<h3>Challenge Accepted</h3>
I'm excited to share with everyone how I am getting ready for the 25 Days of Christmas No Sugar Challenge! It all started when my teenage daughter wanted me to take her to a nail salon for acrylic nails. I am not a big fan of fake nails but I do love a chance to wheel and deal with the bargaining teenager. I've been doing really pretty well changing my diet, and went from eating fairly healthy to much healthier but it can be hard to maintain that when other people in the house are not following the same eating habits.

I told my daughter that I would meet her nails and raise her one No Sugar Challenge.

She agreed!

In fact, she said that this was just the thing that she would like to see herself do since she admits that she gets too tempted by sugary foods, and even has sugar cravings.

The challenge is the spend the 25 Days Before Christmas eliminating sugar from our diets. That means not consuming foods that have sugar as an ingredient.

Have you ever tried to do this? Have you read labels? Tons and tons of food have sugar as an ingredient.

Even foods that say "no sugar added" are dangerous because they have those fake chemical sugars added to them. Nothing seems to be safe unless it is a food in its simplest, original form or a food that you prepare yourself to control the ingredients. I'm sure there are foods at the grocery store that could meet the No Sugar Challenge but it takes a long time to read labels and find them!
<h3>Preparation</h3>
The kids and I started to "eat down" the food that is in the fridge and pantry that contain any amount of sugar. Some things have gone and are not coming back.

As things like instant oatmeal and bagels have disappeared from the pantry, they are being replaced by eggs, fruit, and other similar choices. Simple is best.

We have started to discuss these changes, and identify new foods that will be introduced into the common, everyday diet.

Meal planning will be easier if we plan for a few days at a time, rather than a whole week, as we adjust to the changes.

I also have the <a title="DDP Yoga" href="http://ddpyoga.com/" target="_blank">DDP Yoga</a> meal plan to aid us.
<h3>Predictions</h3>
I am excited to do this challenge, and so is my daughter. My other daughter doesn't really care about sugary foods, so it will be easier for her to join us.

When my daughter told her friends at school what we were doing, most of them said it sounded terrible and unmanageable but one friend said that she supported her in the challenge.

I think that, besides the health benefits, it will be a very eye-opening experience to the dynamic of quitting a substance that has such a big part of our lives. It's in so many foods, and it's in our faces everywhere in advertising.

Isn't it amazing how upset people can become at the threat of taking away their sugar?

Stay with me, and see what happens. Or, join us! And share your story!

To your health!

Diana

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