I live in northern British Columbia, Canada, where wildfires this summer are impacting thousands of people.
So far the flames have spared my community, but we’re hosting thousands of evacuees — some of whom are elderly and unhealthy — who’ve been driven from their homes by fires and smoke. Continue reading
Whoohoo! Today marks six months since I started my no-added-sweeteners-of-any-kind journey on January 1, 2017. All the details are in this post, but in a nutshell, I’ve been avoiding all added sweeteners, including honey, stevia, maple syrup and more — even in my vitamins, even in my toothpaste.
To mark this milestone, here are some common questions I get: Continue reading
Jerky is a great low-carb snack / travel food. However, it’s almost impossible to find commercial jerky that doesn’t contain sugar. But – good news! You can make your own, and you don’t even need a dehydrator. I’ve made jerky many times in my oven, both for gifts and to take on trips, with great results.
This recipe gets saltiness from the soy/tamari, a touch of sweetness from the onion powder, and a complex, layered heat from the red pepper flakes and the freshly ground black pepper. Continue reading
With a few tweaks, this hearty South African classic of mildly spiced ground beef topped with a savoury custard becomes 100% low-carb.
Raisins or other dried fruit are traditional, but they trigger my sugar addiction, so I replaced them with chopped apple. I made this for a recent international potluck dinner with friends — I was proud to represent my South African heritage. Continue reading
Mmmm, Sloppy Joes! The warm richness of the tomato-y ground beef served over a pillowy hamburger bun — pure comfort food!
The standard Sloppy Joe recipe, however, contains a ton of sugar. For example, 3/4 of a cup of ketchup (i.e., tomato-flavored sugar), plus 3 teaspoons of brown sugar.
Tomorrow (December 31, 2017), I’ll complete 1 full year of no added sugars of any type – not even stevia or honey. Read on for tips on how you can do it too.
Giving up sugar might be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, but it’s worth it. You’ll be a lean, energetic, cravings-free inspiration to all who know you! So, huge congratulations to you for even considering it. Continue reading
I don’t consume anything on this list — not even stevia, honey, or agave.
Compiling this list of natural and artificial sweeteners reminded me of the classic Arthur C. Clarke science fiction short story “The Nine Billion Names of God“. The creation of my list didn’t trigger a universe-shaking event, but it brought home for me how hard we humans have worked to support our sugar addiction. How many hours of effort does each item on the list represent — especially the artificial sweeteners? When you think of research, testing, marketing, and so on, it’s truly sobering.
Almost 100 different types of natural and artificial sweeteners are listed below; sometimes we humans really are too smart for our own good. Continue reading
At the end of March, I’m still sticking to my totally sugar-free plan. I don’t dream about sugar any more and my appetite’s well controlled.
During a recent trip to visit family, I noticed a surprising sense of calm and relaxation, despite crowded airplanes and the anticipation of a potentially tense family situation. Was this related to giving up sugar? Continue reading
Alert: Kickass aging in progress! Two inspiring fellow members of my CrossFit gym were the last ones standing in the Battle of the Kettlebells.
I love my workouts at CrossFit Northern Ice in Prince George, BC (their huge new space is pictured above). Note: That’s definitely not me on the right with the kettlebell – but I sure wish it was!
Anyway, this post lists 8 reasons you should consider adding CrossFit to your anti-aging arsenal. Continue reading
Frankly, this could have been more beautifully garnished. I decided to make it on the spur of the moment, and didn’t have any mint tops. (In the words of my son, “It’s just not dessert without mint tops!”). It still tasted great, though!
This one is for reader Heather, who asked for more dessert recipes to satisfy her sweet tooth without veering into sugar-land.
It’s also for my son’s friend Tessa, who loooves banana spring rolls – I make them for her each time she visits. Bon appetit, Heather and Tessa! Continue reading
Kickass Aging 