Many people decide to stop eating sugar for weight loss or health reasons; it can be a beneficial decision, but it is not easy, because some people actually experience feelings of addiction to sugar, which can be very hard to break. The best way to stop eating sugar is to begin by getting it out of the house so you will not be tempted to eat it, and by purchasing a few days' worth of carefully selected food at the grocery store so you don't have to go back where you might be tempted to purchase more sweet foods. Taking some time to identify any triggers you have for eating sugar might be a good idea as well.
Once you make the decision to stop eating sugar, the first and best place to start is eliminating it from your life. If you have snacks in your desk at work or sweet items in your cupboard at home, finish eating them, or simply get rid of them. You may not need to throw them away; chances are, someone else in your life will be happy to take these items off your hands. Be sure that all foods that contain sugar are gone from your home, as well as actual sugar that you might stir into coffee or tea, for example.
The next step when you are trying to stop eating sugar is to go grocery shopping and purchase enough food to last a few days; this will prevent you from going back to the grocery store to buy items that contain sugar. Focus on purchasing healthy items, such as vegetables and whole grains, and purchase some nutritious snack items to replace any sugary snacks, such as crackers, carrots or hummus. When you are shopping, you might also choose to look for sugar-free items or products that have chemical alternatives instead of sugar, but these items may not help you break an addiction since the same taste is simply replaced with something else. Remember to also reduce your simple carbohydrate intake too, as these types of foods are converted into sugar by the body.
Managing your lifestyle by drinking enough water and getting enough sleep is also important when you are trying to stop eating sugar. In addition, identify triggers or times of the day when you are more prone to eating something sweet. For instance, some people get tired in the afternoon at work, and have a sweet snack or soda as a pick-me-up; instead, try having a snack that includes vegetables and some protein for an energy boost without the sugar.
