What do you eat if you don't eat sugar?

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

I don't need to lose any weight, but I do need to cut out sugar because I realise it is giving me really bad headaches (direct correlation between eating sugar and developing a headache which I can no longer ignore).

Trouble is I have a real sweet tooth so I find it really hard. I like fruit, I like cheese, I like nuts. I know I can have these things when I'm craving sugar, or to round off a meal.

Are there any other things which will help me? Any tips or tricks welcome

I really want to cut down on sugar, for peri-menopause bloat and the links between sugar and cancer.
I do love dates and peanut butter. I love fruit but see it (probably incorrectly) as a gut/fibre obligation rather than a high sugar 'treat'.
I don't add sugar to stuff but I do like to bake for my family and would really struggle to not eat it occasionally. Need to work on my willpower.

@MrsFin

Many of the items suggested (honey, dates, grapes) etc contain sugar. A real sugar free diet is pretty difficult to attain.

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The OP might find that Haribo triggers headaches but strawberries don’t. She’s not doing this for weight-loss.

OP, my tips are:
Berries and cream
Baked apple with cinnamon (and cream)
Porridge and cream

Also oatcakes with delicious cheeses.

I have a few sugar free days a week deliberately, I eat a lot of fruit those days but also dried fruit though usually mixed with nuts.
For snacks I have nuts, peanut butter on crackers, oatcakes with butter or cheese, fruit, fruit and plain yoghurt, tortilla chips (not such a fan of regular crisps), snacky bags from Aldi, popcorn.

Once you cut added sugar out for a few weeks you rarely think about it. It's an addiction and for me old turkey has been the only way, then the need just disappears.

I hardly ever fancy something sweet now but if I do i have a date but I can only manage one where I used to eat one after the other. It's very freeing not to be a slave to sweet stuff.

Following with interest. I cut out added sugar about 3 weeks ago, the cravings are gone but still feeling generally low and flat and lacking in energy. Does this get better?

I read somewhere you are either a moderator or an abstainer. Abstainers have to, well, abstain, because they can't just have a bit of something (me). Others find it easier to have little amounts in moderation. These people are freaks.

@quinin old turkey sounds like a health hazard. Or perhaps a much loved unusual family pet?

Or a 13 year old Bourbon

Cakemonger I agree about the abstainers versus moderators. I had that conversation with my colleague a couple of days ago, though without those terms! She can't stand the idea of cutting anything out, so has a "little tiny bit" and is then content while I cannot stand having an unsatisfactory little scrap of something - its like the punishment of tantalus - but I can happily abstain completely.

I have PLJ in fizzy water - or in extremis just fizzy water, but I prefer it slightly flavoured.

Seconding peppermint tea. Added bonus is that it's still nice if you leave it to go cold.

(Really dark chocolate is not sweet and is not a satisfactory substitute. This is the hill I will die on.)

Honey whether it is real or 'synthetic' will spike insulin. It's just another form of sugar.

Greek yogurt with frozen cherries
Non-sweetened pancake with the above
I like cocoa made with milk and cocoa powder (not hot choc) and no sugar.

I'm diabetic so don't eat sugar or anything with added sugar. I don't really get cravings now but I would suggest a big glass of sugar free dilute juice, nuts, cheese, hard boiled eggs, natural yoghurt (full fat as the fat free ones usually have added sugar). Berries are the best fruit wise as they are much lower in sugar and carbs than other fruits. Grapes are baaaad though and like little round sugar cubes!

FreeBritnee
My favourite thing at the moment is an omelette made in 1.5 mins in the microwave 🤣

I’m the laziest sod that ever did exist when it comes to feeding myself. So this is brilliant for my first meal of the day. I put some butter over the top as i LOVE butter and a sprinkling of cheese. Job done.

Hiya, how do you make this?

I bought a microwave omelette gizmo that you basically stick the mixture in and then turn it half way through. It’s embarrassingly simple.

www.procook.co.uk/product/procook-microwave-omelette-maker-white

@BewareTheBeardedDragon

I don't need to lose any weight, but I do need to cut out sugar because I realise it is giving me really bad headaches (direct correlation between eating sugar and developing a headache which I can no longer ignore).

Trouble is I have a real sweet tooth so I find it really hard. I like fruit, I like cheese, I like nuts. I know I can have these things when I'm craving sugar, or to round off a meal.

Are there any other things which will help me? Any tips or tricks welcome

I know it's technically fruit sugar but I think using banana instead of sugar in baking would make you feel a lot better. Sugar free alternatives that are chemical based make me feel like crap, I'd avoid them personally!

Sliced banana on really good bread with really good butter. I like proper whole meal (I.e not sliced from a plastic bag) or sourdough with unsalted President butter.

Little luxuries, which helps with not feeling ‘deprived’ of a sweet treat.

I do a modified keto/intermittent fasting diet because I have vile migraines and the only medication that I can take has horrible side effects. This diet was suggested by my neurologist or I would have rolled my eyes. It has enabled me to cut right back on my meds. I don’t eat any honey, maple syrup or sugar (or anything that spikes blood glucose.) Nothing made from any grain of any kind, no corn, legumes potatoes. The only fruit I eat is berries (in small amounts) and tomatoes (because life) and I eat small servings of an kind of cheese (amen) meat, seafood, greens (I make fabulous salads), nuts, seeds, healthy oils like olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil or BUTTER! (I cook with it and smother steak or veggies, etc..) I start the day with black coffee for breakfast. (Because other people must live…) I’m never hungry when I wake up, and I get on with my day. I tend to get hungry around “lunch time” and then have some steak, chicken, fish or boiled egg and salad. If I’m working I will have made myself some egg bites or frittata or leftovers from dinner. Dinner tends to be antipasti and salami or caprese salad or Thai beef and basil stir fry or something light. If I’m going out to dinner I’m not quite as prescriptive.