Sugarless Peach Crisp

by Joyce Moseley Pierce

From time to time I realize that I am out of control with refined sugar and decide
it's time to give it up.  My first experience with being sugarless was about 15 years ago.
I worked with a woman who was considering what she might give up for Lent.  I liked the idea of sacrificing something and even though I wasn't Catholic, I decided to give up sugar. 

 I went as far as reading every label and eliminating anything with "sugar" or any of its other names on the label.  I also gave up anything with artificial sweeteners - they're even more questionable than the real thing!  Six weeks later, I was amazed to find that I had lost 8 pounds. 
 
I've tried giving it up several times over the years but have just never been successful.
Until now.  Two months into the program, I have lost about 6 pounds even though weight loss wasn't my purpose in giving it up.  I wanted to see if I would have more energy if I could avoid those highs and lows caused by sugar.  A great book on the subject is "Sugar Blues" by William F. Duffy. If you're really interested in trying this for yourself, it's a great book that I've read and referred to many times in the past 20 years.
 
This time I bought Juicy Juice (TM) or other sugarless drinks to help fill the void.  In the
afternoon when I felt tired or deprived, I would fill a glass with a few ounces of juice
and it was enough to raise my blood sugar and give me a more gentle "high."  Before long,

I realized I was going all day without even drinking the juice.  The sacrifice has definitely been worth it.  At times when I'm tempted, I remember how sluggish I used to feel after a cookie or ice cream cone, and I don't miss that irritated feeling in my stomach at all.
 
Occasionally we have friends over for dinner and I feel required to fix dessert to finish off the meal.  One of my favorites is peach crisp.
 

Copyright 2002 Joyce Moseley Pierce 
mailto:piercejam@sbcglobal.net
Joyce is a freelance writer and owner of Emerson Publications.
She is the creator of "All They'll Need to Know," a workbook
to help families record personal and financial information.
http://www.emersonpublications.com/pages/843554/index.htm
She is also the editor of The Family First Newsletter, an
ezine for families with young children.  To subscribe:
http://www.emersonpublications.com/pages/848640/index.htm.