So, here's the thing- technically this is supposed to be the last day of the No White Food thing. But I'm not going to end it here, not entirely- for in only a couple of weeks I have become something of a convert. Believe me, no one is as surprised as I am! But let me say that while I have enjoyed the forays into eating differently and I have been feeling more energetic, the real clincher for me is that I have had whole host of chronic stomach ailments for the past 10-12 years and they have not resurfaced these past 3 weeks. If all it takes to feel good is cutting out most processed grains and a bunch of sugar, then I'm all for it.

Random sugar fact: Liverpudlian artist Sean Hawkridge made this full-size coffee table out of sugarcubes as an art project.



So... where to go from here? Here's the plan:

• I am going to allow myself small amounts of tasty treats on a daily basis. Life is too short to avoid everything you want and make yourself feel bad about it. On the other hand, I love feeling good and not sick to my stomach all the time. Reasonable concessions are: for one thing, a glass or 2 of wine here and there- I mean, I am from a wine-making family for crying out loud! A second thing: I now find it easy to enjoy 1 or 2 bites of a cookie or sweet thing without being tempted to eat more and I think that's totally reasonable.
  
• At home, I'm trying to cook things that are 100% whole grain and that have no sugar, save small amounts of natural sweeteners in dessert items. I had great success baking with agave nectar this weekend- the dessert I made was as tasty as any even with no refined flour or sugar. But there are still a lot more experiments to be undertaken in that vein! I think there's lots of experimenting to do but agave is definitely seeming kind of magical.
  
• Another thing I've noticed is that I am eating so much less in terms of volume. That is great- it makes life easier and more pleasant. I haven't had one of those major cranky hunger lows I used to get on an almost daily basis.
• I've switched totally from coffee to tea and I think that's definitely helping me feel better overall. I'm surprised to say I don't crave coffee- I think I just crave a warm, caffeinated beverage in the morning, and it turns out I'm not all that picky about what it is.
• I'm sure if I go on vacation or out to a super luxe meal I will relax everything, say screw it, who cares if I get sick this time, I will deal with it- because at the heart of it I am too much of a food hedonist to eschew everything forever. If I'm at the French Laundry or something, believe me, I will eat EVERYTHING and I will figure out how to deal with it.
• I'm going to work hard to not become obsessive, preachy, one-track-minded, high maintenance, and/or boring about all of this.
  

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