My favorite part about this sugar-free challenge? I really don’t miss the sugar! It’s summertime and fruit is my go to sweet snack: fresh blackberries, strawberries and raspberries are my favorites.  I have noticed that I don’t crave  something sweet at the end of my meal like I used to. I get that not all of you may be feeling like that and sometimes, raspberries just don’t cut it!  Below are my favorite sugar-free sweets, enjoy!

Apple Crumble by Cathy Fisher 

Topping:1 cup walnuts
4 pitted dates 3 apples, peeled, sliced and large diced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 apples, peeled, sliced and large diced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
6 pitted Medjool dates
¼ cup raisins
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Apple filling:

Toss the 3 peeled, sliced and diced apples with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and set aside in a bowl. Next, in the food processor, blend the remaining 2 apples, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 6 pitted dates, raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss this mixture with the sliced apples. Blend the walnuts and 4 dates in a food processor until the texture is a little smaller than Grape Nuts. Spoon into a small bowl and set aside. Place one-fourth of the apple filling into a small dessert dish and sprinkle with date-nut topping. Serves 4.

Nutty Candy

1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts
1 cup slivered almonds, chopped

In a food processor, combine the walnuts and raisins until a sticky paste forms. Form into small balls and roll in the almond mixture. Freeze until hard.

I just stumbled upon this company, Mac N Mo’s. They make sugar free, gluten free, sodium free, and preservative free vegan cookies that are big on taste. Check out their online store and if your in the LA area where you can go get them.

What sugar free treats do you like?

Delicious Knowledge is nominating June to be sugar-free! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while but had an epiphany a few mornings ago. Sure, I eat pretty healthy, especially compared to the Standard American Diet (SAD) but whoa… I eat a lot of sugar. I didn’t actually notice how many little treats I enjoy daily until I tracked my intake one week. A cookie here, raw truffle there, ah whose counting. Well, I did- and found that I was having ”treats” daily. For me that’s too much, especially knowing all the nasty effects sugar has on the body. (See New York Times and Dr. Lustig) Then I read this amazing testimony by a fellow dietitian, Ryan Andrews MA, MS, RD, CSCS of Precision Nutrition who went sugar free for a year. Yes, a year. I admit that I don’t think this sweetie can go a year but I am willing to give it 30 days.

Are you with me?

Before I go any further, let me be clear. I’m taking a break from added sugars- not naturally occurring ones in fruits/vegetables. I challenge you to find what works for you. Spend a day or two and write down everything you eat- then check how many places added sugars show up. What you can do to reduce it? I will update every week with my progress, provide tips, and see how your doing.

You in?