You don't need to add sugar to make a meal taste good!
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
Hi! I'm Arielle, and over the course of 30 days, I did a sugar detox. That means no added sugar, no fake sugars, no honey, no agave, no stevia, and no artificial sweeteners.
You can read all about my detox here. You can also read my full food diary here.
Here are some of my favorite recipes from the experiment.
I had to make some adjustments, but overall, they only include natural sugar (like, the kind that naturally occurs in fruit and dairy). Enjoy!
1. 2-Ingredient Pancakes
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Yes, only two ingredients! All you need is one banana and two eggs, and whichever toppings your heart desires. I went with pomegranate seeds and peanut butter (check the label to make sure it only contains natural sugar!). Recipe here.
2. Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
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This was SO good that I made it several times throughout the detox. I also love spicy food, so the jalapeño was a great touch. Recipe here.
3. Egg, Spinach, and Mushroom Quesadillas
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Breakfast quesadillas should always be on your menu. Just make sure to read the ingredient list when shopping for the wrap to make sure there's no added sugar. Recipe here.
4. Egg-in-the-Hole Reinvented
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Oh man, the chopped date on this was plenty sweet, and it complemented the egg and squash so well. This is definitely one of my new favorites! Also, the recipe suggests maple syrup if desired, but I obviously avoided that for the purposes of the challenge. Recipe here.
5. Sweet Potato Toast
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Seems weird, but it's so good. I used a toaster oven and toasted each side twice. Recipe here.
6. Healthy Egg White Breakfast Cups
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So much protein! And you can put any toppings you want. I went with spinach, mushrooms, and cheese. Recipe here.
7. Acorn Squash Breakfast Bowl
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This was super easy to make and I was full for nearly five hours. I used plain non-fat Greek yogurt and chose to top with peanut butter, slivered almonds, and blueberries. Recipe here.
8. Grilled Cheese with Brussels Sprouts, Apple, and Havarti
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OMG, this grilled cheese was BOMB. I didn't have Havarti cheese, so I used shredded mozzarella instead. It was amazing! And for bread, I used Ezekiel, which has no added sugar. Recipe via the Skinnytaste: Fast and Slow book.
9. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Arielle Calderon / Via Instagram: @ariellesays
A low-carb option with a ton of vegetables! I added corn, black beans, red peppers, lime yogurt sauce (plain nonfat Greek yogurt, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper), and avocado to add some fat and protein. Recipe here.
10. Sun-dried Tomato and Avocado Grilled Cheese
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I've dreamt about this sandwich multiple times. Recipe here.
11. Coconut Lime Cauliflower Rice
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I paired this with mango salsa (sliced mango, red pepper, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice) and avocado. Recipe here.
12. Crab, Mango, and Avocado Tacos
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I didn't have jicama for the shell, so I just used Trader Joe's reduced carb tortillas and baked them in the oven instead. Recipe here.
13. Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Butternut Squash
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The dressing wasn't compliant for my experiment, so I used Frank's Buffalo Sauce instead because I put it on everything! Recipe here.
14. Turkey, Pear, and Mozzarella Open-Faced Sandwich
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So I actually made this at work, and it's pretty easy. Lightly toast two slices of bread, then top with mozzarella cheese, deli turkey, sliced pears, and more mozzarella, and put back in the toaster oven for a couple minutes.
15. Baked Salmon with Mustard-Dill Sauce
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Trying to find a mustard sauce without added sugar was an adventure. I substituted Greek yogurt for sour cream and made sure to use a compliant dijon mustard brand. Recipe here.
16. Chicken Sausage, Kale, and Spaghetti Squash Boats
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The pine nuts on this was a great addition. Make sure to find a chicken sausage with no added sugar! I used Trader Joe's Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage. Recipe here.
17. Jalapeño Turkey Burger
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Honestly, nothing beats the guac and egg combo. Recipe here.
18. Turkey Quinoa Zoodles
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Fun fact: Sugar is in every single tomato sauce I looked at while on this journey. Making my own was actually very easy and tasted great, and I used it for several other dishes beyond this one! Recipe here.
19. Instant Pot Faux Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
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Cauliflower is the new potato, y'all. I didn't even need the immersion blender for this mash, I just set the Instant Pot to a minute longer to soften it more. Recipe here.
20. Spanish Cauliflower Rice
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I was inspired by the cilantro lime cauliflower rice when making this side dish, and it paired well with some chicken fajitas! Recipe here.
21. Greek Turkey Burger
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This was by far one of my favorite dinners on this detox! I ended up using the combo of ingredients in other dishes like salads and spaghetti squash boats. I didn't even need the egg or breadcrumbs, the patty held itself together without it. Recipe here.
If you want to continue following my weight-loss journey and healthy recipes, you can follow me on Instagram here.
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