The Truth About Sugar: How Sweet Treats Hijack Your Holidays

Sweet treats

The Truth About Sugar: How Sweet Treats Hijack Your Holidays

The holidays sparkle with joy, laughter… and sugar. From peppermint mochas to sugar cookies, it seems like every celebration comes with something sweet. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a treat, too much sugar can turn a cheerful season into one filled with fatigue, cravings, and inflammation.

Understanding what sugar does to your body — and learning how to enjoy it in moderation — can help you stay in control and feel your best all season long.

Added Sugar vs. Natural Sugar

Not all sugars are created equal.

• Natural sugars are found in whole foods like fruit and milk. They come packaged with fiber, water, and nutrients that slow digestion and support health.

• Added sugars are any sweeteners added during cooking or processing — things like cane sugar, corn syrup, honey, or agave in foods and drinks.

Your body processes both types of sugar as glucose, but added sugars hit your bloodstream faster and spike insulin levels. That quick rise and crash leads to mood swings, fatigue, and more cravings — the sugar spiral we all know too well.

Hidden Sugar Sources to Watch

Even if you’re not reaching for candy, sugar sneaks into everyday foods. Holiday season or not, it hides in surprising places:

🍩 Coffee drinks: A 16-oz peppermint mocha can contain over 50g of sugar — more than double your daily recommended amount.🥫 Sauces: Barbecue sauce, ketchup, and salad dressings often contain added sugar in the first three ingredients.🍞 Breads and crackers: “Wheat” or “multigrain” doesn’t mean healthy. Many have added sugar to improve flavor and texture.🍹 Alcohol mixers: Festive drinks like cider, margaritas, and eggnog can pack the sugar of a dessert in one glass.

Smarter Swaps for a Sweeter Balance

You don’t have to avoid all sweets to stay healthy — just choose them wisely.

✅ Swap processed sweets for natural options.Try fresh fruit, dried cranberries (unsweetened), or baked apples with cinnamon.

✅ Use natural sweeteners in moderation.Opt for maple syrup or honey instead of refined sugar — a little goes a long way.

✅ Portion control matters.Instead of cutting dessert completely, have a few mindful bites. Slow down, taste it, and truly enjoy it.

✅ Fuel first.Eat protein or fiber before sweets to slow the sugar rush and stabilize energy.

The Power of 13 Connection

This ties directly into Power of 13 #12 — Limit White Foods: sugar, salt, flour, rice, and pasta.When you limit these, you naturally reduce inflammation, cravings, and energy dips.

Pair that with #4 – Track your food and feelings, and you’ll quickly notice which foods help you feel your best — and which throw you off balance.

It’s not about restriction; it’s about awareness and empowerment.

A Sweet Reminder

You deserve to enjoy the season — treats and all. The key is to enjoy them intentionally, not automatically.Each mindful choice keeps you grounded, energized, and confident heading into the new year.

💜 Want a healthier holiday season?Join my Always On Your Side Coaching support group or book a 1:1 session to learn how to enjoy sweets without the spiral.

👉 Visit AlwaysOnYourSideCoaching.com to get started.

I am Always On Your Side,

Coach Paris 💜💚💜💚

Coach Paris