Pantry Staples For 21-Day Sugar Detox Success — Preparation Is Key!

Sugar is a major problem... Not only is it incredibly addictive, but it also leads to conditions like Type 2 Diabetes and increases our risk of dying from heart disease (source). Don’t think you need to do a sugar detox because you already use alternative sweeteners like stevia? Ask yourself some honest questions:

• Do you find yourself craving sweet things?
• Or do you ever feel like something needs even more sweetener even if it's already sweetened?
• Do you turn to candy and sweet things to cope with stress and emotions?
• Do you feel like you "deserve" something sweet to celebrate a momentous occasion or even the end of a long week?
• Do you feel like a meal just isn't finished without dessert?

The 21-Day Sugar Detox Program To Break A Sugar Addiction

Even if you use natural, low-glycemic sweeteners (like coconut sugar), the 21-Day Sugar Detox program (21DSD) can help you break that addiction to sweet things -- helping you avoid reaching for sugary goodies when you have a weak moment. Believe me, as hard as it is to give up stevia in my tea every day, it was definitely worth being able to control my cravings again. Thankfully, I was able to put an end to my own sugar addiction with the 21DSD -- and you can too! If you decide to give 21DSD a go, you’ll need some staple foods in your pantry before starting for a successful detox. I completed my first 21DSD 5 years ago, and I've done some refreshers a few times since. During those times, I've learned that sugar is hiding everywhere -- even in things like garlic salt! The 21DSD program not only helped break my cravings for sweets, but it also helped me finish the process of removing everything with sugar from our home.

Pantry Staples For 21-Day Sugar Detox Success

I thought I was more than ready for my first round of 21DSD, yet I found myself running to the store for essentials more than once that first week. Don’t repeat my mistakes! Be prepared with these pantry staples for 21-Day Sugar Detox success. Note: This list of my must-haves works for all 3 levels of 21DSD. Refer to the 21-Day Sugar Detox materials to double-check the extra staples for Levels 1 & 2.

Nut Butters & Nuts

Cashews and peanuts are out of the picture during 21DSD, but you still have plenty of options! I especially love a Granny Smith apple dipped in almond butter for my afternoon snacks or rosemary roasted almonds… mmmmm. One of the biggest mistakes I made my first time of doing 21DSD was not having coconut butter in my pantry before beginning. Trust me, this one thing is difficult to track down at the regular supermarket, yet coconut butter is key to making all sorts of 21DSD treats, like these lemony meltaways. Other nuts and nut butter to stock up on:

• Almond Butter
• Almond-Pecan Butter -- This nut butter blend is especially good with some added cinnamon.
• Sunflower Seed Butter
• Pumpkin Seeds -- Already soaked and dehydrated, some roasted pumpkin seeds can replace croutons in salads.
• And at least 2 other types of nuts for snacking! (Check out Wildly Organic's already soaked and dehydrated nuts -- just stay away from cashews during your 21DSD.)

Condiments & Vinegar

Put down the Worcestershire sauce! It, like many condiments and dressings, contains sweeteners. Expand your horizons with coconut vinegar. I love it paired with coconut aminos for dressings and marinades.

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Coconut Vinegar
• Gluten-Free & Sweetener-Free Mustards
• Tomato Paste -- excellent for making 21DSD ketchup and adding umami to your dishes.

Fats

21DSD throws super processed fats, like vegetable oils and margarine, out the window and encourages us to use good wholesome fats. Wildly Organic's Sauté Oil is a favorite of 21DSD veterans. It’s a healthy blend of minimally processed oils that’s ideal for cooking. With oil, vinegar, and your favorite spices and herbs, you can make just about any 21DSD compliant salad dressing! Make sure you have at least 2 good oils for cooking and 1 for homemade salad dressings.

• Avocado Oil -- my favorite oil to blend with EVOO for salad dressings
• Coconut Oil -- for baking, frying, or even straight off the spoon during a weak moment!
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Wildly Organic Sauté Oil
• Red Palm Oil

Flours & Baking Essentials

If you’re new to grain-free baking, you most definitely need to get your hands on some coconut flour, almond flour, and tapioca flour. Since it is starchy, tapioca is limited to just 2 tablespoons a day; however, it’s handy for thickening gravies and pan sauces. I’m not a big baker, but I do use all 3 grain- and gluten-free flours during the detox for things like meatloaf, gravies, and crackers. You’ll also want to have these pantry staples on hand, even if you’re like me and don’t usually bake. I promise you, the cravings for treats WILL hit!

• Coconut Cream
• Coconut Milk Powder
• Coconut Chips
• Unbleached Parchment Paper
• Unbleached Parchment Paper Cupcake Liners
• Raw Cacao Powder -- 3 words: almond. butter. cups!

Sugar-Free & Corn-Free Seasoning Blends

Seasoning blends can sometimes include sugar or corn-based fillers -- even seemingly innocent ones like garlic salt. Disguised under names like maltodextrin, corn is not allowed on the 21DSD. Double-check the labels of all your favorite spices and seasoning blends before starting the detox.

• Garlic Salt -- Simply mix quality salt with organic garlic granules to create your own garlic salt!

Tea

If you’re used to drinking juice and soda, it helps to have something flavored to sip on. My go-to teas of choice are Rooibos and Earl Gray; however, any tea (including fruity blends) are fine as long as they don’t contain sweeteners like stevia. Both make amazing sweetener-free, dairy-free lattes! You can’t go wrong with English Breakfast Tea either. Hot or iced, it's also my favorite for making kombucha. Of course, any sweetener-free blend of dried herbs makes a lovely caffeine-free warm or cold drink as well.

Preparation Is Key For 21DSD!

If you grab even just a few of these staples to have on hand before starting 21DSD, you'll be better prepared than I was my first time! The first week is the hardest for most, and you don't want to find yourself cheating because you didn't have these staples on hand.

Have you ever completed a 21-Day Sugar Detox? Are you up for the challenge? What are your favorite pantry staples?