When you first quit sugar, it’s fear of the unknown that shakes us. Will I be able to cope with cravings? Cook everything from scratch? Get my family onboard?
I Quit Sugar’s new Ask an Ambassador series looks at some of the challenging realities of living a low-sugar life, with tips from I Quit Sugar: 8-Week Program Ambassadors. Because we’ve been there before!
This week’s question will speak to anyone who loves their low-sugar lifestyle but can’t convince their better half.
I’m really struggling to get my partner to eat sugar-free. What can I do to get him/her on board?
When I first quit sugar, I quickly realised that simply preaching about the benefits wasn’t going to work with my husband! I had to step back a little, and let him follow his own journey… while also using a few sneaky tactics as encouragement.
Treat it as an experiment.
When we signed up to our first Program, I pitched it to my husband as an experiment. Not a life-long change. Just a little eight week project to see if we felt any different by the end.
It worked better than I thought – he even gave up drinking Coke! Actively encouraging participation also worked for IQS Ambassador Katherine, who said she openly asked her family to help and support her.
Adapt the meals.
I adapted some meals to be a little more dude-food friendly. Jenni often adds rice, pasta or extra protein to her husband’s meals. Zoe is the queen of his ‘n’ her meals – check out her two-in-one lasagne!
What they don’t know won’t hurt them.
Rani says her husband has unwittingly eaten Brussels sprouts, zucchini and capsicum hidden in 8-Week Program meals, and says that some things are best left unsaid!
Kim also suggests being a little creative, and makes their favourite curries from scratch while keeping the ingredients to herself. Personally, I do have a quiet giggle when my husband scoffs down a cupcake packed with black beans and sweet potato!
Quiet swaps.
I made quiet switches without fuss to pantry ingredients, like shifting to a 100 per cent natural peanut butter; and to meals, like making my own quick marinades and stir-fry sauces.
Jenny recalls when her husband sat down to what he said was the “best Spaghetti Bolognese ever, with the juiciest and tastiest mince”. His surprise was priceless when she later told him it was made from lentils!
Keep a freezer stash and snacks on hand.
My husband tells me he loves this low-sugar lifestyle because it doesn’t mean dieting or going hungry. He happily enjoys cheese, nuts and yoghurt, or a low-sugar brownie from the freezer as a snack (with hidden zucchini, of course!).
Be the message (and be patient).
As my husband saw my health improve and my energy increase, it gradually motivated him to join in too. Sarah found the same – her husband still started reading labels, making informed choices, and even reduced the sugar in his tea.
Fran says that nothing happens overnight, and it’s not personal if your partner doesn’t agree with everything. The IQS Ambassadors all agree that change is slow and incremental – and that’s okay.
Thinking about quitting sugar? What questions would you like to ask our Ambassadors?
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