I’m so scared! We ran outta bananas! haha which means no sweetner for me!
What could I have for breakfast tommorow? Idk if I could do it.
However, I am commiting to one apple a day. As in not five. Keep me accoutable?
Out of bananas?! Quick, run to the store before you start having withdrawals!
Breakfast ideas:
1. Egg scramble with toast and nut butter, avocado, or sugar-free fruit spread.
2. 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup liquid, vanilla, and cinnamon topped with warm cinnamon apples (apples cooked either on stove-top or microwave)
3. Plain yogurt or cottage cheese with fresh fruit and toast
Or you can do what I just did for breakfast. Make a smoothie and toss in a handful of dry oats and top with almond butter! Yum! Hope those ideas help! You can do it girlie! We can totally help each other!
I honestly do not know if I could be sugar free for a week. I am still trying since we talked about it. Maybe I should just hire you as my personal chef ξ.
Haha! Ok, you’ve got a deal! π
You are much braver than me! I considered doing it, but I don’t think I can!
Eh, I don’t think you give yourself enough credit! Just think, your favorite snack (pumpkin yogurt) is sugar-free! I think you could do it!
Wooohooo for one month closer to warmer weather!!!
Going 7 days without sugar? No sweat. I think it’s been 4.5 years or so since I gave up my sugary diet. Of course, it wasn’t exactly by choice (thank you, heart, for deciding to hate me), BUT! I’m thankful for it now. Less temptation. Easier to keep myself healthy. π
Exactly! And you know, the less sugar you eat, the last sugar you crave! It’s just so surprising what foods have added sugars in them! I mean, salsa?! C’mon!
Great job on Sugar-Free week!
Those banana bread oats look awesome!!
I was so happy when I saw that my salsa didn’t have any sugar, mwahahaha.
Haha! I was just glad that I had a back-up jar ’cause I was craving salsa like crazy!
Good luck on sugar free week. You are a brave soldier π
Yeah…we’ll see how brave I’m feelin’ toward the end! I was just tempted with some ice cream cake at work! :-/
oh my gosh I can’t even begin to describe how crazy-delicious your banana oats look! So caramelly and scrumptious — and positively decadent! you have amazing photo skills, girl!
Thank you! I do my best! Still trying to learn my DSLR!
I love those plates!! So colorful. You need to do a post on where you get all your cute pottery!
Thank you! I get them just about anywhere…I just keep my eyes open for a good deal!
When I eat banana on top of oatmeal instead of cooked in, I sure miss it. Heck, I miss banana anytime it’s not involved with oatmeal! I’ve never tried cottage cheese in oatmeal, but Kath’s idea is sure bueno. Love how you’re trying out everybody’s method of cooking oatmeal- you should try Ashley’s next! π
How did you like those black bean taquitos from TJ’s? I found them super bland and unflavorful and will not be buying them again…. π
I’ve tried a couple of Ashley’s methods. My go-to oatmeal recipe is her combo that is 3 Tbsp oats, 3 Tbsp oatbran, and 2 Tbsp flax with whipped banana. It is soooooo thick and creamy!
I actually thought the taquitos were pretty good, especially in the chipotle guacamole!
I usually only eat sugar about once a week so i’m sure I could it, as long as I get fruit! that’s the only sweetness I need π
That guacamole looks amazing!
Oh yeah, I don’t think I could do it without fruit! One week without bananas? I don’t want to even think of the possibility!
The guac was amazing! You should give it a try!
I don’t usually eat a LOT of sugar, but many things I eat have smoe small amount of sugar in them… Like my protein bars that I have (not always, not every day or anything) or the occasional instant oatmeal packet (though I often opt for sugar-free or at least lower-sugar options there too).
Now artificial sweeteners are a whoooole nother story and I WISH I could quit them :/
Good luck with your sugarfree week! I made “lower-sugar” cookies today that I’ll probably post about eventually… I do like the idea of cutting back on added sugars, though I dunno about cutting them out entirely esp when I’m so limited in my food options already haha π
Except for the occasional stevia (which I just bought and am still experimenting with) I can’t do artificial sweeteners. They all seem to give me headaches and make me feel meh!
Another great day of delicious eats.
I don’t eat a lot of sugar, but my three dark chocolate Doves spread out throughout the day are my sanity sometimes when spending the day with third graders.
VERY understandable! A teacher must keep her sanity! π
That mexi dinner looks amazing!
At this moment I am dreaming….Banana’s Foster….just like any true LA girl would! I totally should do a sugar-free week. I use natural sweetners but still it’s sugar…of course I gotta have my chocolate. This week is my hungry week if you know what I mean so it is really getting to me.
Oh I definitely know what you mean! Went through it last week and my appetite was CRAZY! I could’ve eaten a house! I don’t usually eat much chocolate, but I’ve been craving it since yesterday…only because I know I can’t have it! Haha!
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another win!!!!!!!! LOOKS like ill be busy in the kitchen this weekend!! xoxoxo love coming here need to remember to comment more often!
Aww, thank you Nidia! π