No more sugar: What will I eat instead?

I'm a practical person and I didn't think I can do things without a plan so this was the biggest question I had when considering this quest.  While searching for foods that have the vitamins, minerals, and basic nutrients required to keep me healthy during this pregnancy, I have discovered there are many yummy snacks that don't have white sugar, are really good for me, and that I really enjoy eating.  I've already mentioned I will keep eating fruit.  

I also love:

- raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds

- raisins

- raw mixed nuts

- celery by itself or with peanut butter 

- raw carrots - I could eat carrots all day

- home made bread toasted with peanut butter or butter - no more jam

- plain unsweetened yoghurt with fresh fruit

- dark chocolate

- crackers and cheese

My most exciting discovery is that I can still eat waffles and pancakes, simply leaving out the small amount of sugar or putting some honey in its place.  I substitute half whole wheat flour into the pancake recipe.  I love topping them with plain yoghurt and fruit.  Hopefully the fruit will be enough of a sweetener because I used to add lemon curd but I can't do that any more. 

Do you have any further suggestions?

No more sugar: Why go cold-turkey?

Because I believe it's the only way for me right now.  For a long time, I was really good at only eating one sweet treat a day.  ONE a day.  Currently it seems as if sweet treats are the majority of what I eat.  My love of baking is a big part of the problem.  I try to tell myself I'm doing it for Jbird, or just for the process of it; but now I think it's part of my addiction.   I don't know if this will be forever; I think it might just be for right now, to help me get some perspective of what has white sugar and what doesn't.

Just so you know, this is by no means a diet: I don't believe in diets and I don't think I'm overweight by any means.  I don't want to eat less, I just want to stop the craving I have for sweet things.  Can I do this while I'm pregnant? I think so!  I've already discovered that raw nuts are more tasty without added raisins and I'm looking forward to discovering the same for many other foods.  Wish me luck.

No more sugar: to clarify a little further

On second thoughts, the word 'eradicate' is perhaps a bit severe.  On second thought, I don't think sugar will ever be gone completely from my eating habits.  What I really want to focus on right now is cutting out white sugar.  For example, fruit is often high in sugar but I will eat as much fruit as I like.  My belief is that fruit is good and I plan to keep eating as much as I like - or as much as my budget will allow.  

In the article I linked to yesterday, we hear about 'buying around the edges' of the supermarket.  I already <mostly> do that, but it's the baking I do with these whole ingredients (and all the bags of sugar we buy) that really worries me.  I may need to stop baking.  I could go as far as cutting flour from my diet too, because the starch breaks down almost directly to sugar - but I'm not going to.  My focus is totally on white sugar.  Which is far less severe than some people go in their similar quests.  

No more sugar?

I read this today and it was enough to convince me that I have a serious sugar addiction.  I would like to challenge myself to eradicate it from my diet.  It seems like an extreme step to take but I think it might be the most practical solution for me right now.  More to come on this thought - if I can be serious about it.  After all, my kitchen is extremely full of sweet treats right now.