So… um…

Do you want to cut out refined sugar with me for 30 days?

Or let me rephrase. Do you want to join me in making and eating SUPER YUMMY recipes… that just happen to have no refined sugar… for the month of January?

Yes! I was hoping you’d say that.

What is Sugar Free January?

Let’s start with what it is not. It is not a super strict eating program. It is not a cleanse. It is not a course.

This is just a simple and straightforward challenge to remove refined sugar from your diet for 30 days.

The challenge will start on January 2nd and end on January 31st. During that time, you’ll see a whole bunch of ALL NEW sugar free recipes made with just regular, non-scary, real food ingredients right here on Pinch of Yum.

What Are THe Rules of the Challenge?

1. Cut out refined sugar for 30 days.
2. Be committed, but don’t be strict, mean, or shaming with yourself or others.
3. Make your own choices. (For example, I still eat dark chocolate in my version of sugar free.)

Wait, You Still Eat Dark Chocolate?

Yep, I do. We all make our own choices, and going sugar free can mean whatever you want it to mean. For me, it means figuring out how to cut out all / almost all sugar without also hating my life or setting myself up to fail.

Here’s what my Sugar Free January Plan looks like.

–> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SUGAR FREE JANUARY PDF.

As you can see, I keep lots of “regular” foods like the occasional french fries and sushi for Friday nights, wine for weekends, and dark chocolate for emergencies.

Sugar Free January is a you-pick type thing, so that list will look different for everyone. When I make this list, I’m thinking about:

• What will help me feel my best?
• What sweeteners can also provide nutritional benefit?
• What will make this sustainable for me over a long period of time?

For example, I kept sushi even though sushi rolls are not sugar free. However, I just know that I’m not going to last long on a sugar free eating plan if I can’t say yes to a  Friday night spicy tuna roll. Same with French fries – not exactly a health food, but I know I’m going to have a really hard time going out on a weekend with friends and not being able to nibble on a few fries.  In order to be able to stick to the rest of the plan, I know I need wiggle room. That’s not true for everyone, but it’s true for me. Remember: make your own choices.

As you make this plan, think about what is realistic and what fits your own unique picture of going “sugar free.”

If you want in on Sugar Free January, I highly encourage you to print out this document, spend some time thinking about what you want your month of sugar free eating to look like, and fill it out so you know exactly what your plan will look like.

But Lindsay, you Eat Sugar, Right?

Good catch. I do normally eat sugar! And I have a blog so most people will know when I eat sugary foods. 🤪 Remember this caramel monkey bread? Yeah, I ate that. I definitely, for surely ate that. And I really feel strongly that it wouldn’t be Christmas without a pan of cinnamon rolls or my mother-in-law’s tea ring.

And currently, as you can see from the picture, there’s a can of Mointain Dew in my fridge left over from our party last week. Super classy.

So yes, I eat sugar. For me, the long-term approach has to be balanced, otherwise it won’t work. That being said, I will be going completely sugar free during the month of January for this challenge.

How do I Join You?

Yay, yay, yay! Here’s what you can do:

1. Download the Sugar Free January Plan (FREE) and fill it out however you want.
2. Make sure you are signed up for our email list so you don’t miss any new recipes in January.
3. Check back this week for answers to some questions and guidelines for getting ready, and then look for new sugar free recipes all through the month of January.
4. Talk to us about what you’re doing by leaving comments on posts or using #POYsugarfreejanuary on Instagram.

What if I want more information and support?

I am not a nutritionist or a doctor or a scientist, or anyone with any sort of professional credibility, actually (!!) and I feel like I should say that a few times loudly. Just a reminder! Not a nutritionist.

So if you want more in-depth resources, a stronger knowledge base, specific menu planning support, and a really tight-knit group to encourage you through removing sugar from your life, I would definitely recommend a more formally organized course called Go Sugar Free which I did back in 2014 and again in 2015.

Jacqueline (the course founder and leader) does an excellent job facilitating the course – there are daily emails, book reviews, a recipe library, and a very active and supportive Facebook group. You will be in good hands with her. Her next course is starting on January 3rd, 2017. Click here to sign up. (We are affiliates for this program. Bjork and I have done it ourselves and can speak to its benefits!)

The Insanely Awesome Giveaway

Let’s talk about FREE STUFF! I picked some things for this giveaway that I find really helpful when making healthy, real food meals from scratch to kick us off on a happy note into January.

If you want to enter the giveaway, just leave a comment telling me what you think about going sugar free.

You can say “I could never do that,” (UMM HI I SAID THAT TOO), or “I’m intrigued,” or “I am so totally ready for Sugar Free January!”

Here’s what the winner will get:

• Blendtec Blender
• Instant Pot
• Meal Prep Glass Containers
• My Favorite Cutting Board
• Infuser Water Bottle 

Giveaway will close on Wednesday, December 20th at 12pm CST. We’ll pick one winner  by randomly choosing from the list of comments. Giveaway is only open to U.S. residents because of shipping, but if you are not from the U.S. and you still want to leave a comment, I would still be thrilled hear from you. ❤️

Lastly: If you have a question about sugar free January, leave a comment!

I am going to do a follow-up post on Wednesday answering your questions as we prepare for the month ahead.

And if you’re not already signed up for our email list, get signed up, you weirdo! We don’t want you to miss any of these Sugar Free January recipes!

The post Sugar Free January + An Insanely Awesome Giveaway appeared first on Pinch of Yum.