21 No-Added-Sugar Recipes I Used During My 30-Day Detox (2024)

    You don't need to add sugar to make a meal taste good!

    by Arielle CalderonBuzzFeed Staff
    21 No-Added-Sugar Recipes I Used During My 30-Day Detox (2)

    Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

    Hi! I'm Arielle, and over the course of 30 days, I did a sugar detox. That means no added sugar, no fake sugars, no honey, no agave, no stevia, and no artificial sweeteners.

    You can read all about my detox here. You can also read my full food diary here.

    Here are some of my favorite recipes from the experiment.

    I had to make some adjustments, but overall, they only include natural sugar (like, the kind that naturally occurs in fruit and dairy). Enjoy!

    1. 2-Ingredient Pancakes

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    Yes, only two ingredients! All you need is one banana and two eggs, and whichever toppings your heart desires. I went with pomegranate seeds and peanut butter (check the label to make sure it only contains natural sugar!). Recipe here.

    2. Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash

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    This was SO good that I made it several times throughout the detox. I also love spicy food, so the jalapeño was a great touch. Recipe here.

    3. Egg, Spinach, and Mushroom Quesadillas

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    Breakfast quesadillas should always be on your menu. Just make sure to read the ingredient list when shopping for the wrap to make sure there's no added sugar. Recipe here.

    4. Egg-in-the-Hole Reinvented

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    Oh man, the chopped date on this was plenty sweet, and it complemented the egg and squash so well. This is definitely one of my new favorites! Also, the recipe suggests maple syrup if desired, but I obviously avoided that for the purposes of the challenge. Recipe here.

    5. Sweet Potato Toast

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    Seems weird, but it's so good. I used a toaster oven and toasted each side twice. Recipe here.

    6. Healthy Egg White Breakfast Cups

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    So much protein! And you can put any toppings you want. I went with spinach, mushrooms, and cheese. Recipe here.

    7. Acorn Squash Breakfast Bowl

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    This was super easy to make and I was full for nearly five hours. I used plain non-fat Greek yogurt and chose to top with peanut butter, slivered almonds, and blueberries. Recipe here.

    8. Grilled Cheese with Brussels Sprouts, Apple, and Havarti

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    OMG, this grilled cheese was BOMB. I didn't have Havarti cheese, so I used shredded mozzarella instead. It was amazing! And for bread, I used Ezekiel, which has no added sugar. Recipe via the Skinnytaste: Fast and Slow book.

    9. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

    21 No-Added-Sugar Recipes I Used During My 30-Day Detox (12)

    Arielle Calderon / Via Instagram: @ariellesays

    A low-carb option with a ton of vegetables! I added corn, black beans, red peppers, lime yogurt sauce (plain nonfat Greek yogurt, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper), and avocado to add some fat and protein. Recipe here.

    11. Coconut Lime Cauliflower Rice

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    I paired this with mango salsa (sliced mango, red pepper, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice) and avocado. Recipe here.

    12. Crab, Mango, and Avocado Tacos

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    I didn't have jicama for the shell, so I just used Trader Joe's reduced carb tortillas and baked them in the oven instead. Recipe here.

    13. Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Butternut Squash

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    The dressing wasn't compliant for my experiment, so I used Frank's Buffalo Sauce instead because I put it on everything! Recipe here.

    14. Turkey, Pear, and Mozzarella Open-Faced Sandwich

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    So I actually made this at work, and it's pretty easy. Lightly toast two slices of bread, then top with mozzarella cheese, deli turkey, sliced pears, and more mozzarella, and put back in the toaster oven for a couple minutes.

    15. Baked Salmon with Mustard-Dill Sauce

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    Trying to find a mustard sauce without added sugar was an adventure. I substituted Greek yogurt for sour cream and made sure to use a compliant dijon mustard brand. Recipe here.

    16. Chicken Sausage, Kale, and Spaghetti Squash Boats

    instagram.com / Via Instagram: @ariellesays

    The pine nuts on this was a great addition. Make sure to find a chicken sausage with no added sugar! I used Trader Joe's Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage. Recipe here.

    17. Jalapeño Turkey Burger

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    Honestly, nothing beats the guac and egg combo. Recipe here.

    18. Turkey Quinoa Zoodles

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    Fun fact: Sugar is in every single tomato sauce I looked at while on this journey. Making my own was actually very easy and tasted great, and I used it for several other dishes beyond this one! Recipe here.

    19. Instant Pot Faux Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

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    Cauliflower is the new potato, y'all. I didn't even need the immersion blender for this mash, I just set the Instant Pot to a minute longer to soften it more. Recipe here.

    20. Spanish Cauliflower Rice

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    I was inspired by the cilantro lime cauliflower rice when making this side dish, and it paired well with some chicken fajitas! Recipe here.

    21. Greek Turkey Burger

    21 No-Added-Sugar Recipes I Used During My 30-Day Detox (24)

    Arielle Calderon / Via instagram.com

    This was by far one of my favorite dinners on this detox! I ended up using the combo of ingredients in other dishes like salads and spaghetti squash boats. I didn't even need the egg or breadcrumbs, the patty held itself together without it. Recipe here.

