Sugar Challenge: Week 7 Update (Part 1)

A big welcome to all my new readers, and huge thanks to everyone who has been liking my posts on social media.

Due to the length of this week’s article, it will come to you in two parts.  The second part will be available on Thursday, so don’t forget to check back then.

I am well past the halfway point now.  I have been to a very smart evening party, and successfully avoided wine, bread and dessert.  Well, being absolutely honest, I had a small taste of my friend’s dessert to see what would happen.  I am so pleased I did.  It was good.  In fact it was better than good, but despite being asked many times if I wanted one of my own, I stuck with my fruit salad, which, by the way, was also lovely.  A few weeks ago I would have caved in.  Now I can appreciate the aesthetics of a well-made dessert without needing it or feeling hard done by if I don’t have it.  Result!

A lovely, colourful fruit salad can be a special treat. Stick to low GI fruit if you can.

This weekend one of the girls I tutor had a lot of homework from school. She was worried that she would have to work through the night to get it done.

“How many pieces of homework do you have, and how long do you need for each one?” I asked her.

Together, we made a plan which would enable her to get everything done in less than 3 hours, including a break, and leave her the rest of the evening free to enjoy herself.  This made her much happier!

I am sharing this story because it is crucial to plan if you are embarking on any kind of dietary modification.  In the past, the lady of the house (apologies, but the role usually did fall to women) would plan meals for the household every week, but thisis far less common today.  It is a cliche, but so true, that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  Without planning, it is easy to get caught out, either at home, when travelling, or in a social situation.  It has happened to me a few times, causing uncomfortable situations which could have been avoided easily.  That does not need to happen to you.

Planning meals can be a creative activity, and the whole family can get involved.

It’s easy to plan, and it can even be fun.  Today I share Point 1 of my 5-point programme for successful meal planning.  The other 4 parts are coming on Thursday:

1. Decide which form of meal planning suits you best.  Some stationers make attractive lifestyle planning notebooks.  If you prefer a planner to print out and put on your fridge, use an Internet search engine to find one that works for you.  I prefer one that includes a shopping list and has plenty of space for writing.  For ultimate convenience, there are many apps, either free or under £5, for meal planning.  One of the online supermarkets even has a meal planner where you can plan your meals, either from scratch or using their suggestions, and then order the ingredients you need.

Here are some links to planning aids.  I am not recommending any one in particular; please work with whatever suits you best.

Planners to print

http://crystalandcomp.com/free-printable-meal-planner-december-2013-howtomealplan/

http://strawberrymommycakes.com/2014/09/15/free-printable-weekly-meal-planner/

http://domestic8d.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/march-organization-weekly-meal-planning.html

Pre-printed planners and diaries

http://www.paperchase.co.uk/mag-meal-planner-nordic-nights.html

http://www.paperchase.co.uk/fridge-friends-meal-planner.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RK19C06/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00VDX0P6C&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0EMCE49SK9J52R5R7SQ4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bound-Slimming-Diary-Journal-Paris/dp/B0171T1A2Y/ref=sr_1_16?s=officeproduct&ie=UTF8&qid=1447796962&sr=1-16&keywords=meal+planner

Apps and Online

http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/node/5825

http://www.foodplannerapp.com/

http://paprikaapp.com/

http://realfood.tesco.com/meal-planner/about.html

Coming on Thursday: 4 further planning tips, homework, and a heads up on Week 8.