For 2012, I’ve decided not to make resolutions or goals. I want to create habits instead. I’ve decided to focus on one habit each month, and to share my progress on the blog for the purpose of accountability.
January Focus: Reduce Added Sugar Intake
I feel like I eat less sugar than the average person, but there’s still room for improvement. There’s a lot of evidence that supports reducing our intake of added sugar (and artificial sweeteners).
New Habits I’d Like to Form
- Eat unsweetened yogurt. I eat a lot of yogurt. I already made the switch last year from regular yogurt to Greek yogurt. But I’ve been putting honey the Greek yogurt to sweeten it. I want to wean myself off the honey and eat the yogurt plain or with berries.
- Dilute juice. I love apple juice and I’m not ready to give it up. So I’m going to start diluting it (and any other juice I drink) with sparking water.
- Eat more at work. This may sound counter-intuitive, but eating more (healthy foods) at work during the day will help me avoid the temptation to scarf down whatever sugar-laden treat that happens to be available in the teacher’s room. I bring my lunch every day, but never I never seem to pack enough to get me through the 12-hour (commute included) day.
Does anyone have any ideas or tips on creating habits or reducing added sugar intake?
Unfinished Lisa 
No tips. Just realized I’m kind of a doorknob for being being so aggressive in cutting out sweetened drinks while scarfing on office candy all the time. Oh well. Small steps, right?
Hey Lis, Just ran across your blog on FB! What a cool idea, like these new habits. Hope you had a great new year. For your no sugar free sweetening idea, try sugar free Torani syrups from Cost Plus World Market! They have berry flavors, that will sure help add some sweetness to that plain greek yogurt. 😉 -Crystal Lombardi
Thanks for the idea, Crystal! Will definitely try that out next time I’m at Cost Plus. Hope to see you again soon.