    If you want to continue following my weight-loss journey and healthy recipes, you can follow me on Instagram here.

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    FAQs

    What happens if you go 21 days without sugar? ›

    By the end of the challenge, you'll feel more ener- gized and less dependant on sugar. You might also notice less bloating and some weight loss.

    What is the 30 day sugar detox? ›

    The main goal is to cut out all sources of added sugar for 30 days. Instead, you focus on consuming nutrient-dense, whole foods that don't contain added sugars. Natural sugars, which are found in foods like vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, are OK to eat.

    What is The 21-Day Sugar Detox challenge? ›

    The 21-Day Sugar Detox is a real food reset, to help you drop processed foods, reset your taste buds, enjoy the food you eat, and improve your health. It helps you break the chains of processed foods and added sugars so that you can get off the blood sugar roller coaster and say good-bye to that afternoon slump.

    What not to eat on 21 day sugar detox? ›

    White The 21-Day Sugar Detox may eliminate added sweeteners, gluten, and soy and all processed foods, Levels 1 and 2 of the program include whole gluten-free grains and full-fat dairy and are not considered Paleo. Level 3 of the program, however, does align with Paleo eating.

    What not to eat during sugar detox? ›

    Limit or completely avoid consumption of foods such as baked goods, potatoes, white rice, white bread, instant oatmeal, and corn/ corn flakes. These food are considered to be high glycemic carbohydrates, which means that your body rapidly breaks them down and causes a spike in blood glucose levels.

    How much weight can you lose by not eating sugar for a month? ›

    Benefits and cautions with slashing sugar. Detoxing from sugar can help you lose weight quickly. “We had over 80 testers from all over the country, and they lost anywhere between 5 to 20 pounds during the 31 days, depending on their weight or sugar addiction,” Alpert said.

    What are the rules for the 30 day no sugar challenge? ›

    The rules for this challenge were simple: absolutely no added sugars. Natural sugars, like those found in dairy and fruit, were OK. Artificial sweeteners were also off-limits. Sugar is not a necessary nutrient, and we're all eating entirely too much of it.

    Can I eat fruit on a no sugar diet? ›

    Including whole fruits in a no-sugar diet can still be healthful. However, if a person chooses to eat dried fruit, they should do so in moderation and look for varieties without added sugar. Eliminating sugar from the diet is not a complete solution for weight loss.

    What foods to eat during sugar detox? ›

    During a sugar detox, it's important to focus on getting your nutrients from whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, proteins, and healthy fats. The goal is to reduce your sugar intake and replace it with natural, nutritious foods that can help support your body's health.

    What is the hardest day of a sugar detox? ›

    Day 3 is the beginning of some of the hardest days for most folks! Your best bet: Realize that you are likely not experiencing a real cold or flu but the effects of detoxing from sugar.

    Do you lose weight on The 21-Day Sugar Detox? ›

    While a large portion of participants do report weight loss on the 21DSD, it isn't the main focus of the program, and everyone's experience is unique. Take heart! The most powerful, life-enhancing results of this program have nothing to do with the scale!

    What is the best drink for sugar detox? ›

    What are homemade sugar detox drinks? Homemade sugar detox drinks include options like lemon water with mint, cucumber and ginger-infused water, Tulsi Water, Neem water and herbal teas.

    Can you eat potatoes on 21 day sugar detox? ›

    Make sure to avoid those with noodles. Last, let's look for those nutrient dense starchy vegetables. Roasted sweet or white potatoes, baked potatoes, mashed (for level 1 and 2), and whole grains such as a ½ cup of steamed rice (for level 1). Fried rice is not a good option.

    Can you eat boiled eggs while detoxing? ›

    Most detoxification programs recommend removing highly processed foods and foods to which some people are sensitive, such as dairy, gluten, eggs, peanuts and red meat. They also recommend eating mostly organically grown vegetables, fruit, whole non-glutenous grains, nuts, seeds and lean protein.

    Can I eat popcorn on a sugar detox? ›

    Some healthy snack options are fresh or dried fruits with nuts or nut butter; veggies with hummus or guacamole; popcorn with nutritional yeast; or oatmeal with almond milk and berries. Be prepared for some withdrawal symptoms in the first few days or weeks.

    What happens if you quit sugar for 20 days? ›

    Cutting out or limiting added sugar has several benefits. You might increase your intake of nutrient-rich foods, manage your weight, and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Still, you might feel an intense and out-of-control craving for sugar if you cut out or limit carbs, your body's primary energy source.

    What happens after 3 weeks of no sugar? ›

    Week three is when you really start reaping the benefits of cutting sugar. “People usually have no symptoms [of reduced sugar intake],” Dr. Smith says. “They feel energized and encouraged that they can actually do this,” he says.

    What happens if I avoid sugar for a month? ›

    By reducing your sugar intake, you will be taking steps to improve your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease," said Dr Ghosh. Gut health is an important factor when it comes to having a healthy brain.

    How long does it take to see results from quitting sugar? ›

    Try giving up sugar for 2 weeks to see just how much better you feel, and how much better you look. When you see positive results from short-term changes, you'll be motivated to make the long-term changes necessary for real transformation.

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