Breaking my Cereal Addiction
Quitting my cereal habit was the gateway to next level health for me.
It was a barrier for me just like cigarettes or soda is for some; The only thing was, unlike cigarettes and soda, I didn’t have a clue exactly how unhealthy my habit was -physically and emotionally.
Two things led me to quit, but first, let me tell you a little about my background.
I grew up with a mom that cooked and grew vegetables in our backyard garden. But, Oreos were packed in my lunchbox every day through high school, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to come home from school and binge on ice cream. I had a sweet tooth for sure.
Other the other hand, we didn’t ever have soda in the house, and she had some ‘rules’ when it came to our breakfast cereals. The first ingredient needed to be whole grain oats, it had to have a decent amount of fiber, and not too much sugar. This limited our options to things like Frosted Mini Wheats, Honey Nut Cheerios, and Life Cereal. All delicious choices I might add. Captain Crunch and Fruit Loops were reserved for special occasions.
For as long as I can remember, cereal was my go-to for breakfast. Once I was on my own in college, cereal was my go-to for not only breakfast, but also snack and late-night snack (cereal pairs well with boxed wine and French homework). I still made sure to stick to my mom’s rules – only treating myself with something like Captain Crunch or Frosted Flakes on occasion. I felt pretty good about it, I knew I ate a lot of sugar because I “had a sweet tooth” so I tried to keep the sugar content low (around 10 g or less). Plus, I was getting a good amount of calcium from the milk with each (ginormous) bowl.
Did I mention cereal is expensive? I would go through multiple boxes a week. Now I’m sounding like an addict, right?
I remember being mad at my parents if I went home to visit and there was no cereal or no milk. I would silently resent them; don’t you know I need my cereal?!
Looking back, it was seriously controlling my life and I had no idea.
Fast forward to a few years ago: I had heard about being “addicted” to sugar, and the thought crossed my mind. I knew I had a “sweet tooth”, but it “ran in the family”, and I was a pretty healthy eater otherwise, so I denied my addiction.
Soon after my daughter was born in 2014, the perfect storm of health and transformation was formed. I was starting to get curious about sugar and thinking about what life would be like if I started to cut back. I read A Year Without Sugar and I Quit Sugar. At around the same time, my now 3 month old baby girl who was just diagnosed with a dairy allergy (that’s a whole other story!). I went out and bought some coconut milk and started eating my cereal that way, but it just wasn’t the same. That sealed the deal for me. I just stopped eating cereal. I don’t remember it being a struggle. It was just a choice I made and with everything I was learning, it was a pretty easy decision.
I think we all know that sugar is bad for you, but I was blown away at how much I was learning. Dairy, on the other hand – I had always thought it was healthy, necessary even. But now? I coach people to eat limited or no dairy and sugar in their diet (and a maximum amount of fresh veggies!). I am a strong proponent of not offering cow’s milk to babies, ever.
The short story ends with me 10 lbs. down below my pre-pregnancy weight, with clear skin (did I mention I had acne my whole life?!) and feeling more energized and happier than ever. The only down side was I had to buy new pants!
The long story? I’m now on a mission to change the world. We have been raised on so many conflicting and straight-up WRONG ideas about what is healthy and I’m here to set the record straight, starting with moms and babies.
How do I eat now? Give me all the fresh veggies, please!
I’ll occasionally find myself in the cereal aisle checking out what’s on sale and looking at ingredients, but I just can’t ever bring myself to buy it. Do I still give in to that “sweet tooth” on occasion? OMG yes, but I just make sure when I do, it’s worth it. Ice cream (regular or dairy free) is almost always worth it.
If you are ready to make a big change in your diet with drastic positive health effects, schedule a free consult with me HERE, or check out The Nourished Moms Community!