If you’ve recently quit sugar – or are planning to – you’ve probably gotten bogged down on all the things you can’t enjoy, so we’re here to show you the silver lining. Here are 3 surprising things you can still do when you quit sugar.

Enjoy your favourite baked goods.

You might think ditching sugar means you have to say goodbye to all your favourite cakes, brownies and muffins – but this just isn’t true. There are a number of low-sugar recipes that can replicate even the most nostalgic of baked goods, using sweeteners in moderation, like Stevia and monk fruit – which has no fructose, along with real, whole ingredients. I Quit Sugar’s 8-Week Program will provide you with countless recipes that are not only good for your body, but for your taste buds too.

Drink wine.

Wine lovers will be pleased to hear that their drink of choice has near negligible amounts of fructose; the visceral-fat causing part of sugar, and that’s because the fructose in the grapes ends up getting fermented. The result is a low-sugar drink that will only set you back a gram of sugar per serve. Beer is another drink void of sugar, though beware of the fat content, and vodka, while low in sugar, packs a powerful dose of alcohol. The important thing to remember with these drinks is to enjoy them in moderation. Like sugar, too much alcohol can lead to a fatty liver, which can then lead to liver disease. Research shows that drinking excess alcohol, even just for a few days, can stack on the visceral fat. So go ahead, pour that glass of burgundy with dinner, but make it a once or twice-weekly occasion.

Eat fruit.

Yes – you can still eat fruit when you quit sugar! Added sugars and low-in-fibre sugary foods are the major sources to cut out when quitting sugar, and that’s because of their effect on our liver and gut. The naturally occurring sugars in whole fruit affect our bodies a little different to confectionery, sweeteners and highly processed foods. This is because of their fibre content, which helps to break down sugar. This ensures we’ll have longer-lasting energy and satiety, along with giving our liver a break. This works as the fructose binds to the fibre, slowing the absorption rate of the sugars. If you’re looking for some low-sugar fruits, go for passion fruit, pineapples, peaches and apricots.

We’re not talking about juice here – and that’s because juice is stripped of its fibre content, leaving you with a high-fructose, low-fibre drink. That is a recipe for disaster. So if you’ve got a craving for something sweet, pick up an apple and dive straight in.

If you’re missing the classic baked goods from your pre-quitting sugar days, fear not! We’ve got just the thing for you – a chocolatey, slow-cooker brownie recipe from the eBook, No Sugar Baking Cookbook.

Miso and Walnut “Slow Bros” Brownies.

Serves 16.

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil, butter or ghee for greasing
• 1 ½ cups almond meal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup raw cacao powder
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup rice malt syrup
• 2 tablespoons red miso paste
• 3 free range eggs
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 80 grams dark chocolate – 85-90% cocoa – chopped into small chunks
• Full fat organic plain yoghurt or cream, to serve

Method:

1. Grease the slow-cooker insert and line it with baking paper so it reaches halfway up the side.
2. In a large bowl combine the almond meal, cacao powder, baking powder and salt.
3. In a separate bowl whisk together the melted butter or oil, rice malt syrup and miso paste. 
4. Add the eggs and continue whisking until the mixture is well combined. 
5. Pour the butter and syrup mixture into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Stir through the walnuts and the chocolate chunks.
6. Pour the batter into the lined slow-cooker insert. Cover and cook on low for 2 1⁄2 hours or 1 1⁄2 hours on high, or until the outside of the mixture is firm and the centre is no longer liquid. Remove the lid and continue cooking for a further 30 minutes or until the centre cooks through. 
7. Once cooked, switch off the slow cooker and leave the cooked mixture to rest for 10–15 minutes. Carefully remove from the slow cooker by grabbing the edges of the baking paper and gently lifting out.
8. Allow to cool completely before slicing. Store the brownies on the baking paper in a sealed container for 3–4 days or freeze for up to 4 months.

Need a little help with your sugar cravings? We’re here to help. Quitting sugar is hard, more so when you try to do it alone. We invite you to sign up to our 8-Week Program where we’ll be ditching sugar and learning some easy tips and tricks to keep cravings at bay.

When you sign up with us, you’ll have access to clear-cut meal plans, community support and exclusive access to our sugar-free content. Here’s what’s on offer:

1. 8 weeks of meal plans and shopping lists.
2. 90+ member-only recipes.
3. Community forums to share your journey.
4. Support and guidance from the I Quit Sugar team.
5. Exclusive content from our panel of experts.

If you’re ready to ditch sugar and the host of maladies that come with it – JOIN NOW!